We craft interactive experiences specifically designed to enhance learning.

Our instructional designers interview your subject-matter experts and transform your industry specific information into a compelling narrative. Our designers work with your branding and corporate image to create visual and interactive web and presentation materials.

How much does e-learning cost?
E-learning is usually priced in terms of cost per hour of delivered content (This is also referred to as “seat time”; e-learning typically reduces course seat-time when compared to in-person training). Industry averages range from $10,000 per hour for basic, non-interactive content to $40,000 and above per hour for simulations, animations, and complex interactions. There are many ways to control your budget while delivering effective learning. One of the first things we do is discuss your goals and show you options for different budget levels. The most important consideration when it comes to paying for e-learning is the value it provides. An inexpensive solution that doesn’t work is just a waste of money. For more information on the cost-effectiveness of e-learning see http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/435/evaluating-e-learning-investments-with-cost-effectiveness-analysis/pageall.
How long does it take to build an e-learning course?
The typical development time for an e-learning course is 6-12 weeks from kickoff to the end-product. The first 30-50% of the time is spent gathering, writing, and reviewing content. The remainder is technical development time, during which the online course, media, and interactions are built, tested, and reviewed. How much time your own project will take is determined by the amount of content already prepared and the kinds of media and interactions you need. We’ve developed e-learning courses in as few as 5 days and worked on programs that spanned months. For a detailed look at the hours behind training development, see http://www.astd.org/LC/2009/0809_kapp.htm.
How do I get the course to my audience?
Almost any e-learning course can be distributed via a standard web server. If you want to track consumption of the content (that is, who took it, who completed it, how long they took, assessment scores, etc), you’ll need to deliver via a Learning Management System (LMS).The most commonly used standard for a course to communicate with an LMS is SCORM. All of the e-learning we develop is SCORM compliant and we’ve worked with many Learning Management Systems, large and small. Understanding and planning for delivery is one of first things we discuss with our clients.
Can I just make my own e-learning? Why should I hire a vendor to do it?
There are several software products that enable almost anyone to create SCORM compliant content and publish to an LMS. It is important to remember that cost-effectiveness is far more important than raw cost. Ask yourself: What kind of information are you presenting? How will be it presented to the learner? Will it be effective? Who will design the look and feel? Who will edit the content? Our team of professional instructional and visual designers takes content and makes it effective training. If your final product doesn’t work well, the true cost of making it yourself may be a good deal higher than you think. See http://www.elearning30.com/2009/01/06/what-is-the-true-cost-rapid-elearning/ for a brief discussion of this topic.
How does Sublime Media create e-learning?
It all depends on your existing IT and technology requirements. We’re experts in many technologies and methodologies:
.NET, ADDIE, AICC, Articulate, Captivate, HTML5, Illustrator, JavaScript, jQuery, LMS Integration, Photoshop, PowerPoint, SCORM, SharePoint, Silverlight, Software Simulation, SQL, Webinars
And that’s just a start. It’s our job to help you make the right technology choices.

  • Windows Live Photo Fuse Try It

    Delivered as part of the Microsoft/Southwest Holiday Photos on the Fly promotion, this module closely simulates the new Photo Fuse feature of Windows Live. Over 200,000 people experienced Windows Live through in-person and online demos. This demo requires Silverlight 3 or higher.

    Start Demo

  • WaMu Save / Close Process Training

    The Save/Close Process training is a 20 minute module for front-line bank employees, enabling them to practice their response to a request to close an account. This demo requires Silverlight 3 or higher.

  • Save/Close Process Five Steps

    The Save/Close Process training is a 20 minute module for front-line bank employees, enabling them to practice their response to a request to close an account.

  • Windows Vista Means Business

    Windows Vista Means Business was delivered to Microsoft OEM partners such as HP and Dell to help their phone sales force understand the benefits of Windows Vista for small businesses.

  • Agilent Technologies Biology and Technology courses

    Agilent commissioned a series of courses covering topics from molecular biology and gene expression to protein structure.

  • Agilent Technologies Biology and Technology courses

    Agilent commissioned a series of courses covering topics from molecular biology and gene expression to protein structure.

