From Experience to Purpose: Finding My Path in Instructional Design
A reflection on discovering my path in instructional design and designing with purpose
Discovering the Intersection of Technology and Teaching
Throughout my career, I’ve always been drawn to two things: technology and teaching. I’ve supported students across admissions, advising, and service-based roles, taught computer and library literacy, and helped people navigate systems that often feel overwhelming, especially in higher education. At the time, I didn’t realize that what I was doing was instructional design. Looking back, I can see it clearly. I was, simplifying complex information, helping people navigate systems, and designing ways to make learning more accessible. Instructional design gave a name to what I had already been doing and showed me how to do it more intentionally.
Why This Work Matters to Me
My interest in inclusive design is deeply personal. Growing up with dyslexia, I experienced firsthand how limiting one-size-fits-all learning can be. I had to develop my own strategies to understand information, and that experience continues to shape how I design today. It’s why I care about accessibility, flexibility, and meeting learners where they are. I don’t just want to design training that works, I want to design training that works for everyone.
Clarifying My Goal
As I worked through my Instructional Design Certificate, my goals became much clearer. I want to design instructional videos, online learning modules and full training curricula for organizations looking to improve how they use technology and communicate complex processes. In the near term, I’m focused on building a comprehensive training program within the One Stop Office at UMass Boston creating an onboarding and resource system that makes information easier to find, understand, and apply. Long-term, I see myself working as an instructional designer or learning technology consultant helping organizations design training that is clear, accessible, and impactful.
What I Want to Be Known For
I want to be known as an instructional designer who uses technology intentionally to create clear, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences. To me, instructional design is about more than content, it’s about connection. It’s about helping people understand, apply, and feel confident in what they are learning.
What Makes My Perspective Unique
My journey, both personal and professional, shapes how I design. I’ve worked across multiple areas of higher education, supported diverse learners, and taught in environments ranging from elementary classrooms to adult learning spaces. In my current role, I regularly navigate multiple systems to help students solve complex problems quickly and clearly. That experience has strengthened my ability to simplify information, communicate effectively, and design with clarity in mind.
Good design is not about adding complexity—it’s about making things easier to understand.
Advice for Aspiring Instructional Designers
If you’re just starting out, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
Pay attention to what you’re already doing
You may already be teaching, explaining, organizing, or improving systems. Instructional design often starts there.
Focus on clarity over complexity
Tools are helpful, but clarity is what makes learning effective. Ask yourself:
- Is this easy to understand?
- Is this accessible?
- Does this reduce confusion?
Design for real people
Not everyone learns the same way and that’s the point. The more you design with flexibility and accessibility in mind, the more meaningful your work will be.
Looking Ahead
As I continue to grow in this field, I’m excited to keep building learning experiences that are inclusive, thoughtful, and grounded in real-world needs. Instructional design has given me a way to bring together everything I care about, technology, education, and human-centered design, and turn it into something meaningful. And in many ways, I’m still discovering what that can become.