Electron impact excitation of the 3¹D state of helium is studied using the electron-photon polarization correlation technique. Four Stokes parameters are determined at an incident electron energy of 29.6 eV and for scattering angles in the range 40-120 degrees . The data are interpreted in terms of the shape and dynamics of the excited state produced over the range of kinematically defined collisions. The lack of a theoretical model to adequately describe low-energy D state excitation is exposed.