The Visual Lounge – Details, episodes & analysis

Let’s get those creative muscles working! The secret to great learning content is just as much about creativity in your messaging as the content itself. How you deliver your content is key to that information being absorbed and remembered, so don’t be afraid to get a little creative.

In this episode, host Matt Pierce sits down with Tim Slade, Founder of The eLearning Designer’s Academy and renowned expert in visual communications. His top tip for creators using images or videos? Tap into your creativity. Remember when you were a kid and could dream up just about anything? Don’t lose sight of that! As adults, many of us lose the natural creativity and imagination we explored as kids, but Tim explains that we can tap into that again by trying something a bit different (and being okay if it doesn’t work out).

Tim shares how he uses modern tools to bring his imagination to life and how he gets inspiration from just about anywhere he looks, from TV commercials to ads at airport kiosks. He explains why he approaches animation design like a theater production, seeing each little element as its own character telling a story.

Tim offers some great insights into his processes, why he values simplicity, and how he gauges whether his work will be effective. We also talk about the elephant in the room… AI and its impact on learning design. Tim cautions us against over-reliance on AI and explains that human creativity is what will really set your design apart.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 00:23 Introduction
• 00:23 - 01:55 Tim’s top tip for getting better at using images or video
• 01:55 - 03:40 Why sometimes simple tools are the best way to bring your imagination to life
• 03:40 - 05:33 How Tim finds inspiration everywhere he looks
• 05:33 - 07:17 Tim’s balanced method of using repeatable processes and new ideas
• 07:17 - 09:02 How to know when to stop – the signal vs. noise test
• 09:02 - 10:27 How to assess whether your work will be effective or not
• 10:27 - 12:41 The role of AI in learning design and why it’s no replacement for creativity
• 12:41 - 14:35 Tim’s advice on experimenting with new ideas
• 14:35 - 18:18 How to find the time to play with new ideas
• 18:18 - 21:35 Speed round questions
• 21:35 - 22:17 Tim’s final take
• 22:17 - 23:11 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sladetim/
• The eLearning Designer's Academy: https://elearningacademy.io/
• Subscribe to The eLearning Designer's Academy YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2CE3YBPX53oeKVsiTbhX2w?sub_confirmation=1

Did you know that humans process visual information 30 times faster than blinking? And that we’re far more likely to remember things we see than things we hear or read?

In other words, there’s a good reason that marketing and educational content have become so visual-centric. Visual content is the very best way to get your audience to consume, understand, and retain your message. But how do we make sure we’re using visuals effectively?

Joining this episode of The Visual Lounge is Nicky Pasquier, a marketer, YouTuber, and certified Canva whizz. She explores how to tie your visual content closely to your business and branding aims, and explains what brands often get wrong about visual content. We also hear about her process of using Canva and TechSmith tools to create consistently great imagery for her brand.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 02:34 Nicky’s top tip for using visuals effectively
• 02:34 - 03:48 Nicky’s advice for staying consistent with visual branding
• 03:48 - 06:16 Why businesses are still struggling with visual branding
• 06:16 - 07:53 How to find a balance between entertaining content and content that drives results
• 07:53 - 09:27 How businesses can create more effective content
• 09:27 - 14:37 The role of emotion in images and videos
• 14:37 - 16:58 Common pitfalls for using images consistently
• 16:58 - 18:20 The role of color in visuals
• 18:20 - 21:30 Advice for learning about the psychology of color
• 21:30 - 23:09 How color fits into Nicky’s content
• 23:09 - 24:50 Speed round questions
• 28:38 - 29:52 How to connect with and learn more about Nicky’s work
• 29:52 - 31:09 Nicky’s final take
• 31:09 - 32:17 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Nicky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickypasquier
• Follow Nicky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicky.pasquier
• Visit Nicky's Website: https://www.nickypasquier.com
• Subscribe to Nicky's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NickyPasquier

What comes to mind when you think of workplace communication? Do your eyes glaze over when someone fires up the latest PowerPoint presentation? Sadly, boring workplace comms is pretty common, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt has a great conversation with Grant Crowell from Design Laboratory Inc, a Senior Training Specialist at Microsoft, and author of the book, GRANTASMS: Creative twisted words for cool people!

