1101: Better by Design: Visual Communication for the Modern Educator

Date: Wednesday, August 26

Time: 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM

Presenter: Katherine Mahajan (Instructional Technology and AI Manager, Center for Faculty Excellence)

Session Description:

Most faculty are skilled communicators in the classroom but have never received any guidance on how to design the materials that support their teaching. Poor visual design is not just an aesthetic issue — it affects how students process information, find critical details, and engage with course content. This hands-on session introduces foundational visual design principles through interactive activities, then shows you how to apply them immediately using practical AI tools and free resources. No design background required. Just a willingness to see your course materials the way your students do.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify foundational visual design principles and apply them to evaluate and improve the clarity and scannability of course materials including slides and documents.
2. Use AI tools and free design resources to create or redesign course materials that communicate more effectively with students.
3. Recognize how visual hierarchy, font choice, contrast, and white space influence student attention and comprehension before a single word is read.