Creating Engaging Educational Panels

Educational panels are a great way to communicate information to people in a public space. They can be used to explain the history of a building or area, provide directions, or give information about the local environment. When designing educational panels, it’s important to use clear and concise language, appropriate to the age of the visitors and the activities that will enrich their visit to your attraction.

Let’s explore some of the essential characteristics of these important marketing assets.

Define your audience

When it comes to designing educational panels, one of the most important things to consider is your audience. Who are you trying to reach? What age group will be viewing the panel and what level of prior knowledge do they have about the topic? Answering these questions is essential in order for you to determine the tone and level of detail that will inform your education panel content. 

For example, if you’re creating a panel for elementary school-aged children then a more playful approach would be suitable with simple descriptions and bold visuals. Whereas if your target audience consists of older adults then you may need to get into more complex details while still keeping the language accessible enough for them. It’s all about understanding who will be reading your work before designing it.

Keep it simple

Use short sentences and easy-to-understand words in the panels, avoiding jargon or technical terms so visitors won’t feel overwhelmed by the information. Instead of trying to impress them with complex ideas, focus on delivering useful, relevant and engaging information. Use contrast, colour and typography to make elements stand out and improve readability. 

“I love seeing people interact with my designs after they are installed in public places – whether it’s kids playing around them or adults taking their time absorbing all the information presented.”

Andy Beer, Senior Designer

Use strong visuals

Educational panels should be highly visual, with images and graphics that complement the text. Focus on selecting images that are vivid and engaging, so visitors are able to quickly comprehend the essence of your message just by looking at the panel, without having to read every word of text. It’s important to make sure all components work together harmoniously for maximum impact.

Make it interactive

Instead of relying on static visuals and long blocks of text to get information across, try implementing touchscreens, QR codes and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences that made learning more engaging. Watch visitors delight with QR codes dotted around to take quizzes or learn more about certain topics using their mobile devices.

Consider placement carefully

Creating and placing educational panels can be a tricky endeavour. You want to make sure that your audience is able to see them from as many angles as possible, which means taking into account the layout of the space you’re working in. If you are creating wayfinding panels for an attraction with multiple floors or levels, it’s important to take into consideration how visitors will orient themselves and find their way around. 

Place them in high-traffic areas so they will be seen by as many people as possible, get creative with what kind of visuals you use on them to increase engagement. Consider using directional arrows or symbols so visitors won’t feel lost when navigating through your attraction’s different levels.

Educational panels are worth the investment

Educational panels are a powerful tool for communicating information, and if done right can have a huge impact on visitor experience. Designing educational panels is an art form where we bring our creative skills to bear in order to create engaging visuals that will inform and delight your visitors.