adobe creative cloud: illustrator
Infographics built in Illustrator offer a "quick win" in eLearning by providing visually engaging and efficient ways to present information. Their visual appeal captures learners' attention, simplifying complex content through a combination of images and concise text. Infographics cater to different learning styles, particularly benefiting visual learners, and enhance information retention. They enable efficient communication, allowing key messages to be conveyed quickly and facilitating easy review.
With the ability to be interactive in Articulate Rise, infographics engage learners and contribute to a dynamic learning experience. Their mobile-friendly nature ensures a consistent learning experience across devices, and the ease of sharing makes them practical for collaborative learning environments.
Please find below some of my recently-designed graphics within Illustrator.
Tempdent: Level 3 Dental Nurse
The infographic below demonstrates how different things work together to make an environment fair and welcoming for everyone. Centrally placed, the circle emphasises that "Practices that support equality and inclusion" is the core focus and the outcome of all other actions.
Each rectangle highlights a specific practice or element crucial for building equality and inclusion. The use of both the primary and secondary brand colours helps differentiate each category while maintaining visual harmony with the brand guidelines. Each rectangle features a simple, recognisable icon representing the category which aids the visual-text cohesion and knowledge retention.
The timeline below is presented horizontally, clearly indicating the progression of time from left to right - the fundamental way we perceive and organise time. Prominent year markers establish the overall chronological framework, whilst each legislation item is placed within a distinct colour-coded block to allow for easy visual separation and quick identification of individual acts/regulations.
Presenting the legislation chronologically allows for a clear narrative of how environmental and health & safety regulations have evolved over time. It shows a progression of increasing awareness and regulatory action. The order helps learners to understand the context in which each piece of legislation was introduced, especially as later regulations often build upon or respond to earlier ones.
The 'Labelled Graphic' interaction markers on Articulate Rise fit perfectly in the circles below, creating a seamless interaction for users so they can discover detailed information about each piece of legislation as they interact with the markers.
I utilised mesh colouring on Adobe Illustrator to elevate the graphics below beyond flat colour. This creates subtle highlights and shadows, giving the organisms a 3D, tangible feel. This is visually engaging and helps differentiate the graphics from simpler, more cartoonish representations. It also subtly communicates the complexity of bacterial structures. The realistic and visually appealing style is more likely to capture learners' attention and maintain their interest which is essential for knowledge retention.
Within each category, I've maintained a relatively consistent size for the bacteria, allowing viewers to focus on shape and arrangement rather than size differences. The arrangement of cells within the spherical and rod-shaped categories is crucial; it visually demonstrates how individual bacteria can group together (e.g., chains, clusters, pairs), which is an important characteristic for identification.
These graphics were then used to create a petri-dish sorting activity using Articulate Storyline. This can be viewed here.
Below, you can see the bespoke graphics I built to use on the front of a flip card activity in Articulate Rise. Each graphic is contained within an on-brand, tooth-shaped frame. The consistent shape is crucial for the flip card interaction, ensuring a uniform look to direct learners to the change: the type of microorganism. The graphics are simplified and stylised, focusing on key visual characteristics rather than detailed scientific accuracy. This is appropriate for the flip card format, where quick recognition and easy understanding are prioritised.
The flip card activity can be used for self-assessment/knowledge check as, prior to clicking the cards, learners can test their understanding by trying to match the correct microorganism with the characteristics on the back of the card.
Revisiting the same visuals and concepts after a break strengthens memory and retention. So, the above graphics have been used again later in learning modules to remind learners of something they've already seen, prompting them to actively recall the information. The familiar graphics act as a bridge, connecting the new information to previously learned material. This helps learners integrate new concepts into their existing understanding, creating a more cohesive mental framework. When learners encounter familiar visuals, they don't have to process entirely new images while grappling with new concepts. This reduces the cognitive load, allowing them to focus on the information being presented.
By presenting the same graphics in a new context, it helps to demonstrate the interconnectedness of the information. This helps learners see the bigger picture and understand how different concepts relate to each other.
Tempdent: promoting good mental health
The infographic below uses a cartoon brain as the main image; this is a relatable image that people can easily understand. The brain is a symbol of intelligence and thought, so it is a natural fit for a topic like stress. The white circles perfectly house the interactive markers within Articulate Rise, allowing the infographic to sit seamlessly into the learning.
I also design flashcards on Illustrator. Using bold text, contrasting colours, and relevant images can make flashcards more visually appealing to help grab learners' attention and aid retention. I also consciously chose images of smiling people despite the topic covering different types of depression to try and battle the misconception that those with depression are visually unhappy.
I also design certificates in Illustrator and embed these within an Articulate Storyline file. This helps enhance the sense of satisfaction for learners as they have something to show for their learning. Using the 'Data Entry' feature in Storyline, learners customise their certificate with their full name and it will automatically time stamp it too.
Paragon skills: Level 2 Adult Care
I presented the steps to a risk assessment in a landscape, process fashion to demonstrate the step-by-step procedure that needs to take place. Attributing icons to each stage enables learners to undergo the process of dual-coding to aid retention - key for Adult Care Workers as they will need to follow these processes in their everyday practice.
Below, I decided to convey the benefits of risk assessments as a circular representation to demonstrate the interconnected nature of these factors, demonstrating their collective contribution to a comprehensive whole.
The 'Labelled Graphic' interaction markers on Articulate Rise fit perfectly in the circles below, creating a seamless interaction for users.