Grant explains his approach to making workplace communication more fun and engaging – and why that results in better information absorption. He explores why storytelling is so important as well as the use of visuals, video, and what he calls “playful mindfulness.” We also hear his thoughts on using AI and acronym-speak in the corporate world, plus why he prefers to come up with his own fun names for corporate terms.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 01:51 Introduction
• 01:51 - 03:21 Grant’s top tip for making images or video better
• 03:21 - 05:11 The importance of story in communication
• 05:11 - 11:53 Why workplace communication is often boring
• 11:53 - 17:12 Practical steps for transforming your communication style
• 17:12 - 20:42 How to help people overcome resistance and hesitancy to make communication more fun
• 20:42 - 24:59 The role of video in avoiding boring content 
• 24:59 - 32:44 Speed round
• 32:44 - 33:21 Grant’s final take
• 33:21 - 34:29 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Grant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantcrowell/
• Subscribe to Grant’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/grantcrowell/
• Grant’s book, GRANTASMS: Creative twisted words for cool people!: https://www.amazon.com/GRANTASMS-Creative-twisted-words-people/dp/0578523469/

Mistakes – everyone makes them, but most of the time we try to hide them. What should we be doing instead?

Acknowledging that we’re not perfect while looking for ways ‘level up’ in every single video we make.

That’s why in this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce, Learning & Video Ambassador, explores the six top mistakes he still makes in his videos. Matt doesn’t just point out the blunders, he also gives clear and precise steps on how to tackle them.

So, if you find yourself making the same mistakes over and over in your videos, you’re in pretty good company. In Matt’s view, perfection is a tough goal to meet, but taking a proactive approach to get better at video creation is the way forward.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 00:19 Intro
• 00:20 - 02:08 Why we’re going to be discussing common video mistakes
• 02:09 - 04:51 The importance of leaving breathing room when making videos
• 04:52 - 07:24 How to solve the issue of leaving breathing room in videos
• 07:25 - 15:55 Why you should map out your video content beforehand
• 15:56 - 17:42 The importance of being intentional about editing
• 17:43 - 19:24 Why people make the mistake of not being aggressive during the editing process
• 19:25 - 20:56 Things to consider when editing
• 20:57 - 26:26 Why you should dial it down on the transitions
• 26:27 - 31:24 The importance of watching your videos before rendering it
• 31:25 - 40:39 Why analyzing your video afterward is necessary
• 40:40 - 42:23 Matt gives a recap of the 6 common mistakes he tends to make in video creation
• 42:24 - 42:42 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Download Camtasia 2022: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia-upgrade.html
• Learn more about the TechSmith Academy

Getting started with video creation? Then one of the most basic things you need to master is how to choose the right types of videos and images to get your message across.

With that in mind, Matt Pierce, Learning and Video Ambassador at TechSmith, talks about the ABCs of making videos in this episode of The Visual Lounge. As he tells us, video creation isn’t as hard as some people make it out to be. But there are some key decisions that can either make or break the final product.

Learn the secret formula for a great video structure, as well as what kind of videos or images to use in different scenarios in the full episode.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 02:55 - 05:08 Matt shares a few things to keep in mind as you start creating videos
• 05:09 - 07:03 Why the purpose of your video is important
• 07:04 - 09:15 How to think about the structure of your videos
• 09:16 - 14:59 The basic parts of a video
• 15:00 - 18:49 Matt talks about video structure in terms of a bigger framework
• 19:50 - 22:21 How to budget the time you spend on different aspects of your video
• 22:22 - 22:56 Picking the right visuals
• 22:57 - 27:56 What equipment do you need to make videos
• 27:57 - 24:21 Goals vs Outcomes when creating videos
• 24:22 - 26:09 Choosing the right images and/or videos for an information share out
• 26:10 - 32:13 Choosing the right images and/or videos for repeated questions
• 32:14 - 39:35 Things to consider as you go through repeated questions
• 39:36 - 45:39 Choosing the right images and/or videos for training
• 45:40 - 49:47 Choosing the right images and/or videos for feedback
• 49:48 - 55:55 Matt’s tips for anyone starting out
• 55:56 - 57:22 Conclusion
• 57:23 - 57:47 Outro

Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.

Camtasia 2022 unlocks even more great features and capabilities than ever before.

