Layout is one of the most basic, fundamental and elementary skills for graphic designers. That’s because the same content can be arranged in a nearly infinite number of permutations. As a result, you have an incredible amount of latitude in determining the best approach, depending on the goals you are trying to achieve visually. Optimizing the proximity, relationships, spacing and hierarchy of visual elements to the numerous considerations like learner audience, emotional context, industry relevance and learning objectives, requires a careful, but deliberate balancing act by instructional designers and training professionals.

At a minimum, when you apply consistent spacing around objects, between lines of text, and throughout a course (or series of courses), you convey a higher level of professionalism. But there are even more important benefits. Things like the gains in curriculum efficacy, the reduction of cognitive dissonance among learners, or the increased confidence for project funders. Read on to learn how to improve your instructional design products using these techniques.

One basic principle in graphic design that is very relevant for creating effective elearning modules is that shape precedes color. To be more specific: our brains first interpret what our eyes see into shapes. They then interpret the color of those shapes for contextual understanding. So by defining how shapes are used to convey meaning and purpose in a given elearning project, we leverage the brain's hardwired visual order of operations to improve user experience and boost information retention. 

Alternatively, if you ignore the importance of shapes and/or use them inconsistently to communicate meaning or purpose, then you are inviting confusion and cognitive dissonance for the learner. Here are five key ways we recommend using shapes to boost your training effectiveness.