I was reviewing an eLearning module as a favour for someone recently. It was all really clear, instructional, but a little basic. I’m not saying basic from an ‘I know more than this’ perspective, but basic in an overly simplistic, condescending and facile way; think lots of bright primary colours, cartoon figures, and over simplified explanations.

I get why they were doing it; the brief to them was full of what ‘must‘ be included so EVERYTHING went into it. The brief needed to have been refined and a much clearer and tighter proposal agreed before the work started.

We all too often aim for LCD – Lowest Common Denominator – in our design approach in an attempt to catch everybody. Good design recognises that you’re NOT aiming to catch everybody but for the next tier above and are able to provide further support, in a different way, when needed.

Just consider, would you speak to people face to face in the same way you present eLearning?