Joe Dearman, User Experience, and Brooks Andrus, Product Technical Manager at TechSmith, hopped on to this episode of The Visual Lounge to share their favorite features, what to expect from Camtasia 2022, how its “epic cursors” work, and much more.

Joe and Brooks take us behind the scenes of Camtasia’s development and how this new iteration aims to help video creators level up their content. Find out what new features to expect and see some sneak peek demos in the full episode.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 0:00 – 4:06 Intro
• 4:07 – 5:39 The elevator pitch for Camtasia 2022
• 5:40 – 7:46 The path from idea to delivery
• 7:47 – 10:59 What’s new with cursors in Camtasia 2022
• 11:00 – 14:39 Why the TechSmith team decided to focus on cursors
• 14:40 – 19:37 Why cursors are the new “lead actor” of videos
• 19:37 – 21:10 How to avoid overdoing it with cursor sizes
• 21:11 – 22:45 Camtastia demo time
• 22:46 – 27:20 Building a new central location in Camtasia
• 27:20 – 35:08 Camtasia’s new templates and assets
• 35:09 – 40:06 The stars of the new library and what was most fun to develop
• 40:07 – 46:06 How to use Audiate within Camtasia to edit audio with text
• 46:06 – 48:08 Brooks' and Joe’s top Camtasia features
• 48:08 – 50:47 What it’s been like working in the TechSmith development team
• 50:47 – 58:22 Speed round
• 58:22 – 59:22 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html
• What’s New in Camtasia 2022: https://www.techsmith.com/learn/tutorials/camtasia/whats-new-camtasia/
• Upgrade to Camtasia 2022: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia-upgrade.html

Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.

Introducing video content to your arsenal is not an easy task. It’s a gradual procedure, and mistakes will certainly be made along the way. But that’s OK.

In this episode, master virtual trainer Kassy LaBorie joins Matt Pierce on The Visual Lounge for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create her first video for her business. From the early planning stages to nailing your script (or deciding whether you need one), Matt and Kassy discuss how to navigate the basics when stepping into the world of video.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 – 01:10 – Intro
• 01:10 – 01:51 – Matt introduces Kassy
• 01:51 – 02:47 – Matt introduces the premise of the episode
• 02:48 – 04:29 – Why Kassy wants to make a video
• 04:29 – 05:31 – Matt and Kassy discuss advantages of video content
• 05:31 – 08:44 – Kassy explains her ideas for her first video
• 08:44 – 12:48 – Pinpointing an ideal outcome for the video
• 12:50 – 15:53 – Choosing how to host a video
• 15:54 – 20:39 – Measuring whether a video is serving its purpose
• 20:41 – 24:32 – Forming a message to connect with the target audience
• 30:53 – 37:51 – How to formulate a scripting plan
• 38:23 – 48:56 – Building on from engaging introductions
• 49:06 – 57:11 – Kassy asks Matt final questions and next steps
• 57:12 – 58:46 – Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Kassy’s website: https://kassyconsulting.com/
• Connect with Kassy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/
• TechSmith Academy Scripting Course: https://academy.techsmith.com/basics-of-writing-using-scripts

Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.

Video creation skills aren’t “built in a day.” Like everything else worth learning, it's a gradual process that you’ve got to embrace every step of the way.

To share the story behind his stellar video creation skills, Jeff Batt, Learning & Development Specialist and Founder of Learning Dojo, joins The Visual Lounge. He takes us back in time to where it all started to talk about his humble beginnings in video creation. Jeff also explains his production process and shares some insightful advice for anyone looking to up their video-making skills.

