How do you learn from message design experts?

1 Read books and articles

One of the best ways to learn from message design experts is to read their books and articles. There are many books and articles that cover the theory and practice of message design, such as Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath, Slide:ology by Nancy Duarte, and Writing That Works by Kenneth Roman and Joel Raphaelson. These books and articles can teach you the principles of message design, such as clarity, simplicity, relevance, credibility, emotion, and story. They can also show you examples of good and bad message design, and how to apply the principles to different media and situations.

2 Watch videos and presentations

Another way to learn from message design experts is to watch their videos and presentations. You can find many videos and presentations online that showcase the work of message design experts, such as TED talks, webinars, podcasts, and documentaries. These videos and presentations can inspire you with their creativity, innovation, and impact. They can also demonstrate how message design experts use various techniques, such as visuals, audio, animation, humor, and storytelling, to capture the attention, interest, and memory of their audience.

3 Analyze messages and feedback

A third way to learn from message design experts is to analyze their messages and feedback. You can do this by examining the messages that you encounter in your daily life, such as ads, emails, websites, social media posts, and news articles. You can ask yourself questions such as: What is the purpose and audience of the message? What is the main idea and supporting evidence of the message? How does the message use language, tone, style, and format? How does the message appeal to the emotions, values, and needs of the audience? How does the message overcome potential objections or challenges? How does the message call for action or change? You can also look for feedback on the messages, such as comments, ratings, reviews, shares, and reactions. You can ask yourself questions such as: How did the audience respond to the message? What did they like or dislike about the message? What did they learn or do because of the message? How did the message affect their attitudes or behaviors?

4 Practice and experiment

A fourth way to learn from message design experts is to practice and experiment with your own messages. You can do this by creating messages for different purposes, audiences, and contexts, such as emails, reports, proposals, slides, posters, videos, or podcasts. You can use the principles and techniques that you learned from the books, articles, videos, and presentations of message design experts. You can also try new ideas and approaches that you think might work better for your message. You can test your messages and get feedback from your audience, such as your colleagues, friends, family, or customers. You can ask them questions such as: Did they understand and remember your message? Did they find your message interesting and relevant? Did they trust and agree with your message? Did they feel any emotion or motivation because of your message? Did they take any action or change because of your message? You can use the feedback to improve your message design skills and learn from your mistakes and successes.

5 Join communities and networks

A fifth way to learn from message design experts is to join communities and networks that share your interest and passion for message design. You can find many communities and networks online and offline that offer opportunities to learn, share, and collaborate with message design experts and enthusiasts. For example, you can join online forums, groups, blogs, or courses that focus on message design topics and challenges. You can also attend offline events, such as workshops, seminars, conferences, or meetups, that feature message design speakers and activities. These communities and networks can help you expand your knowledge, skills, and resources for message design. They can also provide you with support, feedback, and inspiration for your message design projects and goals.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?