Merck

How do you teach a highly complex topic – so that 60,000 employees can actually apply it?

At Merck, the responsible use of data and algorithms is not a side topic.
It is a prerequisite for innovation. But how do you help all employees – from the lab to IT – understand what ethical data use really means? And at the same time provide in-depth expertise for the teams who work with data every day? Merck chose a dual approach: two e-learning programs. One for everyone. One for the specialists.

One concept. Two audiences. One shared visual language.

The challenge was clear from the start: Two e-learnings. Two technical environments. Two very different target groups.

The basic training needed to reach all employees worldwide and work within the limitations of Merck’s internal LMS. The advanced training, on the other hand, allowed more freedom: more interactivity, more dynamics, more didactic depth.

The solution was a flexible visual concept: clear, colorful, and consistent across both formats. A style that adapts to different technical possibilities while creating a coherent learning experience – whether the environment allows little or a lot.

Why it works

Because each training makes the most of what its context allows.

In the basic training

• Clear visual elements in Merck’s signature look

• Static images and simple click interactions

• A guided user flow that creates orientation instead of overload

The result: All employees are reached – even without technical bells and whistles.

In the advanced training

• Animated illustrations and micro-interactions

• Quizzes, hotspots, and pop-ups

• A freely programmed structure that encourages exploration

The result: Complex topics become tangible and memorable. Merck ends up with two e-learnings that speak the same didactic language –
each precisely tailored to its audience.

The outcome

Employees don’t just understand why ethical data use matters.
They know how to act responsibly – whether they work with sensitive data every day or only occasionally. The result is a learning format that does more than inform.
It strengthens a culture of responsibility, reflection, and future-oriented thinking.

About the client

Merck is a global science and technology company with more than 60,000 employees in 66 countries. For over 350 years, innovation and responsibility have been at the core of its work.

The new e-learning programs support this mindset – ensuring that data ethics is not just a principle on paper, but something that is actively lived in everyday work.