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FutureLearn Introduces Modern and Visually Stunning Digital Certificates

For £34 (GBP) FutureLearners can get Digital Statements of Participation and a Printed Copy

FutureLearn, the largest MOOC provider outside of the US, recently announced in a blog post that they will be offering a digital Statement of Participation. Interestingly, FutureLearn carefully avoid saying the word “certificate” in the post.

FutureLearn has been offering a printed version of the Statement since April 2014. Now students who pay £34 (GBP) + shipping can get a digital Statement of Participation in addition to the printed copy.

It’s also possible to get the new-look digital and printed Statement for only £29 (GBP) + shipping under some specific circumstances, such as for a FutureLearn course that began before August 31 2015.

digital-statement-of-participation

The digital version of the Statement can be accessed immediately after the payment is processed, and at a unique URL on the FutureLearn website.

These Statements are similar to Verified Certificates offered by Coursera and edX, but with one major difference: there is no identity verification involved.

“You can easily share your Statements with friends or employers via social media or email; add them to your LinkedIn profile with one click; or include them in your online CV with ease.”
– Simon Pearson, Product Manager at FutureLearn 

Statement of Participation — The Design

In a blog post, FutureLearn’s Visual Designer, Kieran McCann, outlines the redesign process. The first step in the process was a survey of over 1,100 FutureLearners, aimed at understanding their needs. One need stood out above all others: students were asking for a digital representation of Statements. After a brainstorming and exploration process, FutureLearn began the restyling process. The designers focused on achieving three core principles in the new Statements: they should be Collectable, Valuable, and Celebratory.

03-SoP-design-blog-collectable

“We thought about their tactility and how learners might feel when they held them for the first time – it was vital to us that the new Statements felt like a premium product and couldn’t be produced on just any standard printer.”
– Kieran McCann, Visual Designer at FutureLearn 

The result of this process is a visually stunning, bright, and colorful certificate. It looks modern without sacrificing the “certificate” aesthetics that we all are used to. I can’t wait to complete my first FutureLearn course and feel the certificate in my hand.

Images provided by FutureLearn

Dhawal Shah Profile Image

Dhawal Shah

Dhawal is the CEO of Class Central, the most popular search engine and review site for online courses and MOOCs. He has completed over a dozen MOOCs and has written over 200 articles about the MOOC space, including contributions to TechCrunch, EdSurge, Quartz, and VentureBeat.

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