6 reasons why good design is absolutely critical for online learning

Online learning is a popular concept that continues to grow thanks to its convenience and affordability. Many factors create an excellent online learning platform, and visual design is one of them. In fact, it is one of the most critical elements for digital learning, and here are six reasons why:

In the same way that classroom design affects engagement, the visual design does the same in the online world. It goes without saying that a crisp and cleanly designed platform is easier for people to take in. As such, engagement will increase as people like what they see and can easily make their way around the learning platform.

Believe it or not, but a good online learning design can help learners memorize the course content. It is all about using visual cues to encourage them to remember certain things, imprinting them in their minds. As an example, what do you think is easier to remember: a page full of writing or a table split into sections/a graphic pie chart? It is far more comfortable for the brain to remember the visual cues than it is to try and read all the writing and store it for later.

Good design is also essential for encouraging people to complete the course. It is all about first impressions – create a good one, and people are more likely to keep coming back. Did you know that first impressions are 94% design-related? It’s true, solidifying the importance of making your online learning look appealing to the masses.

The very best online learning platforms are built to help people achieve their learning goals. This is often done through subtle design elements. As an example, you have a section that lists all the open courses and shows a completion percentage. Completed courses show up as 100% and are coloured in green to signify they have been passed. This shows the user exactly what they have completed and how much progress they’ve made. They can also set targets like 70% completion by the end of the day, and your design helps them move towards this!

There’s an interesting stat that looks at college students and shows that around 67% of them will use mobile devices to complete online coursework. This is a useful stat as it shows a current trend in the online learning world: people are using different devices to follow courses and complete the world. As such, this thrusts more importance on good design as you must ensure yours is responsive. If it isn’t, then it won’t work well on other devices, limiting the ways your students can engage with the course.

Lastly, an excellent online learning design will lead to more effective communication. The design should tell students everything they need to know about the platform/courses, and what they will gain from studying. It’s not just about looking pretty, it’s about informing your students!

The bottom line is that you cannot neglect the design aspect of online learning. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the learning experience for students and providing them with an excellent platform to thrive and reach their goals.