The Visual Lounge

Have you ever watched a learning video and felt completely overwhelmed, even though the topic itself wasn't that complicated? That feeling of mental exhaustion is cognitive overload, and it's often the result of poor instructional design.Host Matt Pierce introduces Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), a framework that explains how our brains process information and, more importantly, how we can design learning experiences that work with our cognitive limitations rather than against them.Matt breaks down the three types of cognitive load: intrinsic (the inherent difficulty of the material), extraneous (unnecessary mental effort caused by poor design), and germane (the beneficial mental effort that leads to real learning).Throughout the episode, Matt shares practical, actionable strategies that video creators can implement immediately to create videos that teach rather than overwhelm.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:00 Introduction to cognitive overload in learning videos01:00 - 02:30 What cognitive load theory is02:30 - 03:45 A closer look at the three types of cognitive load in practice03:45 - 05:17 Managing content difficulty05:17 - 07:00 Timing actions for visual clarity07:00 - 09:46 Removing distractions and simplifying visuals09:46 - 11:00 Simplifying learning for better retention11:00 - 11:50 Promoting deeper understanding in videos11:50 - 13:10 Practical application and resources for creating effective training videos13:10 - 13:30 OutroImportant links and mentions:Learn more about Dr Richard Mayer’s principles for multimedia learning: https://www.digitallearninginstitute.com/blog/mayers-principles-multimedia-learningFind more resources from Jonathan Halls: https://jonathanhalls.com/

Lo-fi and authentic works. Just look at the best short-form creators, they’ve figured out engagement. They know how to be authentic, intentional, and drop hooks that make people actually want to watch. No matter what kind of video’s you make, what can you learn from how short-form creators do it?In this episode of The Visual Lounge, host Matt Pierce explores how creators, educators, and businesses can borrow the best parts of short-form video to make any kind of video more effective. Matt unpacks why lo-fi, authentic content often outperforms polished production, how to apply short-form storytelling techniques to training and learning videos, and what it means to create “content like short-form” rather than “for short-form.”He also shares practical insights on hooks, energy, experimentation, and repurposing, plus how AI tools are helping teams create faster without losing their human touch.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 02:14 The rise and impact of lo-fi, authentic short-form video02:14 – 03:08 Why short-form video matters for all creators 03:08 – 05:05 Make content like short-form, not for short-form05:05 – 07:01 How to make any topic engaging07:01 – 07:27 Keep things moving to keep viewers engaged 07:27 – 08:20 Why energy makes your videos more engaging08:20 – 09:13 Experiment often and use feedback to improve09:13 – 12:31 Hook your audience early with curiosity and story12:31 – 16:04 Batch produce and repurpose your videos  16:04 – 16:59 How AI can help you create and edit faster16:59 – 18:23 Choose the right video length for your audience18:23 – 18:48 Keep learning from short-form creators as trends evolve  18:48 – 20:17 Lo-fi and authentic content builds real connection 20:17 – 21:27 Outro Important links and mentions:TechSmith Unlocked: https://discover.techsmith.com/techsmith-unlocked-2025/   Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/  

We've all been there, clicking on an instructional video only to sit through minutes of backstory when all we wanted was the solution. In a world where attention spans are shrinking, viewers want one thing: get to the point.For this episode, we're revisiting a fantastic conversation with Doug Brunner, Customer Education Manager at TechSmith. Doug knows firsthand what makes instructional content work (and what makes viewers click away). He shares why leading with the 'how' beats starting with the 'why,' and reveals the secret to keeping audiences engaged from the first second.You'll hear Doug's biggest pet peeves about instructional videos, his take on the webinar vs. video debate, and some insider tips on using Camtasia and Snagit features that can transform your content.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 05:06 Introduction05:06 - 10:01 Maximizing impact and the power of saying "no" to requests10:01 - 14:03 Webinars vs videos: Pros, cons, and when to use each14:03 - 17:31 Why defining your goals first changes everything about your content17:31 - 21:58 Doug's biggest instructional video pet peeve21:58 - 25:15 The truth about attention spans, how long do you really have?25:15 - 31:09 Three go-to features in Camtasia you should be using31:09 - 32:18 Why the viewer is the hero of your story, not the cursor32:18 - 37:30 Doug's three go-to tools in Snagit for better visuals37:30 - 42:32 Opinions on human avatars and generated voices in educational content42:32 - 43:34 How to determine the perfect video length43:34 - 46:36 What really counts as "bad video" and "bad audio"46:36 - 48:06 Using rounded corners in Snagit and Camtasia48:06 - 49:05 Outro and final thoughtsImportant links and mentions:Connect with Doug on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-brunner-b193abbExplore our Tutorials and Training: www.techsmith.com/learnCheck out our Webinars: www.techsmith.com/webinarsCamtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/  Snagit: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit/

