Problems: Graphics That Suck

We were contacted by Donna Safco of Mudpuddle Creations about whether we had some examples of poor uses of visuals in instructional design. She’s on the bill for The ELearning Guild’s Annual Gathering in Orlando, Fl, April 14-17. The event promises to be a lot of fun. If you make it down there check out Donna’s presentation What Not to Design – Visual Makeovers for e-Learning Content. You can find information and download the Guild’s brochure at http://www.elearningguild.com/content.cfm?selection=doc.834

Here’s some of the most common “bad” examples we’ve had to address in our clients’ projects for revising or adapting existing workshop programs for elearning. What’s yours?

1. Not enough graphics -- too text intensive, e.g., using descriptions when diagrams would be clearer
2. Too much artwork -- looks pretty but distracts from learning content
3. Unrelated art – not supportive of content or objectives
4. Garish colors and/or too many colors
5. Graphics that have been "over-Photoshopped" -- special effects/filters that make art hard to discern
6. Text colors that do not contrast enough with background making content hard to read
7. Colors contrary to 508 guidelines
8. eLearning and 508 -- missing alt text
9. Artwork that violates copyright
10. Sophistication misses -- cartoon clipart that doesn't suit content or audience
11. Overused clipart
12. Graphics and layout that are too regimented or cliché
13. Too many fonts
14. Too many different font sizes making material hard to read
15. Font sized to emphasize wrong elements, e.g., huge page numbers
16. Border outlines that unnecessarily separate or distract from content
17. Missing borders and separators that make columnar data easy to read
18. Layout -- table or page that spreads text too wide for easy reading
19. Text too close to edges
20. ?