  • Microsoft IT Lifecycle 101

    This required course for Microsoft IT employees introduced the new Software and Hardware development lifecycle by building a hypothetical teleportation device and showing how the project would use the ITLC.
    Please Note: the screenshot shown is blurred to protect client confidential information.

  • Microsoft IT Lifecycle 101

    This required course for Microsoft IT employees introduced the new Software and Hardware development lifecycle by building a hypothetical teleportation device and showing how the project would use the ITLC.
    Please Note: the screenshot shown is blurred to protect client confidential information.

  • Microsoft/Yahoo! Search Alliance Overview

    This course uses an interactive mind map to explore the details behind the Microsoft/Yahoo! Search Alliance.

  • Washington Mutual Bank Fraud Busting Tools

    The WaMu Fraud Busting Tools were used as training courses and real-time tools for tellers to detect counterfeit identification cards. For each, card, we simulated the special features so tellers could quickly validate customers’ ID.

  • Washington Mutual Bank Fraud Busting Tools

    The WaMu Fraud Busting Tools were used as training courses and real-time tools for tellers to detect counterfeit identification cards. For each, card, we simulated the special features so tellers could quickly validate customers’ ID.

  • Microsoft Office Accounting Curriculum for Accountants

    The Microsoft Professional Accountant’s Network was formed to support Accountants using the new Office Accounting product. As part of the program, we created courses that awarded over 12 hours of Continuing Professional Education credits to Accountants.

  • Linux Personas

    Linux Personas is an interactive comparison of Linux users based on market research completed by Microsoft. It enables partners to profile their own customers and understand those customers’ needs.

How do you simplify your training so that your employees are receiving the training that they need? How do you track and measure your training to ensure it is having its desired impact?

How do you make it easy for your employees to discover their required and recommended training? How do you track and measure that training to ensure its effectiveness? We build online learning roadmaps for employees and managers to visually understand the next steps in their career development, track their progress, and launch learning activities from scattered corporate systems, aggregating everything into an experience that makes sense.

Can I use a learning portal to deliver content?
Yes, our learning portals can be coupled with an existing LMS or make use of our existing LMS in the cloud to deliver resources and training.
I already have an LMS. Why do I need a learning portal?
Most LMS’s are great at delivering a course and not-so-great at presenting personalized training plans. Our learning portals provide an easy to understand, role-based path through a curriculum. Think of your existing LMS as a library filled with content. The learning portal is the librarian that will guide you to exactly what you need.

  • Microsoft Advertising Partner Academy Learner View

    How did we deliver personalized learning plans to thousands of internal employees and external partners, customized by role, location, and new hire status, and allow managers to view completions and assign specific activities? Sublime Media created an internal and cloud-based learning portal and LMS to manage a growing Microsoft Advertising curriculum.
    Please Note: the screenshot shown includes placeholder text to protect client confidential information.

  • Microsoft Advertising Partner Academy Manager View

    How did we deliver personalized learning plans to thousands of internal employees and external partners, customized by role, location, and new hire status, and allow managers to view completions and assign specific activities? Sublime Media created an internal and cloud-based learning portal and LMS to manage a growing Microsoft Advertising curriculum.
    Please Note: the screenshot shown includes placeholder text to protect client confidential information.

  • Microsoft Yahoo! Search Alliance Learner Portal

    Signaling a massive shift in the online advertisement market, the Microsoft/Yahoo! Search Alliance is one of the most important strategic partnerships for Microsoft. Sublime Media worked with both companies to design a global in-depth online and in-person training program for employees and partners. As the only training vendor for this program, we have rolled out hundreds of hours of content to dozens of countries with rave reviews. To organize and customize the training for learners around the world, we developed the Search Alliance training Portal and Learning Passport.
    Please Note: the screenshot shown includes placeholder text to protect client confidential information.

  • Microsoft Yahoo! Search Alliance Learner Portal

    Signaling a massive shift in the online advertisement market, the Microsoft/Yahoo! Search Alliance is one of the most important strategic partnerships for Microsoft. Sublime Media worked with both companies to design a global in-depth online and in-person training program for employees and partners. As the only training vendor for this program, we have rolled out hundreds of hours of content to dozens of countries with rave reviews. To organize and customize the training for learners around the world, we developed the Search Alliance training Portal and Learning Passport.
    Please Note: the screenshot shown includes placeholder text to protect client confidential information.