AI is transforming how we create content, but there’s also a growing problem: AI slop. It’s the flood of auto-generated videos, images, and text that takes up space without adding value; and we’re seeing it everywhere. So how do you use AI to enhance your work without the noise?  Host Matt Pierce introduces TechSmith’s HUMAN Framework, a practical approach to keeping the human element at the center of AI-assisted content creation.  We hear why your expertise and lived experience gives you access to nuance that AI can’t replicate, how authenticity has become currency in content creation, and why treating AI as a thought partner rather than a replacement leads to better outcomes.  Matt also shares TechSmith’s philosophy on AI integration, including their approach to control and customization in tools like Camtasia AI. While AI is the worst it's ever going to be (meaning it will only get better), the choices we make now about how we use it will determine whether we're creating valuable content or just more noise. Learning points from the episode include: 00:00 - 02:01 What AI slop is and why being able to identify it is crucial 02:01 - 02:28 TechSmith Unlocked event announcement  02:28 - 03:23 Introducing the HUMAN Framework acronym  03:23 - 04:40 H - Harness your expertise 04:40 - 05:38 How humans have access to nuance through lived experiences 05:38 - 07:47 U - Understand your audience.  07:47 - 09:00 M - Make it authentic, not artificial  09:00 - 10:31 A - Aim for better, not just faster  10:31 - 11:52 N - Never skip reviews  11:52 - 12:30 How to use the framework as your guide 12:30 - 13:00 Why you need to choose tools that keep you in control of the output 13:00 - 13:28 The importance of ethical AI partnerships  13:28 - 15:40 Control and customization in Camtasia AI  15:40 - 16:30 AI as an augmentation tool 16:30 - 17:17 Outro   Important links and mentions: TechSmith Unlocked: https://discover.techsmith.com/techsmith-unlocked-2025/   Camtasia: https://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/  

What if pro-level video creation didn't require a film crew, expensive equipment, or weeks of production time? Imagine literally describing what you want and having it appear on screen. We're living through a moment where AI video generation has gone from science fiction to "just about usable" reality. The technology is still rough around the edges (and yes, you might find yourself shouting at your computer.) But we're witnessing the evolution of something new. Joining us in this episode is Ellis Pratt, Director at Cherryleaf, a UK-based technical writing and training services company, and host of the Cherryleaf Podcast. He’s been actively testing Google's VEO 3 and figuring out how to make AI-generated video actually work for real-world business applications. He talks us through his creative process of combining VEO 3 with tools like Camtasia and Audiate and gives us an honest look at what it's really like to work with this technology.  Learning points from the episode include: 00:00 - 02:27 Introduction to  Ellis Pratt 02:27 - 03:09 Ellis’ favorite exhibit at the British Museum 03:09 - 04:13 Ellis’ biggest tip for using images and videos in their work04:13 - 05:49 How technical writing is changing with video content  05:49 - 08:48 Why Ellis started exploring AI-generated videos 08:48 - 12:24 Why VEO 3 beats other AI video tools 12:24 - 16:18 The process from prompts to final video 16:18 - 18:02 How Camtasia solves VEO 3’s limitations  18:02 - 23:02 The French New Wave Video example 23:02 - 25:09 Ellis’ advice for starting out with AI video 25:09 - 29:34 The e-learning video example  29:34 - 31:08 Final advice for working with VEO 3 31:08 - 35:42 Speed round questions  35:42 - 36:54 Ellis’ final take on AI video 36:54 - 37:57 Outro Important links and mentions: Connect with Ellis Pratt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellispratt  Find out more about Cherryleaf on the website: https://www.cherryleaf.com Watch the Cherryleaf Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cherryleafltd 

