VISUAL DESIGN CHEAT SHEET

LAYOUT
• Create an uncluttered layout, getting rid of extraneous objects.
See Subtractive Visual Design for eLearning.
• Use sufficient white space between elements in a composition.
See 6 Quick Ways to Design Like a Pro.
• Align all the visual elements consistently, such as left-
alignment or centered alignment.
• Group related elements to show they have a relationship.
See The Power of Visual Grouping.
• Establish a clear visual hierarchy through positioning,
brightness or contrast. See How to Establish a Visual Hierarchy
in eLearning.

VISUALS
• Select images carefully and modify as needed (crop for impact,
brighten if dull, etc.). See How to Crop Photos for eLearning.
• Present a non-text alternative for all graphics (the alt-tag).
• Take advantage of shapes and their aesthetic appeal. Use
shapes consistently.
• If there are too many slides with bullet points, replace some with
a visual approach. See 6 Alternatives to Bullet Lists.
• Use non-representational graphics to visualize concepts,
statistics and data.
• Make use of visual cues to direct the eyes to the most important
information when needed. These are arrows, highlights, borders
and boldface text). See Use Visual Cues to Enhance Learning.
TYPOGRAPHY
• Select a typeface that matches the content and the audience.
See What font should I use?
• Size the typeface so it is easy to read. Check how it looks when
compressed and on different devices.
• Leave sufficient space between lines and paragraphs.
• If using more than one typeface, pair them well. Consider
using one serif and one sans serif for contrast, but find pairs
that correspond to each other. See Canva’s Ultimate Guide to
Font Pairing.

COLOR PALETTE
• Limit the number of colors in the color palette.
• Ensure the colors are aesthetically pleasing and harmonious.
See 8 Ways to Create a Color Palette for eLearning.
• Choose a text color that has a high contrast with the
background. See WebAIM Contrast Checker.
• Use VizPalette to check the contrast between multiple colors in
one graphic, as in data graphs and charts.
• Avoid relying on color alone to convey information.

UNITY
• Unify the design through repetition and consistency.
• Use consistent visual styles and colors. On the other hand,
some contrast and variety keeps things lively!

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