  • Microsoft Yahoo! Search Alliance Learner Portal

    Signaling a massive shift in the online advertisement market, the Microsoft/Yahoo! Search Alliance is one of the most important strategic partnerships for Microsoft. Sublime Media worked with both companies to design a global in-depth online and in-person training program for employees and partners. As the only training vendor for this program, we have rolled out hundreds of hours of content to dozens of countries with rave reviews. To organize and customize the training for learners around the world, we developed the Search Alliance training Portal and Learning Passport.
    Please Note: the screenshot shown includes placeholder text to protect client confidential information.

  • Washington Mutual Learning Index

    With high turnover rates, banks have a particular challenge when training new tellers. To organize and present over 120 hours of new hire training, we created the Learning Index, which ran as a course in the Washington Mutual LMS and presented the customized learning plan for new tellers.

In an age of video conferencing and smartphones, there are still some things that are done better in person.

Classroom training can be engaging and affordable. We design the curriculum, materials, presentations, and activities that bring teams together, encourage participation, and reinforce your message. We’ve designed classroom training for global delivery for audiences—both large and small.

How much does Instructor-Led Training (ILT) cost?
The actual development costs for an hour of ILT is much lower than e-learning. Industry average costs range from $15,000 to $25,000 for one hour of ILT. When you add in the cost of facilities, printing, meals, travel, accommodations, and time spent away from the office, the total cost-per-learner can be higher for classroom training than e-learning.
So why spend more on ILT?
Because you can do some things far better in a facilitated class than an e-learning course. Roleplaying, in person Q&A, immediate feedback, and team building activities are all more effective in Instructor-Led Training.
How long does it take to create ILT?
Naturally, it all depends on the length of the course and the depth of the material to be covered. Sales training is very different from tools training, which is also very different from deep technical training. Course development time can take anywhere from one to three weeks for one hour of course content.
What kinds of materials can be created for use in in-person class?
We can create presentations, instructor guides, student manuals, handouts, and activities. We can run train-the-trainer sessions—so you are ready to deliver the course yourself—or our facilitators can deliver courses for you.

  • Microsoft Yahoo! Search Alliance ILT

    Signaling a massive shift in the online advertisement market, the Microsoft/Yahoo! Search Alliance is one of the most important strategic partnerships for Microsoft. Sublime Media worked with both companies to design a global in-depth online and in-person training program for employees and partners. As the only training vendor for this program, we have rolled out hundreds of hours of content to dozens of countries with rave reviews.

  • Microsoft Yahoo! Search Alliance ILT

    Signaling a massive shift in the online advertisement market, the Microsoft/Yahoo! Search Alliance is one of the most important strategic partnerships for Microsoft. Sublime Media worked with both companies to design a global in-depth online and in-person training program for employees and partners. As the only training vendor for this program, we have rolled out hundreds of hours of content to dozens of countries with rave reviews.

  • Holland America Line Onboard Windows 7 Immersion

    Reaching out to key consumer demographics, we developed fun and inviting training for Windows and Windows Live taught on cruises and community college campuses.

  • Holland America Line Onboard Windows 7 Immersion

    Reaching out to key consumer demographics, we developed fun and inviting training for Windows and Windows Live taught on cruises and community college campuses.

  • Microsoft / Southwest Airlines Holiday Photos on the Fly

    Microsoft and Southwest Airlines provided free Santa photos in over 30 airports. Participants were invited to experience the new features of Windows Live, including Photo Fuse and Photo Mail. Over 300,000 photos were taken and 200,000 people viewed demonstrations in-person and online. Sublime Media developed the online trials, trained the employees at the airports, and scripted the participant experience.

  • Microsoft / Southwest Airlines Holiday Photos on the Fly

    Microsoft and Southwest Airlines provided free Santa photos in over 30 airports. Participants were invited to experience the new features of Windows Live, including Photo Fuse and Photo Mail. Over 300,000 photos were taken and 200,000 people viewed demonstrations in-person and online. Sublime Media developed the online trials, trained the employees at the airports, and scripted the participant experience.