Jeff has a wealth of experience ranging 10+ years in the digital learning and media industry. He also has a strong background in web development and is a regular conference speaker covering eLearning technologies such as Captivate and Camtasia.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 00:39 Intro
• 00:40 - 01:46 Matt tells us a bit about Jeff
• 01:47 - 03:27 Jeff shares additional insights about himself
• 03:28 - 05:28 How Jeff got his start in video making
• 05:29 - 08:24 Jeff’s evolution as a video creator
• 08:25 - 10:28 Challenges Jeff first encountered when developing his video skills
• 10:29 - 15:00 Jeff talks us through his gear setup
• 15:01 - 17:29 The equipment you should get if you’re just starting out
• 17:30 - 21:35 Common mistakes beginners should avoid
• 21:36 - 29:24 Jeff’s video and learning content creation process
• 29:25 - 31:46 Agile vs Waterfall methodologies
• 31:47 - 40:13 How Jeff plans out multiple pieces of content as opposed to one video
• 40:14 - 42:10 What interface Jeff uses on his Rode Procaster
• 42:11 - 43:44 Where to find Jeff online and on social media
• 43:45 - 52:39 Matt’s speed round questions
• 52:40 - 53:27 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Learning Dojo: https://learningdojo.ninja/
• Learning Dojo’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/c/LearningDojo
• Jeff’s Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jeffbattlxd
• TechSmith’s Video Gear Wish List: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/video-gear-wish-list/

Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.

To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/how-i-improved-my-videos/

Whether you’re an L&D professional, video creator, or a software developer, your industry has probably been bitten by the hybrid work bug in one way or the other.

This isn’t a challenge we can master overnight, but all it takes is the right information to get you moving in the right direction.

Michelle Massey, VP of Community Outreach and Customer Operations at TechSmith, joins Matt on this episode to share some practical steps and advice that make for a more wholesome hybrid work environment. She talks about organizational culture and how it affects the hybrid work setup and also doles out a few tips on how to communicate better in a hybrid work environment.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 - 00:49 Intro
• 00:50 - 01:34 Matt introduces Michelle
• 01:35 - 02:56 Michelle shares some insights about herself
• 02:57 - 05:27 Why the topic is vital for everyone regardless of industry
• 05:28 - 07:13 A practical example of how to communicate in a hybrid environment
• 07:14 - 14:57 What role does organizational culture play in establishing hybrid work environments
• 14:58 - 19:04 How to manage communication in a hybrid work environment
• 19:05 - 21:17 What is hybrid work
• 21:18 - 28:28 Tips to enhance better hybrid communication
• 28:29 - 37:30 How to be resilient as work conditions evolve
• 37:31 - 45:28 How Michelle’s communication approach has changed since she started using Snagit and Camtasia
• 45:29 - 53:08 Speed round questions
• 53:09 - 53:38 Outro

Important links and mentions:

• Reach out to Michelle: m.massey@techsmith.com
• Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-massey-32970b4/

Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.

To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/effective-hybrid-workplace/

Microphones, lights, and cameras —the trifecta of good video creation.

But this time, we’re focusing on lighting and all the amazing things it can do for your videos.

Here’s the thing about lighting, it doesn’t just affect picture quality. It also sets the mood and tone for any video you’re creating.

So, if you’re looking for pointers on how to use camera lighting to your advantage, this episode of The Visual Lounge is a good place to start.

Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador, delves into everything you need to know, from using natural and artificial lighting to how to get good lighting on a budget. It’s an episode packed with useful information that’ll bring you one step closer to mastering video lighting.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:04 - 01:25 Intro
• 01:26 - 02:30 Why lighting is the number 2 thing to consider in video creation
• 02:31 - 06:02 How lighting affects picture quality
• 06:03 - 08:44 What happens when you have too much light
• 08:45 - 10:13 Finding the right lighting balance
• 10:14 - 13:34 What to do without lights
• 13:35 - 14:26 Why it’s better to use natural light in gloomy weather
• 14:27 - 15:11 Tips for using windows as a source of light
• 15:12 - 17:10 Matt explains color temperature
• 17:11 - 18:16 How to match color
• 18:17 - 23:11 How to direct lights in different environments
• 23:12 - 25:19 Figuring out your lighting on a budget
• 25:20 - 27:43 Matt’s take on ring lights
• 27:44 - 32:51 How to make your lighting work better using diffusion
• 32:52 - 36:26 Adding color to your lighting
• 36:27 - 37:58 The role of lighting in the grand scheme of video making
• 37:59 - 39:05 Conclusion

Important links and mentions:

• Basics: Lighting Your Video: https://academy.techsmith.com/basics-lighting-your-video
• How to Get the Perfect Lighting for Video: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/get-perfect-lighting-video/

Learn more about the TechSmith Academy.

To read the blog post on the topic or watch the video, go to: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/lighting-yourself-on-camera