This post is part of an eight-part series on graphic design for eLearning. You can look for this series every other Thursday here on our blog (and sharpen your skills with each and every post.)
We’ve talked before about graphic design as a whole for eLearning development, but today, we’re going to focus in on one specific topic: Continuing your eLearning graphic design education.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve covered a lot of ground in relation to eLearning graphic design. We’ve talked about everything from incorporating infographics to effectively using color.
But in order to truly become a better graphic designer for your eLearning courses, you need to consistently do two things: Learn and practice.
Continued Education
Learning helps keeps our minds and skillsets fresh—and opens the doors to new creative possibilities.
Now, that doesn’t mean you need to go enroll in an expensive college course. But there are a few options for learning that can pay off for your eLearning development down the road.
This online resource has 30 training modules (for free!) that let you practice different elements of graphic design—things like font choice, color relationships, composition, and more. Supplemental teaching materials provide in-depth lessons, while tool-based training lets you get hands-on. Plus, there’s no expensive software required. Everything you need exists right on Canva’s platform.
SkillShare Courses
Online graphic design courses at SkillShare allow you to dive into specific areas of design that interest you most. Maybe it’s typography, interactive graphics, or just design basics—there are many options here for relatively low cost.
Practicing Graphic Design
When it comes to a creative task like design, some things simply can’t be taught. They can only be learned through hands-on experience and practice.
So how can you be sure to make practicing a top priority? Try this:
–Make it a goal to create one new thing every day. Don’t wrap up your workday until you’ve spent at least 5-15 minutes creating a simple design you can add to your progress portfolio.
–Enter competitions. It can be difficult to maintain objectivity when it’s your own work—so open yourself up to a competitive environment where you can measure your design skills against those of others.
–Replicate what you like. Learning via imitation is the way the human brain works—so experiment with recreating your favorite styles and see how you can tweak them to make them your own. (But be mindful—it’s never okay to steal someone else’s work.)
Keeping a folder with your practice creations will help you look back at your progress over time and see how your style has changed and progressed. Plus, over time, you can pull from these samples and create a portfolio that showcases your best work.
Stay Committed
If you can stay committed to continually practicing and learning, your eLearning graphic design skills will mature over time—making your courses even more visually appealing. This is just one more form of value you can package in for clients.