  • Microsoft / Southwest Airlines Holiday Photos on the Fly

    Microsoft and Southwest Airlines provided free Santa photos in over 30 airports. Participants were invited to experience the new features of Windows Live, including Photo Fuse and Photo Mail. Over 300,000 photos were taken and 200,000 people viewed demonstrations in-person and online. Sublime Media developed the online trials, trained the employees at the airports, and scripted the participant experience.

How does your business need to change?

If you are like most companies, you are always trying to anticipate the future to stay competitive. Naming your destination is half the battle. The other half is how you’ll get there.

Our experts will capture your vision to plan a path for your employees. Using your existing training programs and change management fundamentals we’ll create a results-based plan to move your employees as your business grows. We will ask questions like: “What skills are necessary for continued success?”, “What does your learning roadmap look like?”, and “How can we measure results to make sure your employees are moving in the direction you want?”. By engaging with our strategic consultants, you get a partner helping you ensure your employees skills are growing and changing with your business goals.

What’s the best way to structure a strategic engagement?
The greatest success comes when we are close partners and understand both how things currently work and how you’d like them to work. We spend a significant amount of time working directly with your management team to understand your goals before we recommend any solutions. We evaluate your current training programs, identify content gaps that need to be addressed, and create plans for your learning and development initiatives. We know this is not an easy process. Sometimes, it requires changing the way people do their jobs. A key part of our role is figuring out how to make that change as painless as possible.
Can Sublime help with technology issues?
Is your technology helping your learning and training efforts or getting in the way? Are you frustrated by the roadblocks you see ahead when implementing a learning plan? How many times have you heard “we can’t do that?” In short, are you using your technology or is your technology using you? We don’t like taking “No” for an answer; there are always choices and ways of getting your message out. We will analyze your current processes and challenges and give you options for using your technology to your advantage.

Sometimes you get one shot to make a connection with your customers.

Our team of creative designers identifies the best ways to make an impact on your audience and then develop an interactive media experience that gets your message out.

What’s the best technology to use on my website?
The choices for web development keep growing: JavaScript, CSS, Flash, Silverlight, jQuery, HTML5, not to mention all the back-end server side technologies that are available. The most important factor in deciding which approach to use is to understand your audience. Are they using desktops and laptops or tablets? What browsers will they use and how fast is their Internet connection? Which technologies are allowed on your corporate network? These are among the questions we start with to recommend which technologies to use.
What’s the value of creating high-quality media on the web?
Compare this description: “a half portrait of a seated woman with an enigmatic expression” to this. Or try to understand the past performance of a stock market by comparing this to this. It’s clear the visual representations, even still pictures, tell the stories that words wish they could tell. Focus your message, present it crisply, and you’ll get the results you’re looking for.

  • Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit

    This four minute presentation was hosted on Microsoft.com and introduced an updated version of the Application Compatibility software in advance of the Windows Vista release.

    View the animation

  • Jeep Dealer Website

    Developed as a prototype for syndicated auto dealer web sites, these subtle animations are meant to show the feelings behind the brand.

    View the animation

  • BNSF Virtual Train

    Get to know the hidden details behind BNSF’s 1,300 trains in this interactive animation featured on the BNSF home page.

    View the Virtual Train

  • Selling Microsoft Antigen Security Products: QuickGuide

    This course showcased the features and capabilities of Microsoft’s Antigen solutions for the field sales force.

    View sample animation

We can sum up our philosophy in this simple statement: “We take it personally.”

Great learning—the kind that teaches, engages and exceeds business needs—doesn’t happen by accident. It takes an experienced team with the right mix of creative talents, and a real dedication to quality. We are passionate about what we do and we take our work personally. Our focus is on creative design and instructional strategy.

If you want the people taking your training to care about it, make sure the people making your training care too.

Do you really mean that?
Yes. All of our clients have the direct contact information for the founders of Sublime Media. If you feel something’s not right, call us. We’ll take care of it.
Prove it.
That’s not a question, and we’re happy to do so. We don’t have sales people. Almost all of our work comes as a result of client referrals. What are the comments we hear most often? That we’re easy to work with, that we deliver what we promise (sometimes more), we deliver when we promise it, and the thing we hear that makes us the happiest—That they are proud of the end-product. The people who know us the best are the people who have worked with us and we’re happy to let you talk with them.