How to explain things real good
An enlightening mini-talk about making accessible educational content
Here are some takeaways from this mini-talk Nicky Case gave at Stanford.
How to explain things real good. Source: Nicky Case
When you want to explain one idea
Show them what made YOU care, not why someone might care.
That could end up being too abstract and you'd be second-guessing your audience.
Show, THEN tell. Concrete, then abstract. Familiar, then unfamiliar.
How? Pictures, examples and analogies are great tools here.
When you want to explain more than one idea
Give them a connected story, where events are consequences of each other: This happened, but… therefore...
Don't give them a disconnected listicle: This happened and then that happened, and then… and then...
But = conflict, problem. Therefore = change, solution.
Respect your audience's time; be concise. Write a draft, then cut 10% (the fluff).
Do real tests, early and often.
Don't just ask your audience to provide feedback. Ask them to interrupt and heckle you.
The idea that we should test and iterate upon ideas doesn't come naturally to human beings. We'd rather deceive ourselves than put our own creative darlings to a trial by fire.
But = critical feedback. Therefore = polish and edit.
I'm Elisa, an Italian content designer and translator at heart who believes good design is service. This is where I document my life in UX and writing.
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