Graphic Design Process Book
Reach New Audiences with LMS E-Learning Course Visuals
Always in developing e-learning content and preparing it for migration to a learning management system, there are choices that must be made. Besides the more involved decisions like navigational choices and multimedia options, there are aesthetic choices to be made; namely, your courseware’s design. Part of this issue is the design of your e-learning course logo.
Of course, in many ways a logo is basically a gimmick in the sense that when it comes right down to it, it doesn’t determine an awfully lot. Your courseware itself needs to be strong and effective in order to survive in the e-learning market. But phrases like “Don’t judge a book by its cover” aren’t around for no reason. The fact is that we do make fast and visually-cued judgments, which aid in our decision-making process. An interesting and unique logo can help a viewer decide between your courseware and another seemingly similar one.
What types of logos exist, and how do they work? Your logo is the visual embodiment of your courseware system; it symbolizes your learning content and fosters customer recognition.
Your logo can take any shape you want, whether it’s a visual in the form of an icon or sign (ideograms) or a simple word (logotype). Ideograms may be recognizable on their own, such as the Nike swish; you don’t need to read the word “Nike” to know what brand is being referred to.
Although many courseware developers and organizations use pre-packaged logos, your own design might be the most effective of all–and the most fun to create. After all, it’s your content and your vision, and a logo can be very simple to design.
So how can you get inspiration for an interest-piquing logo? Brainstorm; use lots of paper, and sketch and write out everything by hand. Large design firms utilize this strategy, sketching out everything by hand before even turning to a computer. Sketching by hand is the best and quickest way to visualize and design your courseware system’s logo.
When you finally have a strong and simple logo design, what you’ll need to do next is to test different things with your logo. Test out a variety of colors and combinations, and add and subtract images and elements. Try out your logo in different situations, adding text in different positions around it to find out where it looks best, and trying out different font sizes and styles.
Your logo should be strong and simple, representing a learning management system course that potential users feel confident placing their trust in.
Typo 2009: Chip Kidd Q&A