SESSION DESCRIPTION
In today’s world, very little content is delivered void of a visual aesthetic wrapper. However, a vast majority of those aesthetic wrappers fail to adhere to common visual design principles. Research known for decades shows that coupling common visual design principles with content can enhance retention (Kanuka & Szabo 1999). In addition, it has been found that the visual appeal of the wrapper around the content affects an individual’s emotional response (Norman 2003). These findings have tremendous impact for the current environment where people are encouraged to visually design wrappers for the content they share on the internet. Educating individuals on the value of visual design and teaching common design principles, equips individuals with the ability to know what constitutes good design, and in turn, create their own. This increases the value of shared content delivered via the internet.
SESSION PLAN
Over the course of the 25 minute session we will build an argument for why design matters from both a visceral and research perspective. Then we will move into how to improve design from both a rhetorical and a visual perspective. The image above illustrates a poor portfolio design (right) that has been improved (left) using the basic principals that will be discussed during this session.
SESSION OUTLINE
- Visual Design
- Why the Visual Matters
- Visceral
- Research
- How to Make the Visual Better
- Rhetorical
- Visual