Customer education is a must-have for a lot of businesses these days, especially software companies. But reading thick manuals and wordy passages of jargon is no one’s idea of a good time. So what’s the key to great customer education?For this episode, we look back at an older conversation we had with Greg Mead. Back then, he was Senior Instructional Designer at ClickUp, so we talked about ClickUp’s approach to instructional videos and the power of GIFs in learning design. Since the episode first went out, Greg has moved on to become a Learning Experience Designer at FloQast.You’ll hear a bit about Greg’s background in video, how ClickUp experimented with different learning mediums, his advice for making engaging videos, and the best times to use GIFs.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:30 One tip for improving how you use GIFs or short videos01:30 - 03:33 GIF vs video: How to decide what media to use03:33 - 05:09 Why should we lean into visual mediums?05:09 - 07:30 The tipping point that took Greg from written instructions to video07:30 - 09:21 Continuous improvement in video09:21 - 11:50 How to make sure the videos are engaging and helpful11:50 - 15:05 How GIFs help to communicate advanced concepts15:05 - 16:53 Greg’s background as a video creator16:53 - 21:57 Speed round questions21:57 - 26:04 How to connect with Greg26:04 - 26:50 Greg’s final takeImportant links and mentions:Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gdmeadFollow Greg on X: https://x.com/gdmeadFollow Greg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregmead20/ Subscribe to Greg’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gdmead

What if we had to rebuild L&D from scratch? What could we do differently?There have been rumblings in the L&D world that roles are gradually going to be replaced by AI. While we don’t predict an L&D apocalypse coming our way, maybe it’s time to start thinking differently about the role of L&D in broader business terms. Joining this episode is Tracie Cantu, Chief Learning Strategist at her company, Your CLO, and a Training Advisory Board Member at TechSmith. Tracie comes on the show with two decades of experience leading L&D transformation at organizations like Meta, Atlassian, and Whole Foods Market.Tracie shares a bold vision for the future of L&D – we need to start thinking like business partners, not just L&D. She explains what she’d like to see more and less of in L&D, why we need a service catalog, and why the intake stage is the most important step in a consultation.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 01:52 Introduction to Tracie01:52 – 02:47 Tracie’s biggest tip for using images and video02:47 – 07:23 How Tracie would rebuild L&D from scratch as a team of business partners07:23 – 12:13 How smaller L&D teams can do more with less12:13 – 18:28 The most repeatable tasks you can do to scale your impact18:28 – 23:23 Skills all L&D professionals should start focusing on23:23 – 24:54 Tracie’s challenge for L&D people24:54 – 28:31 Speed round questions28:31 - 29:57 How to connect with Tracie and Your CLO29:57 - 31:00Tracie’s final take31:00 - 31:57 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Tracie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciemcantu/Your CLO website: https://www.yourclo.net/

The internet’s relationship with visuals and video has been a rocky ship over the past few years, constantly pivoting and evolving. And most creators are either playing catch up or are stuck playing by the same old rules with limited success. But luckily, we have Andy Crestodina, Co-Founder and CMO of Orbit Media Studios, on the show to share his current strategies on how to make your visuals truly effective.  Andy explains some of the top content mistakes he sees people make, how to use visuals to better deliver your message, and the number one thing you should never do with your website’s videos. We also hear his take on using AI as a “thought partner” to enhance your work by testing ideas, finding content gaps, and acting as your target audience, so you can talk to them whenever you need their perspective. Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 02:10 Introduction to Andy02:10 – 03:39 Andy’s biggest tip for using images or video03:39 – 05:50 How AI has changed how we use the internet and video05:50 – 07:37 Why you need to develop an elevator pitch for AI07:37 – 09:26 One mistake to avoid when using videos on your website09:26 – 12:18 Why you need to pretend to be your audience every week12:18 – 14:35 How to get better results with AI14:35 – 18:15 How Andy’s use of images and video has evolved18:15 – 20:30 The secret to continuous improvement when recording videos20:30 – 24:23 Why authentic is better than perfect24:23 – 25:10 Why Andy uses AI to improve quality rather than boost speed and efficiency25:10 – 29:12 Speed round questions29:12 – 29:55 How to connect with Andy and Orbit Media29:55 – 31:17 Andy’s final take31:17 – 32:14 Outro Important links and mentions:Connect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrestodina/Follow Andy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crestodina/Follow Andy on X: https://x.com/crestodinaOrbit Media Studios: https://www.orbitmedia.com/Orbit Media Studios on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Orbitmedia

