Instructional Design

Instructional/Information Examples

  1. IKEA
Image result for ikea instructions
Unknown. (2019). Billy. [Digital Illustration]. Retrieved from URL https://extemporeapp.com/assembly-instructions-assisting-the-non-visual-ikea-customers/

IKEA’s famous illustrations and aesthetic is an entertaining example of Instructional design. Just like their branding of minimalism, their furniture instructions follow along too. By only including visuals, you would know the basics of what goes together, that’s what make their instructions so IKEA of them. Since a basic instruction sheet would have words, IKEA’s take on that flipped around and by using well done illustrations it makes it easy to understand for any age.

2. Lego blocks

Image result for lego instructions
Gentz, K. [Kelly]. (n.d.). Lego instructions by set [Pinterest Post]. Retrieved 1 June 2019 from URL https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/4151824630706347/?lp=true

Similar to IKEA’s instruction sheet, LEGO’s booklets of instructions feature a well designed layout and illustration for kids to understand without the use of description and words. They make it clear of what block specifically needs to go where and making it clear of what colour it needs to be. Since these building blocks are toys aimed at kids from the ages of 4, they have catered to their target market by understanding that they learn by numbers and colours. 

3. Healthy Eating

Infographic examples
Francisti, A. September 17 2018. 3 Infographic Examples Guaranteed to Generate Leads and Sales. Retrieved from URL https://blog.leadquizzes.com/infographic-examples-generate-leads-sales/

This example of infographics says a lot, especially with the balance between graphics and information. Specifically in this infographic, they have designed it well so that the colours are very eye catching along with not to much information to read off. The title stands out from a far and should catch your attention from a distance, especially the pig. A title and colour palette is what makes readers/viewers interested in what they’re looking at and be intrigued to read the rest of the information.

Week 4: Instructional Design

Everyday we interact with instructions such as loading an Opal card, ordering food, how to turn on devices and putting IKEA furniture together.

IKEA instructions

We interact with these by following an amount of steps that we eventually get used to, but learning how to do these begin with instructions. We find a lot of visual instructions around the workplace, classroom and public places like bathrooms. A lot of these vary in images and text for example, we may see a simplistic illustration and very few words on instructions dedicated to a younger audience, as they learn faster and remember better by looking at visuals of what they’re supposed to do. There are some instructions that are diagrams which separates the image to the text instruction, which the viewer would have to match up themselves. Furthermore, diagrams follow the law of proximity, which is the placement of things put near each other are being perceived by the viewers as being closely related.  

Photographic images used as instructions aren’t always the best, as there are multiple focus points where the viewer could believe is the actual step they need to do which may not always be correct. By creating an illustrated and simplified visual instructions makes it easier to use as you can use a limited palette and signals such as arrows to know what action is needed to complete the step.

Alberto Cairo believes that there are 4 types of interactive experiences on a screen based experience:

  • Instructions – pressing buttons to reveal steps
  • Conversation – back and forth dialogue
  • Manipulation – moving items around the screen to change the structure of the appearance of what is in front of them
  • Exploration – games/playful/engaging to the viewer to keep them interested

There are challenges and limits of working with screens for interactives:

  • Limited screen area
  • Limited resolutions

But there are also opportunities for these:

  • Time
  • Layering

References:

Petit, N. (2012). User’s Guide [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://chillingcompetition.com/2012/05/09/