Guide to Designing Digital Research Skills Training Materials

Your material should have:

• an easy-to-read typeface
• a large enough typeface
• strong colour contrast for texts and images.

Follow your organisation’s branding guidelines and use their templates.

Your material should have:

• captions or descriptions for non-decorative images
• clear link(s) between images and their explanations
• visual representations of ideas and concepts, where possible.

Be sure to:

• explain all acronyms and abbreviations full
• use the active voice
• use plain English
• link specific calls-to-action to the intended destinations and put them at the end of sentences – use concise keywords for the text and avoid generic phrases like “click here”
• use numerals for 2 and above. 
• explain all technical terms
• provide a glossary (for guides with 6 or more technical terms).

Refer to your organisation’s editorial style guide (if available).

To ensure the greatest readability, it’s important to deliver your information in digestible chunks. You should:

• group similar ideas together
• break long paragraphs up into smaller ones
• simplify sentence with more than 2 points
• use bullet points instead of sentences where appropriate
• use headings and subheadings.

Your material should:

• have the same points of reference and terminology throughout
• have uniform formatting (formats, fonts, colours) throughout
• be left-aligned throughout.

Your presentation or video should have:

• an easy-to-read typeface
• a large enough typeface
• a reasonable pace with sufficient reading time between slides
• strong colour contrast for texts and images
• captions or descriptions for non-decorative images
• clear link(s) between images and their explanations
• ideas and concepts presented visually where possible
• bullet points instead of sentences where appropriate
• subtitles or captioning enabled
• a script included in the notes beneath the slides (for presentations)
• a transcript (for videos).

In terms of the audio, make sure:

• the volume is consistently at an audible level
• instructions are delivered at a reduced, deliberate pace
• the presenter speaks clearly
• the presentation or video is free of noise.

Your presentation or video should have:

• the same points of reference and terminology throughout
• uniform formatting (formats, fonts, colours) throughout
• a consistent pace.

If you are using external virtual spaces in live presentations, be sure to:

• provide multiple modes of access to external platforms, such as QR codes, links in chat
• demonstrate or explain how to use external engagement platforms (such as Mentimeter and Slido) or breakout rooms
• make post-activity arrangements – inform participants of where they should go and when.

Be sure to:

• explain all acronyms and abbreviations in full – visually (on the slide) and verbally
• use plain English
• use numerals for 2 and above
• explain all technical terms.