Why does graphic design matter in training documents?  Because, while looks aren’t everything, they’re often what gets you the first date!  Without a simple to follow layout and easy to navigate document, the reader will get either distracted or lost and the whole point of the training falls apart.  Well-designed training documents have a few simple characteristics in common. 

1.        Use simple, non-complex fonts.They minimize the use of dramatic 

   typography, so that where they do include bolding or underlining it has  

   impact.

Overall, avoiding fonts that are too curvy or have extra flourishes is a good idea. Pick your font like you pick the person you bring home to your Mom, save the flashy for friends on the weekend, bring home the nice, conservative, solid one when you want to make a good impression!  Contrary to popular belief Time Roman is not a good font to use in training materials.  Its angles can be difficult for some readers to process and it is one of the fonts which studies show readers most often skip or ignore words when reading. 

Use Arial, Calibri or Helveticafonts. They are the easiest for the learner to read.

2.        Choose colors wisely and no more than three colors on any one document.  Color is used to reinforce key ideas and provide a visual cue to readers to help them find information they are looking for quickly and easily.  Your training document should not resemble a Salvidore Dali painting!

Red - The color red in western cultures signifies stop, warning, and danger.    And is the color your readers will see if you make it the primary font color!  It is a powerful training color, as the human eye is trained to pick it up and focus on it.  It is most useful when incorporated in key points versus being used as the primary font color.

Blue - The color blue invokes feelings of peace and calm in readers.  This color is great for documenting training exercises or activities that may be naturally stressful for the reader to contemplate doing.

Green- The color green triggers movement or change in the brain.  This is a great color to use when you want to subconsciously encourage the reader to change a previous behavior or alter a mastered skill.  The Vulcan mind control of the font color world.

Pick three colors to include in your training document.  You’re not painting a float for Mardi Gras, you’re trying to teach people! It is recommend that you use black as the basic text color. Use red to make key points stick out in your document.  Use blue as the text color for learning exercises. Leave the rest of the rainbow on the Lucky Charms box.

3.    Include graphic images to enhance not distract from content.  This means they do include iconography to help denote sections, topics or key

   points in a training manual, but they do not include graphics just for a “cool” visual impact or enhance the color copies. No matter how cute the bikini babe is, she won’t help sell fur coats to Eskimos; if the graphic doesn’t fit the content, leave it out.

Choose simple graphics to use as iconography to help readers find the information they need.  Check out  http://www.iconexperience.comfor some great ready to use icons you can incorporate into your document.

4.       Choose a layout that complements the material being delivered. 

   For example training manuals for software applications will often include 

   screen shots and diagrams to illustrate steps.  A well-designed training

   manual will incorporate those screen shots as part of the natural flow of the

   document and in specific locations where they apply to a task description

   vs. clumping them all in the end.  Think of your training manual like the turn by turn directions from mapquest.com, the graphic (map) is right next to the written directions to make it easy to get where you’re going.  Your training manual is a roadmap to new skills for your reader.

Check out  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templatesfor some ready to use training document templates.  This will give you a head start on your layout.

5.    Use the overall graphic design to enhance the key pointof the training.  You’ve got to put some lipstick on that pig!  This means when they do include color, or text variations, graphics or formatting tricks it is to highlight a key point and focus the reader’s attention.

   Keep it simple.

Five Quick Steps:

1. Use Arial, Calibri or Helvetica fonts. They are the easiest for the learner to read.
2. Pick three colors to include in your training document.  It is recommend that you use black as the basic text color. Use redto make key points stick out in your document. Use blue as the text color for learning exercises.
3. Choose simple graphics to use as iconography to help readers find the information they need.  Check out  http://www.iconexperience.com for some great ready to use icons you can incorporate into your document.
4. Check out  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templatesfor some ready to use training document templates.  This will give you a head start on your layout.
5. Use the overall graphic design to enhance the key point.