Explainer Video Illustration · Micro-Learning · Character Design · Educational Visuals

Knowledge Nuggets — Explainer Video Illustration for the Federal Acquisition Institute

Character design, backgrounds, visual assets and vector illustration created for “Knowledge Nuggets” micro-learning videos for the United States Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).

The artwork was developed as vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator, creating a consistent visual vocabulary of characters, environments and individual assets for short-form educational video content.

Federal Acquisition Institute webpage with micro-learning videos on acquisition topics. — The image is a webpage from the Federal Acquisition Institute titled “Knowledge Nugget.” It features a collection of micro-learning videos on acquisition topics. The highlighted media item is titled “5 Ws of an ACM,” providing an overview of the roles and responsibilities of an Acquisition Career Manager. An illustration shows a cartoon character with the word “WHO?” The page includes navigation links and a description of the video content.

The Assignment

Building a visual language for micro-learning

The “Knowledge Nuggets” project required illustration designed specifically for short educational videos produced for the United States Federal Acquisition Institute.

My contribution centered on the visual components used to construct these micro-learning pieces: character design, background and environment design, individual assets and finished illustrations.

Working in vector format made it possible to develop clean, clearly defined elements suitable for assembling educational scenes and maintaining a consistent visual language across the material.

Animated characters depict workforce management in professional settings for Federal Acquisition Institute. — The image collage consists of screenshots from a video featuring animated characters in various professional settings. The illustrations depict scenarios related to workforce management and the roles of an Acquisition Career Manager (ACM). The images include characters in business attire, graphs with upward trends, and labels such as “CAB” and “WORKFORCE” with green check marks. A section of text provides a brief overview of the responsibilities of an ACM. The background includes an emblem of the Federal Acquisition Institute.

Illustration Scope

Artwork designed for educational video

Character design for the micro-learning video material
Background and environment design
Individual visual assets for use within illustrated scenes
Finished illustrations for the Knowledge Nuggets material
Vector artwork created in Adobe Illustrator

Visual Storytelling

Illustration as part of the explanation

Illustration for explainer and micro-learning video has a different job from a standalone image. Characters, objects and environments need to function as parts of a sequence, giving the viewer recognizable visual cues as the information progresses.

That makes character and asset development part of the communication structure itself. The individual elements need to be visually clear on their own while also belonging to the same overall illustrated world.

Cartoon of a Program Manager's roles and skills from the Federal Acquisition Institute site. — The image is a screenshot from the Federal Acquisition Institute website titled “What is a PM?” It features a cartoon illustration of a man in an office setting with a labeled desk highlighting leadership skills, process management, and technical knowledge. The description mentions the content provides an overview of a Program Manager’s roles and responsibilities. Additional tags include project management and leadership.

Explainer Video Illustration

From complex information to visual sequences

The Knowledge Nuggets artwork is one example of my work for explainer and educational video, where illustration is developed around the information that needs to be communicated rather than added simply as decoration.

My broader Hand-Drawn Explainer Videos work includes visual development, storyboarding and illustration for businesses and organizations that need to make products, processes, technical subjects or other complex information easier to understand.

Federal Acquisition Institute webpage with micro-learning videos on acquisition roles and responsibilities. — The image shows a webpage from the Federal Acquisition Institute featuring a “Knowledge Nugget,” which is a collection of micro-learning videos on acquisition topics. The highlighted video provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of an Acquisition Career Manager (ACM). The page includes illustrations of people in business attire and a hand drawing in a video thumbnail.

Have something complex to explain?

If you are developing an explainer, training or educational video and need a clear visual approach, send me a short outline of the subject and what the audience needs to understand.

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