Running Shoe Checklist and Guide
I created this multi-page job aid to provide running store customers with information on how to pick the right running shoes for their needs. I developed this guide as part of a project for my Instructional Development and Production course at Indiana University.
Audience: Running Beginners
Responsibilities: Instructional Design, Graphic Design
Tools Used: Canva and Adobe Illustrator
Preliminary Sketches
The research for this project was conducted using online sources such as running shoe brand websites, running blogs, and medical journals. I also utilized my own experiences in long distance running. All the data about the shoes was acquired from Fleet Feet, an American based franchise that specializes in running shoes and apparel. I tailored the poster for a specific company to create consistency amongst the data presented.
To determine the overall content and layout, I began by creating preliminary sketches. Before sketching, I outlined the key sections I wanted to include, which consisted of four checklist items: stability requirements, surface considerations, cushioning, and heel drop. My initial layout was horizontal, but I found it limited the amount of information I could clearly convey. As a result, I redesigned the layout into two separate documents that can be displayed side by side, allowing for clearer presentation and more space for essential details.
Creating the Final Design
I created the final design using Canva. The color scheme for this guide was inspired by the bright, bold colors commonly seen in running shoes. These colors serve not only an aesthetic purpose but also enhance visibility and safety for runners. To complement this visual style, I selected bold typefaces for the headers, maintaining a consistent, attention-grabbing design throughout the guide.
The images of all the shoes were pulled from the Fleet Feet website, and the graphics were copied over from the “Running for Beginners” infographic. As mentioned before, the biggest change I made from the preliminary sketches was going from one page to two pages. This allowed me to expand on each item on the checklist.
