Aromatherapy Project
An interactive course designed with
Articulate Storyline
Defining the Problem
For this project, I drew from my experience in the wellness industry to conceptualize Moon Magic Massage Studio and a problem this small business might be having: the Studio owners had been excited to launch new aromatherapy products and services but found that client buy-in was not what they had hoped for.
Reviews showed that clients were confused about the effects of the different essential oils being offered and as a result were not booking aroma-massages or purchasing the oils.
The Studio wanted to increase sales, but they were not sure how to go about it.
Business goal: a 10% increase in sales of aromatherapy products and services by the end of the quarter.
Finding the Solution
I created a Mind Map to brainstorm potential solutions to the problem and find a way to codify messaging. A short course administered to staff members would help to ensure that clients were being given clear and consistent information about the products and services.
From the Mind Map, I was able to identify the actions learners would need to take that would lead to increased sales. I drafted my learning objectives with these goals and actions clarified:
After taking this course, learners will be able to:
describe the aroma of each oil
select the appropriate oil to treat specific symptoms
highlight the wellness benefits of each oil
Next, I developed a text-based story board that would outline the images and programming for each slide of the course, keeping each content element aligned with the learning outcomes. I developed a custom menu to optimize learner choice; a tab interaction, including only minimally necessary information; a drag-and-drop activity that would allow users to practice applying the information; assessment questions that asked users to put themselves in real-life, work-related situations.
I used text entry variables to personalize the experience by having the learner submit their name upon entering the course. Their name would then appear on the final screen along with their assessment score, which could be reported to the LMS.
The full storyboard is available here.
I also began visual prototyping using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe XD. I used color theory to choose a palette that conveyed calm while also projecting authoritative knowledge on the subject. I tested an array of images before landing on plant drawings that were consistent in feel and design and that fit within the overall theme of the course.
Full Development
On the menu tab, I highlighted learner choice: they could learn first, or try their hand at the practice exercise to see what they already knew. Or, using the home button, they could go back and forth between the two. I used true/false variables and conditions to keep the test locked until both of the other activities had been completed.
On the tab interaction page, I managed the cognitive load by including streamlined text and an image for a single plant at a time, rather than presenting all of the information on a single slide. In this way, the learner is not overwhelmed and can more easily absorb the content. Only minimally necessary information is included and is aligned with the learning objectives for the course.
The Practice activity asks users to drag each plant to the bottle labeled with a succinct description of its properties. If the plant is dragged to an incorrect bottle, it snaps back to its original position. Once it is correctly placed, the plant image appears on the bottle, reinforcing connection between plant name, image, and properties.
For the Test activity, learners are asked five questions, each of which directly aligns with the learning objectives. I created a bank of ten questions in total, so if the user fails to answer 80% correctly, the questions are shuffled and new ones are asked. If they mouse over the "hint" button, an image of the correct plant - but not the name - will appear. Users associate the name of the plant with its image and properties.
Companion Project for Clients
I also created a companion project for this piece, a tab interaction for clients that would appear on the Moon Magic website. Here, I reversed the tab interaction so that the pages were labeled by a symptom or condition that a client might have, rather than the name of the oil. In this way, a client could easily find out which oil might be best matched with their current needs. I also included a bit more "general interest" information about the plants that clients might appreciate, since it would not be necessary for clients to retain this information in the same way it would be for staff.
