15/5:11

My focus this week is to manage the design of my product in terms of learner engagement.

While it can be easy for new designers to get caught up in the possibilities afforded by the software we use to generate content, it is exactly that pitfall that can lead to the dreaded scourge of what we used to call "nouveau riche" design, or newbie enthusiasm that can lead to rookie design flaws. One of the first casualties of this phenomenon is that a designer can lose sight of the purpose of the product he or she is designing. We have to remember that we are creating something that is going to be used for something. A new design, while sometimes an exciting and creative process, is not merely an opportunity to express ourselves. In fact, it is not about us at all. In the case of ID, it is all about the learner and the learning objective. So we have to keep learner engagement front and center as we move through our design process.

For this product, and for any product I am working on, I have the benefit of experience and training that keeps me aligned to the purpose of the work. Literally every design decision I make is in service to the purpose of the product and the aesthetic quality and economy of its delivery. Nothing exists in my designs "just because" or because I thought it was cool, or flashy or exciting. If it is not in service to the purposes of the learner, it won't be there. So learner engagement, as a key point in our course reading, is also a key point in my work on the product I am creating for the Office of Research.