Using Snapshots to Design Better E-Learning: A Broadway-Inspired Storyline Challenge

My Challenge Topic Idea: Longest-Running Broadway Shows

I decided to build my Snapshot-inspired interaction around data for the Longest-Running Broadway Shows.

Why Broadway?

Because it’s familiar, visually rich, and emotionally engaging—great ingredients for learning design. Plus, entertainment data tends to be more approachable than traditional corporate metrics, which makes it ideal for experimenting with new visual approaches.

The Interactions

• The main visual is a pie chart, styled to resemble a USA Today Snapshot

• Each pie slice represents one of five different long-running Broadway show

• When the learner clicks a slice, the statistical details for that show appear:

  • Percentage of performances

  • Ranking compared to the other top-five shows

• The interaction encourages exploration rather than passive viewing

Instead of dumping all the data on the screen at once, the learner reveals it through interaction—mirroring how Snapshots invite curiosity at a glance.

What I Focused on in Storyline

From a design and development standpoint, this challenge let me practice several Storyline skills at once:

• Click-to-reveal interactions using layers and triggers

• Clean visual hierarchy so the chart stays readable

• Non-corporate styling (editorial colors, minimal text, playful typography)

• Intentional restraint—keeping the experience focused on one clear takeaway

This wasn’t about building a complex course. It was about designing a single, effective moment of learning.

Why Snapshots Work So Well for Learning

Snapshots succeed because they do a few things exceptionally well:

• They present one idea at a time

• They use visual metaphors instead of text-heavy explanations

• They encourage quick interpretation, not deep reading

• They feel editorial and modern—not instructional or corporate

That combination makes them perfect inspiration for:

• Data slides

• Knowledge checks

• Interactive charts

• Microlearning moments

• Scenario statistics or outcomes

For this Storyline challenge, I wanted to explore how Snapshot-style visuals could translate into an interactive learning experience, not just a static graphic.

How You Can Use This Idea in Your Own Courses

Snapshot-inspired design works beautifully for:

• KPI dashboards

• Survey results

• Before/after comparisons

• Quiz feedback screens

• Scenario outcomes

• Compliance data (yes—even compliance)

Anytime you’re tempted to drop a table or bar chart onto a slide, consider asking:

Could this be a Snapshot instead?

If the learner can understand the message in 3–5 seconds, you’re on the right track.

Final Thoughts

This challenge reminded me that great e-learning doesn’t always come from traditional training examples. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from journalism, editorial design, or even the arts.