The Intersection of Design and Learning

I was asked to write about the relationship between graphic design and instructional design… and believe me, I’ve got a few thoughts to share.

I haven’t always felt like a great graphic designer. When I took my first job in the field back in 2000, I didn't have a formal design education; at that point, I was probably the most helpless designer ever. Later, I learned a lot and received decent training – first in my home city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, and then in Boston after arriving in the US. Even so, I’ve always carried a bit of impostor syndrome. Perhaps it’s because I’ve heard it too many times: "Oh, you just want to add nice pictures to serious content, that’s all."

Today, however, I am quite confident in my role as an instructor. I can tell you exactly why instructional materials benefit from a professional graphic design touch.

Good design guides the learner's eye in the same way that a strong composition makes a painting successful. Through the strategic use of Typography (legible fonts appropriate for the tone), Whitespace (giving elements room to breathe to reduce cognitive overload), and Visual Hierarchy (using size, color, and placement to indicate importance), we help learners navigate complex information effortlessly. It just tells them: "Look here and there," "This is a key concept," or "These points are related."

Most humans are visual and perceive images far better than text. Of course, there are always exceptions – my closest childhood friend is as non-visual as a sighted person can be. He can’t even remember what he just saw through the window of the car he’s driving! (He is a great musician, though).

A well-designed infographic can convey a complex process more effectively than wonderfully worded text – especially when dealing with time constraints or short attention spans. Icons, diagrams, and illustrations aren't just decorative; they create powerful mental hooks that aid recall. When graphic design transforms abstract concepts into concrete images, it makes learning "stick."

Let's be honest: visually appealing content is simply more inviting. In a digital world saturated with visual experiences, instructional materials must compete for attention. Overall, good graphic design creates:

• A professional look that establishes the perceived quality of the content.

• Interest that breaks up monotony and preventing boredom.

• Emotional connection, which is done by sing color, imagery, and style that resonates with the learner.

  
  

There are, of course, respected sources that argue visuals do not always prove the effectiveness of learning in certain cases. But we must admit that everything mentioned above refers to design that is intentionally tailored to the learner’s needs. This means taking into account prior knowledge, spatial abilities, and many other factors that are core to the instructional designer's job.

I am grateful that my first degree was in philosophy and that my dissertation focused on the theory of knowledge. It may seem unrelated, but that is where I learned about the communicational functions of various messages and the cognitive processes where visual information plays an essential role in helping individuals learn.

This text is just the beginning of my reflections on this vast topic, which I am very much looking forward to diving into later.

Based on the readings:

1. Clark, R. Lyons C. (2004). Graphics for Learning. Pfiffer.

2. Design Basics Index. (2004). Ed. by J.Krause.

3. Lupton, E., Phillips, J. (2008). Graphic Design. The New Basics. Maryland Institute of Art, Baltimore.

4. Heller, S. The Education of an E-Designer.