Flat Design Graphics for E-Learning #50

Flat Design Graphics for E-Learning #50: Challenge | Recap

Whether you believe flat design is the right design for e-learning or that it’s another passing design trend, there’s a great deal of interest in DIY e-learning graphics. If you’re a course designer who wants to build custom graphics, the flat style could be a perfect fit.

Flat design emphasizes simplicity over realism. That means you don’t need mad illustration skills to create custom course elements. Using simple shapes and color palettes, you can easily create custom e-learning graphics without impacting production times.

Creating flat design e-learning graphics

Last week Tom shared a free learning interaction, template, and assets. After seeing the template and peeking at the graphics he built, I knew this would make a really fun e-learning challenge.

Another Free PowerPoint Template & Learning Interaction

If you don’t see yourself as a graphics guru, take a minute to download the Storyline, PowerPoint, and editable assets Tom created. 

Ungroup the objects (Right-click > Ungroup) and you’ll discover just how quickly you can build graphics using the flat design style. Everything was created using basic shapes in PowerPoint and Storyline.

For example, a circle and square is all you need to create paper and push pins:

Take your skills to the next level by adding a rounded rectangle to your graphics repertoire:

Getting your graphics in shape

The minimalist style isn't just for office graphics. The design style can also be used to create e-learning characters. Using a limited color palette and basic shapes, Mike Taylor created a series of construction characters and equipment.

Ridiculously Simple Ways to Create Awesome Custom E-Learning Graphics

If you’re a one-person e-learning team with no budget and limited graphics skills, flat design is worth considering. And that’s what this week’s e-learning challenge is all about!

Challenge of the week

This week your challenge is to design an office or desktop theme based on your own workplace environment. Design as many objects as you like. For variety, try adding both top and front views of your workspace.

Extra credit: Share a photo of your office workspace so we can compare it with your flat design template.

Tools

You can use Storyline, PowerPoint, or any other graphics program to create your flat desktop templates.

Flat design templates and resources

Learn more about using flat design in e-learning:

• Here’s a Free PowerPoint Template & E-Learning Interaction
• Another Free PowerPoint Template & Learning Interaction

Here are some free flat design templates for PowerPoint and Storyline to get your creative juices flowing.

Storyline templates

• Flat Desktop
• Flat Desktop Exploration
• Illustrated Waiting Room Background
• Illustrated Office Desk View Background
• Interaction: Flat Desktop Exploration
• Tabbed Notebook: Flat UI
• Flat Design Template

PowerPoint templates

• Flat Office Assets
• Interaction: Flat Office
• Interaction: Flat Desktop
• Overhead Desktop Flat
• Tabbed Notebook: Flat UI
• Easy to Create Pictogram Graphics in PowerPoint

Share your e-learning work

• Comments: Use the comments section below to share a link to your published project and blog post.
• Forums: Create your own thread in our E-Learning Heroes forums and share a link to your published demo.
• Personal blog:  If you have a blog, please consider writing about your challenges. We’ll link back to your posts so the great work you’re sharing gets even more exposure.
• Twitter: If you share your demos on Twitter, try using #ELHChallenge so your tweeps can track your e-learning coolness.
• Facebook: Reply to this Facebook post with a link to your webcam video.

Last week’s challenge

E-Learning Challenge #50: Webcam Video in Online Learning

Before you go flat out crazy, take a look at the creative webcam videos you and your fellow community members shared in last week’s video challenge.

Wishing you a flat-tastic week, E-Learning Heroes!

About the E-Learning Challenges

The weekly challenges are ongoing opportunities to learn, share, and build your e-learning portfolios. You can jump into any or all of the previous challenges anytime you want. I’ll update the recap posts to include your demos.

Even if you’re using a trial version of Studio ’13 or Storyline, you can absolutely publish your challenge files. Just sign up for a fully functional, free trial, and have at it. And remember to post your questions and comments in the forums; we're here to help.