Greater Diversity Representation in Characters

Jul 01, 2020

I'm currently building courses using Storyline 360 which largely take place in a corporate setting. I particularly want to increase the representation of non-white and disabled people in the courses that I build. I think it's important that we build courses that show successful disabled and non-white people.

However, I note an absence of visibly disabled characters in Content Library 360. I moreover notice that the choice for corporate characters who are not white is somewhat limited. I note in particular there are no characters of Middle Eastern or Indian/Pakistani ethnicity in the corporate photographic section, no hijab wearers, and there remains a comparatively wider choices for white characters.

I would also point out that the outfits and phones used are a little dated, although this is a secondary concern to me!

Could you commit to expanding the content library to reflect these issues?

Many thanks.

10 Replies

Lauren Connelly
Staff

almost 4 years ago07/02/20 at 2:16 pm (UTC)

Hi Emily!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us! We're looking into adding diversity in the Content Library so I'll update you in this discussion when we have confirmation.

I appreciate you sharing this request! So helpful to understand what is beneficial to your courses!

Judy Nollet
Hero

almost 4 years ago07/02/20 at 2:36 pm (UTC)

Hi, Emily,

I agree that Articulate's content library should be expanded for diversity. I also assume that providing characters is just one tiny, lower-priority part of what they do.

I suggest you check out https://elearningart.com/. They've got a wide and ever-expanding range of characters, and their pricing is quite reasonable.

almost 4 years ago07/06/20 at 11:17 am (UTC)

Thanks for the advice Judy! Their selection looks really good!

Jean Campbell

almost 4 years ago07/23/20 at 9:02 pm (UTC)

Agree with this need. I work in a hospital and although there is a a reasonable variety of characters in the medical profession, there is a notable absence of characters who will work in a patient role. I am often left to select a character in a t-shirt. Would be nice to have someone in a patient gown and in settings such as a bed or a wheelchair (I have found a few with wheelchair poses, but it a long search to find them).

Ren Gomez
Staff

3 years ago02/02/21 at 5:21 pm (UTC)

Hi Everyone,

Great news! We released an update for Articulate 360, which included some new photographic and illustrated characters to the Content Library, with a focus on diversity. Take a peek at all the new additions in the release notes here.

And because the Content Library is a web app, no need to install any updates. The new characters are immediately available to all Articulate 360 users!

We’ll keep sharing your feedback with our team as we continue increasing character diversity!

almost 3 years ago07/04/21 at 4:03 pm (UTC)

I work in police training where the audience does not respond well to illustrated characters, so I rely on photgraphic characters. I'm sure policing is not the only industry where "real" people are preferred to cartoons. Since the characters in many elearning courses are what drives the story, it would sure be great to see Articulate invest some time and money into creating a larger and far more diverse/representative cast of photographic characters. The software already comes at a hefty cost, and to have to spend another $500CAD or more a year to get decent characters - when 360 purports to offer that - is a hard pill to swallow.

Becca Levan

almost 3 years ago07/06/21 at 7:17 pm (UTC)

Hello Kerry,

I appreciate you chiming in here and sharing what you'd like to see in the content library! I can see how having more options for photographic characters would be beneficial for you.

I've shared your voice with our team, and as we continue to add to our character diversity, we'll be sure to reach out in this discussion with updates!

over 2 years ago11/15/21 at 1:09 pm (UTC)

I'm going to chime in and agree with Kerry regarding the need for more photo characters with more 'diverse' poses and appearance. I build for a law enforcement agency as well, and illustrations are general well accepted but sometimes photos lend themselves better to the content.

I think the racial and male/female mix is fine, but photo characters with disabilities would be very helpful, as would characters who's dress would be considered 'non-western'.

About 95% of the time I can find what I need, but there are times where if I can't find something (e.g., person in a wheelchair) I have to go to another source for everything so that it all looks the same.

Learning Team

2 years ago04/07/22 at 2:05 pm (UTC)

I also find the photographic character selection for visibly disabled individuals unsatisfactory, and when searching the content library for photos it's also lacking. There isn't a good variety to choose from in terms of the disability or of the setting.

It's hard to put together accessibility training without these elements.