You suggested some great ideas as alternatives to using bullets. I’m new to your blog and so far have found it very insightful! Get the latest articles, resources and freebies once a month This was able to replace four separate bullet lists. In the media format example below, different multimedia file formats (on the right) are organized into a table by media type (on the left). The wondrous thing about a table format is that the values can be either words or numbers. If so, you may be able to transform your bullet list into a table. If you analyze your content carefully, you might find that several bullet lists can be associated into one category. Just remember to use grouping principles so learners will know which items are related to each other.īullet Point Alternative 6: Create a Table Also experiment with PowerPoint’s predefined diagrams. Place what would have been a bullet list item at the end of each spoke.įor alternatives to the radial design, consider a hierarchical chart when there are key points and sub-points. Then place spokes around this shape in the form of arrows or pointers. Place the topic or category in a circle or ellipse in the center. Use a radial diagram when information is at the same level. Silhouettes are a subtle way to add visual appeal without being too obtrusive.īullet Point Alternative 5: Draw a Diagram I prefer to use silhouettes when I want the text to be prominent. Then wrap the bullet list around the silhouette or shape, gently following its contours. When you use people cutouts to speak your points, no one will suspect this is a bullet list.īullet Point Alternative 4: Wrap the list around a muted pictureĪnother simple approach is to find a relevant silhouette or cutout of a person or object. This can work well as a summary of key points. If your learning design includes scenarios, you can use the characters to speak your bullets as shown below. The text is longer than a phrase, but this could work with a shorter statement.īullet Point Alternative 3: Let People Speak Your List
![download bullet points for word download bullet points for word](https://images.sampletemplates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Daily-To-Do-List.jpg)
Here is a similar idea using long horizontal boxes. If you need help finding suitable icons, check my Icon Collections page in Resources for suggestions. An image may also work as a mnemonic device to help a person retain information. Not only does this add visual appeal, but it suggests what the topic is about. Using the same text box idea as above, this approach adds icons to the mix. Below, what could have been a bullet list of eLearning design skills is placed in horizontally arranged text boxes with a 1 pixel border.īullet Point Alternative 2: Use icons to indicate the topic It can also be accomplished easily with basic graphic tools and in PowerPoint. With this approach, each point is more pronounced than in a list. Bullet Point Alternative 1: Use text boxesĪ simple alternative to a list is to place each item into a a text box that is arranged in a suitable layout. If you’re interested in more visual design ideas, see my book, Visual Design Solutions. Here are six bullet point alternatives you can create in any graphics program or in PowerPoint. By sprinkling in bullet point alternatives here and there, your minimal use of bullets will be more effective. The trick for going beyond bullet points is to think visually. Learners and audiences need novelty to maintain and sustain attention.
![download bullet points for word download bullet points for word](https://images.template.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/09150106/30-60-90-Day-Action-Plan-Word-Free-Download.jpg)
![download bullet points for word download bullet points for word](https://st4.depositphotos.com/9471600/19642/i/1600/depositphotos_196420018-stock-photo-bullet-point-word-dictionary-bullet.jpg)
That’s why you need bullet point alternatives to mix things up. Yet too many bullet points in an eLearning course or slide presentation can be repetitious and mind-numbing. When those near-perfect little circles are vertically aligned, readers can quickly process the text. Bullet points make a sequence of important ideas easy to read.