Need to create an e-learning presentation but don’t have an eye for good visuals? This episode is for you! We revisit a great past episode with Diane Elkins, instructional design pro and owner of Artisan Learning. There’s so much solid advice in this episode on what works, what to avoid, and how visuals impact the learning experience (probably more than you think).Diane explains how bad visuals inhibit learning, why simpler is often better, and why “slides” are due a name change. Plus, she gets on her soapbox to explain the real goal of e-learning. We also look at some examples of pretty, plain, and hideous slides to compare, based on a real experiment Diane used to test out visual design. One thing to note: We do share some visuals in this episode of good and bad design choices, so for the full experience, we recommend checking out the episode on YouTube.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 – 02:44 Introduction to Diane and her work02:44 – 04:57 The role in visuals in e-learning04:57 - 07:33 Best practices for visuals and what to avoid07:33 – 11:11 Mindset shifts to avoid over-the-top visuals11:11 – 13:20 Why visuals are even more important in e-learning scenarios13:20 – 16:25 How to decide what information to put on a slide16:25 – 21:53 Diane’s pretty, plain, and hideous visual design experiment21:53 – 25:00 Why simple is often better for learning25:00 – 29:34 Why “is it helpful?” is the most important question to ask29:34 – 31:31 Why visual aids should always be in service of the audience31:31 – 38:42 An example of whether we should decorate or illustrate with visuals38:42 – 46:18 Can we fix it? Diane’s advice to bad design examples46:18 – 49:49 Speed round questions49:49 – 51:40 OutroImportant links and mentions:Visit e-Learning Uncovered: www.elearninguncovered.comVisit Artisan Learning: www.artisanelearning.comConnect with Diane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpelkins/

It’s time to ditch the lectures. The secret to creating powerful learning content that people actually pay attention to and use in their daily lives is all about action. Dr. Karl Kapp introduces us to action-based learning in this episode – his go-to tactic for making learning more engaging, useful, and practical. Karl is a Professor of Instructional Technology at Bloomsburg University and the author of multiple books, including Action-First Learning and Learning in 3D.He explains what action-based learning really looks like and why front-loading learners with bags of information is the wrong approach. His method is to throw learners into realistic scenarios and activities that break down the barrier of failure-avoidance.Karl also talks about the missing piece of most training sessions: reflection. He shares what good reflection activities look like and why it needs to be an ongoing process to get that new knowledge to stick.Learning points from the episode include:00:00 - 01:19 Introduction to Karl01:19 – 03:30 Karl’s number one tip for using images or video in learning03:30 – 05:35 What is action first learning? How it ties to psychology 05:35 – 09:15 How to avoid the feeling of failing in adult learning09:15 – 13:02 The ideal time for action-based learning13:02 – 17:57 Why reflection is essential to turn learning into action17:57 – 20:43 When to schedule reflection after a learning session20:43 – 25:34 How images and video add visual cues that support learning25:34 – 28:08 Speed round questions28:08 – 29:46 How to connect and learn more from Karl29:46 – 30:46 Karl’s final take30:46 – 31:38 OutroImportant links and mentions:Connect with Karl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlkapp/Subscribe to L&D Easter Eggs LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6599686641453977600Subscribe to Karl’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfKapp01Discover the Power of Coloring and Comics in Adult Learning! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4mP7RFgoTcAction-First Learning Video Playlist from Karl’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVi60d2W1s2bE8RKKRdOe4vViSITluUX8Curriculum for Getting Started with Action-First Learning https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/curriculum-getting-started-action-first-learning-karl-kapp-bq6pe/?trackingId=TPK40f%2BVTzmP6VL2fvMwlQ%3D%3DNew Kind of Super Hero Movie-A New Kind of Training? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-kind-super-hero-movie-a-training-karl-kapp-auh6e/?trackingId=Sg17J0QWSz%2BoaWIfOAc7aQ%3D%3D