Welcome to our new brand!
Comments
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Christie, If you truly and authentically appreciate my input, rather than just saying so as part of the 'new language', I wonder if you might please express it by going over to this thread and posting an update.
https://community.udemy.com/t5/Course-Management/Standards/m-p/82738/page/6
This is not entirely unrelated to the branding issue, as I will now indicate.
I propose that there is a major fracture and fissure in the modus operandi and communication style that transcends the new branding.
The planning and implementing of change seems to bypass open discussion with Instructors, and the announcements after the event are utterly patronizing, always claiming that you have Instructors in mind while simultaneously cutting them out of decisions.
This is one reason why 'teach with Udemy' is a somewhat insulting misnomer.
Had the branding been announced and revealed a priori, your own web design instructors would have told you immediately of its shortfalls.
Furthermore, you did not announce the rebrand as work in progress for which you were still working out the kinks. You announced it as this amazing gift that was surely going to impress and excite us all.
The fact is, what you espouse and what you claim does not correlate with what you do.
And I think many Instructors have indicated that in relation to a vast range of issues, most often pertaining to:
1. unrequested changes perceived as abruptly introduced without consult
2. requested changes that remain ignored
The rebrand is just the latest issue to exemplify this 'meta problem'.
In my view, Udemy should radically rethink their strategy when it comes to contemplating, developing, implementing, and announcing any changes.
For example, since the promise to investigate the bogus accreditation issue, 1 month ago, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been extracted from students through misleading advertising that claim accreditation where none exists, helping to refund this inadequate rebrand.
I do think there has been sufficient time for Udemy to have the decency to update us on progress. This would provide clear evidence that Udemy really do take the concerns of Instructors seriously, for which there is ample evidence to the contrary, including the way the rebranding has been handled.
Thank you.
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Hi @Human-Science
I agree, I wish I had an update for you regarding accreditations. I know it was very important to you and many of the other top community members. We shared your feedback and the entire thread with several stakeholders. As you know with organizations as large as ours, roadmaps are created 6 mos to a year out. We are waiting to hear back when this will be prioritized. When we have that information, I will update the thread.In terms of our communication around the branding, this was a project that involved over 100 people and over a year of planning and executing. So while it may seem like we chose to work on the rebrand over the accreditation issue, the rebrand was already well underway and it required a lot of manpower. As with most rebrands, it was kept a secret from the public until we went live. We did, however, reveal our brand to a subset of instructors a week before the public reveal and had a really positive response. Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same.
As the new community manager, my goal is to increase transparency and route feedback to the right people. I’m 100% open to hopping on a call with you to hear your suggestions on how we could make your experience better.
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@LawrenceMMiller
I found the logo here:
https://www.udemy.com/ourbrand/
It's an SVG (meaning, an editable vector graphic that can be exported at any resolution). So I opened it in Adobe Illustrator and exported it a few ways:
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I am confused. Previous messages were clear that we were not authorized to use this graphic. Has that changed?
I see where this was in the message that you referenced, but it is not in the message that gave us the graphics we could use.
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Just checked what others were mentioning, and yeah looks like black on the bright purple fails for normal-sized text (text is considered "large" when it's 14 point font and bold or larger, or 18 points or larger). Anywhere on the site where the combo is used for normal-sized text, numbers, or an icon font, it's an accessibility violation.
source: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/ And white text on the seafoam color:
As used in the Instructor Social Media Graphics.
(Fun fact: For non-government websites like Udemy, accessibility compliance is required by law under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Typically only big companies get sued for having inaccessible websites/apps/software, since it's often not worth it to sue mom-and-pop shops, although they are required to have accessible websites all the same. But Udemy is big now... They certainly should be prioritizing WCAG compliance to avoid litigation.)2 -
@LawrenceMMiller
Ah that I don't know about. Can Udemy Instructors use the Udemy logo...
We were allowed to use it the day before yesterday, but you're right, I don't know about today.0 -
@LizBrownUX
Actually, Liz, we were very explicitly told that we were not authorized to use it and it was reserved only for official Udemy corporate use. At least five different instructors have asked for a graphic of the logo we can use and we have not received a helpful response.1 -
@ChrystieV
…. Shocker. Your special pool of instructors gave you really positive feedback. When is Udemy gonna figure out that your “pool” of select instructors clearly is not representative of the population at large? I keep telling Udemy this, but just keep getting ignored.This isn’t the first time your “pool” of instructors got it wrong.
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@Anonymous
We are trying to bring more diverse representation to our instructor groups. In the coming weeks, we will be reinvigorating the Community Champions program and accepting new applications. My hope is that the Champions will become involved in these exclusive sessions with the Udemy team in the future.Aside from the Champions program, you can also expect to see more AMA's and webinars with the Udemy team hosted inside of the community. All of this is to ensure that your voices are being heard and that you have more insight into the Udemy business.
