Does it really matter??
You might have heard about Color theory. You might have learned about it while you were a child experimenting with colors. You might have been fascinated by how primary colors can form secondary colors, which can, in fact, give birth to an infinite sky full of hues and shades unknown to a layman’s eye.
When you grew up, you might have heard about color theory in podcasts or YouTube videos. You might already be aware of the impact of colors on the human brain.
But we have a question!
Does it matter in eLearning?
Let’s talk about it..
Why do we talk about it?
As Instructional Designers & eLearning Developers, we have always been focused on the right on-screen text, the right narrative, fancy animations, and complex interactivities, making sure we do justice to the content treatment.
But without color theory, everything falls apart!
Color theory is the invincible string holding all these elements together – to make sure we create something not only pleasing to the human eye but actually encourage learning!
The first look
Think about a time when you were new to eLearning and created your first project. Things were a bit choppy, weren’t they?? Don’t worry – we’re not telling on you!
We have all been in the same boat. When someone steps into the shoes of an Instructional Designer or Learning Experience Designer for the very first time, they just see the content, define the content treatment, and build a functional course. There are a lot of details we miss out on in the first project, which are lost in translation.
One such key element in taking your course from basic to good is the visual factor.
Colors make or break the visual factor in your course. With the right shade, the right hue, saturation, and opacity, you could just draw the learner in.
Humans, in general, are attracted to good visuals. Your learners are not any different!
When your screen is built of objects with a color palette like this:
It’s an instant turn-off. With highly contrasting colors, dark tones, and no visual balance, the learner does not have the heart to go through the whole thing and actually be able to focus on learning. They might click on next, skip the slide, or just leave the course in the middle.
But when you create elements with visual harmony, they draw the learner in, capture their attention, and interest them to appreciate not only your creation, but also the content itself.
But eLearning is not about choosing the right colored outfit that uplifts your mood and be done!
It’s about brand guidelines, sticking to the hex codes, transparency levels, and still making sure the visual factor is not compromised.
Beyond the obvious
There is well-researched science behind the effect of colors on learning.
Think of yourself attending a hospitality course as a learner but seeing black everywhere. Or maybe big background patches of red and green.
On the other hand, a neutral primary color like grey, soothing forest green, or rich blue, would maybe urge you to explore more of the course. It’s not about falling for looks; it’s about the psychology of colors on the human brain.
Research shows that 60% to 90% of learners’ interactions with objects on the screen are determined by color.
That’s a powerful metric!!
It’s not just about the right hue, but the right amount as well.
Bright, outspoken colors like red, neon blue, lime-green could be your best colors for highlighting specific objects or texts on the screen. We suggest — don’t shy away from using bright colors, they are a powerful tool in your design arsenal! It’s all about striking a balance.
How accessible is your creation?
Color theory plays a key role in making your course accessible for a wide array of learners. With white text on light grey or sky-blue colored objects, you can inevitably set up your course for failure!
Turn it into a good contrast ratio between different elements on the screen – texts, images, shapes – you have a clear winner!
Pro tip – Think of the bigger picture and create a color moodboard while designing or developing the course. Once you decide on something good, stick to it during production.
Final thoughts
Color theory is universal, but how it applies to eLearning is niche and subjective. You might create something phenomenal out of the most feared hues if you applied them in the right setting, in the right amount to suit the context.
Want to know how we apply color theory in our custom eLearning modules?
Happy learning!
