Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A Strong LMS Logo, Key to Successful E-Learning Courseware

By Justin Bradley

Are you preparing your learning content ready for migration to a learning management system? If so, you're probably making an overwhelming number of choices. Beyond all those choices about the content itself--what to include and how to do so--there are decisions regarding navigational, format, and others. And beyond those basic ones there are the finer choices related to design and style. Part of this more subtle element is the brilliant design of your e-learning course logo.

You may wonder, is a logo really necessary for an online course? It's true that in many ways a logo is just a gimmick. When it really comes down to it, it doesn't make much of a difference. Your e-learning course has to be well-developed and unique to thrive and find users. But it's also true that we don't use expressions like "Don't judge a book by its cover" for no reason at all. The reality is that we do judge based on visual cues. We make quick decisions based on these visuals when we decide on everything from cars to education to a romantic interest. Just like an interest-piquing book cover, a logo has the power to intrigue.

So what types of logos work the best? Keep in mind this rule: your logo acts as the visual illustration that represents your e-learning course. Essentially, it will embody your learning content. But it will also, after some time, facilitate viewer recognition of (and trust in) your product.

Your logo can take any form you like. It may be simply an image, in the form of an icon or sign (ideograms) or it could also be a simple word (logotype). Ideograms can be often be recognized alone, like the Nike swish--you know the swish refers to without seeing the word Nike. You may also choose a mix of these two kinds of logos.

Although some courseware developers and companies rely on pre-packaged logos, your own design might be the best solution--not to mention the most fun to come up with. Remember, it's your content and your vision. And in any case, a logo can be very easy to design.

So, how do you come up with a great logo? It won't come to you in your sleep. You have to make your hand do some work. Tirelessly brainstorm your ideas and sketch them out by hand, using up lots of paper. This is the strategy big design companies use. Their graphic designers sketch everything out by hand before even going near a computer. Sketching by hand is the easiest and quickest way to imagine and design your courseware logo.

Once you have your simple and aesthetically pleasing logo design, it's time to play with it. Try many different things. Experiment with different shades and colors. Try different combinations. Put your logo in many situations, adding text in different positions to find out where it looks best. Try out different fonts and sizes.

Throughout it all, keep your users in mind. Create a logo with a bold and unique e-learning course logo design whose integrity and innovation suits that of the learning management system course itself.

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