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@LawrenceMMiller
Ah ok good to know! I guess I was thinking about the branded graphics they gave us previously that said "I Teach on Udemy" that had the Udemy logo on them:
https://brandfolder.com/udemy/instructors (link doesn't seem to work anymore)
So, it appears that the new text-only graphics ("I teach with Udemy") are the new version of what we had before. And that the branding team purposefully omitted the logo from those. Probably for the same reasons you referenced - where instructors were told to not use the logo before. (Copyright, brand image, whatever it was.) I guess what they've provided is all that they would like instructors to use.0 -
@LawrenceMMiller
@LizBrownUX
I'm hoping to have a more formal statement from the legal team regarding the use of the logo. In the meantime, I appreciate your patience as we work through this.2 -
1. What does 'hopping on a call' mean? ('...I’m 100% open to hopping on a call with you to hear your suggestions'). The phrase means nothing to me.
2. Could you please update the thread on accreditation to let Instructors know that this has not even been prioritized for investigation yet, rather than just leaving it unattended as if it does not matter.
3. Now let me get this straight. You are telling me that after one month of promising action relating to Udemy's collusion with mis-selling courses as accredited, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to report because Udemy has not even deemed it worth investigating yet? If so, that is a blatant example of Udemy pretending to take Instructor concerns seriously while actually not caring about them at all.
Increasing numbers of professional organizations are advising their members that Udemy is not an acceptable platform for professional development, because of this scam sham extortion, while Instructors have invested swathes of time in identifying this as a serious impediment.
Yet you are telling me that your organization is of such mammoth size that you have to schedule the investigation of such an issue 6 to 12 months in advance. I never heard of such a situation anywhere else. Forgive my audacity, but it sounds like an excuse to ignore Instructors, of which there are so many examples on this forum it is disheartening in extremis.
3. So now, in addition to alienating a whole professional demographic by refusing to take the sham accreditation issue seriously enough to investigate - even though a suggested solution has been offered to you on a plate - you have alienated the entire population of those requiring basic website accessibility, such as readability. That includes me.
4. It seems to me that what Udemy does is ignore, ignore, ignore. Ignore Instructors when they express concern over serious misrepresentation of courses to gain sales. Ignore Instructors when they tell you your pool of specially selected advisory Instructors is not representative. Ignore Instructors when they ask for features that are easy to implement. Ignore Instructors when they ask you to share possible changes with them before implementing them. Ignore Instructors when they ask you to address them as sophisticated adult educators with centuries of combined experience, rather than kindergarten children.
5. Given that you are now in touch with your legal team about the use digital assets, it may be prudent to warn them of the pending storm of retribution when class action law suits start appearing on their desk as the accreditation facade comes tumbling down. And those who report on the issue will rightfully say '...and Udemy were warned about this by their own Instructors but chose to ignore it'.
No organization or individual is invincible, and Udemy's hubris may well be its undoing.
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@ChrystieV
There is nothing on the App, what I teach and the courses I am enrolled in are simply not there…… (I checked after complaints from students, I discourage them from using it as it is such a poor experience for them)I previously used your branding kit as I was encouraged to do so…. I will not be using this one.
Not sure if it is the branding, however I have my worst selling promo in 5 years.Feedback from my students from my FB a group is it is cold and unfortunately sterile. They don’t understand what the new logo is about.
Real innovation like taking control of the fake accreditation would be appreciated - thanks @Human-Science
@for bringing it forward again. Your answer on the lack of action was not credible. Udemy are well aware of the problem….0 -
Hi, well, it will be a little unkind to pass on negative comments on the new branding that Udemy has just launched. But I feel as a family we should be the first ones to give correct feedback.
Purple & Black! Utterly disappointed!
This is a total mess, like many other changes that Udemy has brought in in the recent times in the guise of Upgrades.
The problem is a technically sound and a well qualified team who fails to understand users psychology. This has been happening with many big applications worldwide, surprisingly they choose to evolve for the worse.
So many drawbacks in the new design, not just one. Even the common sense will tell you what's wrong in the very first glance.
Well, I hope everything works as per plan of the company. All the best.
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Question on the branding: With the new logo using a lowercase "u" in udemy, will text references to the company name use title case "Udemy" or lowercase "udemy" ?
Whatever the answer, I would love to know the rationale behind it as I'm curious because I recently created a brand that has the same issue and struggled with the decision myself. I would love to know how you guys decided.
Thank you.
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Yikes! The old visual identity was much better. Sorry Udemy!
Also, it was a bit weird to tease us in advance and try to get us that excited. A new brand is cool and all, but won't get us instructors too excited since everything is pretty much the same. So meh... 1 -
Looks nice
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@ChrystieV
Maybe Udemy can tackle some of the major complaints (like the app) so this Instructor community is more than just a complaining board? 90,000 instructors and three people are the main comments. Something has to be done to make this a more welcoming environment where questions get answered that do not involve frustration over low sales. At this point, the community just takes time away from creating lessons.3 -
@ChrystieV
… so you want to rely on the feedback of community champions. What are the requirements for becoming a community champion? If part of that requirement is “always speak positive of Udemy”, like many of the current champions seem to do, I’m not sure what that buys you.So, what are the requirements to be a community champion? Because I’d apply if I thought it would ensure my voice is heard more closely - because I feel that my positions more closely align with those of the instructor community at large, than whatever feedback you are getting now.
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@Anonymous
There are two main requirements to be a Community Champion: (1) have a lot of time to put on the Udemy forum, and (2) write a lot (really a lot!) of posts, possibly containing links. The posts' content is not necessarily important or relevant as far as I can see, so just keep posting almost random stuff and you'll get the title0 -
I'm sure that his queries were rhetorical, but you've brilliantly highlighted why it has little weight.
' In the coming weeks, we will be reinvigorating the Community Champions program and accepting new applications. My hope is that the Champions will become involved in these exclusive sessions with the Udemy team in the future.'
There should be no reason why it takes a rank and privilege to gain exclusive contact with the Udemy team. They should be jumping upon this community taking full advantage of the ongoing enthusiasm that all dedicated instructors have for the platform, who are trying through blood sweat and tears to improve upon it.
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@Anonymous
For the Community Champions program, we are looking for vocal community members who aim to be mentors for other instructors and a sounding board for the community. Our goal is to make the community more of a resource center and a place to be inspired. Applications will be posted within the next few weeks and I encourage you to apply.@Human-Science
In terms of ‘hopping on a call’…I mean that I’m open to having a Zoom chat with you to hear more about your Udemy experience. I realize that many of you have been here longer than I have, and it’s important for me to get to know all of you better.@DanielEvans
Sorry for the confusion, Udemy consults with a variety of instructors, not just the Community champions.0 -
They should be consulting here in a public forum garnering non-bias opinions, of which, ample have been given already.
A divide only detracts from instructors having confidence in the platform.
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Udemy Champions was the people who engaged and helped back on the FB groups, when we moved to forums it was similar roles but most of us are back to 2017/18 on FB. I know some Champions were added in 2019.
Honestly I think right now it is just an honorific, Champions engage and try to help but not really any formalized structure or any real feedback capacity to/with Udemy.
I think the last formalized event was a breakfast at LIVE in 2019, I guess that may change soon.
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@DanielEvans
I agree that the community is a valuable channel for feedback. That is why we are working on different programs to route this feedback.@Thor
Yes! The Community Champions program will be slightly different going forward0 -
Eu gostei da mudança, ficou mais limpo, parabéns pelo novo visual. Só gostaria de saber se tem algum projeto para aumentar o valor pago aos instrutores porque hoje o valor repassado para nós é muito baixo.
Obrigada
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1. For the third time, will you please go to the bogus Accreditation thread and explain to all those instructors who devoted considerable time to that conversation that, not only has no action been taken, but the investigation has not even been scheduled, which may take a year. To withhold that information seems to be a scorching example of how Udemy claims to care about Instructors' concerns while simultaneously ignoring them. Had I not raised this issue again, would Udemy have left the thread in its falsely tagged 'Resolved' state, perhaps in the hope that people such as @LawrenceMMiller
, @ElizabethHeck
, @SharonRamel
, and @Anonymous
would forget about it.2. Thank you for offering to conduct a Zoom conversation with me.
However, I am not comfortable with that at the moment for the following reasons.
A. You are not short of feedback about Instructor experience. The forum testifies to that. The shortfall is in the substantive response to that experience from Udemy.
B. If you want to ask specific questions about my experience, surely it is more respectful to the community to do that in writing here, where it can be witnessed by everyone, without risk of loss in translation. What can be said and documented on Zoom that cannot be more eloquently and incontrovertibly articulated here?
Notwithstanding, I appreciate the offer.
Again, please attend to the bogus accreditation thread.
Thank you.
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Olá @CristinaVisão
, ficamos felizes que você gostou do nosso novo visual!Nós anunciamos à algumas semanas que iríamos fazer uma entrevista com o Vice-Presidente Sênior de Marketing e alguns instrutores aproveitaram para fazer perguntas sobre a parcela de receita do instrutor. Dentro de alguns dias iremos postar a entrevista em vídeo na nossa comunidade em português e você vai poder conferir uma resposta completa sobre isso.
Bella Almeida
Udemy Community
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Olá Bella Almeida!
Obrigada por sua resposta, fico no aguardo dos próximos passos.
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Hello @LawrenceMMiller
& @LizBrownUXI wanted to give you an update on the use of the Udemy logo. The Udemy logo is reserved for official Udemy communications and this is because anything with a Udemy logo on it can be legally taken to mean we endorse it. This was the case with our previous logos, too. With tens of thousands of instructors across the whole internet, we can't moderate that every promise or statement being made under our logo is one we can endorse.
The "I teach with Udemy" graphics provided in the social media kit were designed to show the relationship between Udemy & Instructors, just as the previous "I teach on Udemy" graphics did. However, it sounds like they may have missed the mark on design. We've heard that the graphics are clunky and they don't feel close enough to other recognizable elements of the Udemy brand. We're bringing this feedback to our design team -- are there any other specific points about the previous or new social media kit items you'd like to raise?
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