As digital learning continues to reshape classrooms, corporate training rooms, and even onboarding programs, one role stands quietly at the center of it all: the instructional designer.
But…
What is an instructional designer?
What does an instructional designer do day-to-day?
If you’re curious about becoming one, this blog is your complete roadmap, covering everything from curriculum design basics to certifications, portfolios, and the instructional design models you’ll use in the real world.
What Is an Instructional Designer?
Think of an instructional designer as the person behind the scenes who makes learning easier, smarter, and actually useful.
They create things like:
- Online courses
- Training programs
- Assessments & quizzes
- Interactive learning tools
- Corporate onboarding systems
But it’s not just about putting content together, it’s about knowing how people learn best and building experiences around that.
What Does an Instructional Designer Do?
Think about the last time you had to pick up a new software at work, or took an online course that actually made sense from start to finish. That’s the work of an instructional designer. They don’t just throw information at you, they:
- Organize it in the right order
- Break it into bite-sized pieces
- Add visuals, videos, or practice tasks
- Make it engaging
- Ensure you retain and apply what you’ve learned
Instead of designing buildings, the instructional designer designs the structure of knowledge, step by step, layer by layer, so it sticks.
Helping new employees get up to speed, designing a high school course, building a SaaS training portal, and even mapping out the full curriculum behind it all, instructional designers make learning work. They're the behind-the-scenes experts who ensure everything flows, makes sense, and helps people learn in any setting.
What Is Curriculum Design?
Curriculum design is the process of planning, organizing, and structuring educational content to help learners achieve specific learning goals or outcomes.
If it’s a 6-week onboarding program or a full-year course, curriculum design gives the learning experience a clear:
- Purpose (why we’re learning)
- Path (how we’ll get there)
- Pace (when & in what order)
It’s about making learning intentional, not random.
What Does A Curriculum Design Include?
A well-designed curriculum isn’t just a bunch of topics thrown together. It includes four key elements:
- Learning Objectives
What should the learner know or be able to do by the end of the course or program?
These are clear, measurable goals like:
“By the end of this module, learners will be able to create a responsive webpage using HTML and CSS.”
- Instructional Activities
These are the methods used to teach, such as:
- Videos
- Live workshops
- Quizzes
- Group projects
- Simulations
The goal? To engage learners and reinforce each objective.
- Assessment Methods
This includes:
- Pre/post quizzes
- Capstone projects
- Case studies
- Peer reviews
- Real-world tasks
- Evaluation Metrics
This is where we look at what worked and what didn’t.
- Did learners perform well?
- Were the objectives realistic?
- Did the course meet business or educational goals?
This helps refine and improve the curriculum over time.
Example:
Let’s say you’re designing a customer success training program for a SaaS company. Your curriculum might look like this:
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| 🎯 Learning Objective | Explain the full onboarding process to new customers. |
| 🧠 Activity | Watch a walkthrough video + join a role-play session |
| 📝 Assessment | Pass a quiz + complete a mock onboarding session |
| 📈 Evaluation | Compare pre/post performance scores + customer feedback |
What Are Instructional Design Models?
Instructional design models are step-by-step frameworks that help instructional designers plan, build, and evaluate learning experiences.
These models:
- Add structure to your course development
- Help you align learning objectives with outcomes
- Ensure your course is learner-centric and measurable
The Most Popular Instructional Design Models
ADDIE Model
Phases: Analyze → Design → Develop → Implement → Evaluate
This is the most commonly used and flexible model in both corporate and academic settings.
Breakdown:
- Analyze: Identify learners’ needs, existing knowledge, learning gaps, and the context.
- Design: Define learning objectives, content structure, assessment methods, and delivery formats.
- Develop: Create the course materials, slides, videos, eLearning modules, quizzes, etc.
- Implement: Launch the training program, upload to LMS, schedule classes, and invite learners.
- Evaluate: Gather feedback and assess effectiveness. Then tweak the content if needed.
Best for: Structured teams, long-term training programs, blended or online learning courses.
SAM (Successive Approximation Model)
Focus: Rapid design + iterative feedback
Unlike ADDIE, SAM is non-linear and encourages quick prototyping, ideal for fast-paced teams and Agile projects.
How it works:
- Start with a rough prototype of your learning module.
- Share it with stakeholders and gather quick feedback.
- Refine and repeat the process until it’s polished.
SAM works in loops, so you’re constantly improving rather than waiting until the end to evaluate.
Best for: Tech companies, startups, Agile teams, or rapid content development environments.
Dick and Carey Model
Focus: Systems-based + measurable objectives
This model views instruction as a system of interconnected components, where everything from content to assessments works together to achieve a goal.
Key features:
- Breaks down content into measurable chunks
- Builds in constant assessments
- Uses feedback loops to fine-tune content
Best for: Compliance training, academic programs, or any scenario where measurable outcomes are crucial.
Kemp Design Model
Focus: Learner-centered + flexible
Kemp takes a non-linear and modular approach. You can start from any point and adjust based on your learners' needs and content complexity.
What makes it unique:
- It considers learner characteristics, learning environment, and delivery methods
- Allows instructional designers to build customized, adaptive learning paths
Best for: Complex training projects, personalized learning, or courses with multiple audience types.
Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction
Robert Gagné developed 9 essential steps to facilitate effective learning:
- Gain attention
- Inform learners of objectives
- Stimulate recall of prior knowledge
- Present new content
- Provide learning guidance
- Elicit performance (practice)
- Give feedback
- Assess performance
- Enhance retention & transfer
Best for: Creating logical, learner-friendly flow, especially in webinars, lectures, or video courses.
Kirkpatrick’s Model of Evaluation
Focuses on measuring the effectiveness of your training program on 4 levels:
- Reaction – How did learners feel about the training?
- Learning – What did they learn?
- Behavior – Are they applying what they learned?
- Results – Has it improved business outcomes?
Best for: Reporting training ROI to stakeholders or leadership.
Mayer’s Principles of Multimedia Learning
Richard Mayer outlined evidence-based guidelines to help learners retain information when using multimedia.
Some key principles:
- Coherence: Remove unnecessary words, images, or sounds.
- Modality: Use narration instead of on-screen text.
- Redundancy: Avoid saying AND displaying the same text.
- Segmenting: Break content into smaller, digestible parts.
Best for: Designers working with videos, animations, or interactive content.
Instructional Design Models at a Glance:
| Model | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| ADDIE | Structured, flexible | Any learning program |
| SAM | Iterative prototyping | Fast-paced projects |
| Dick & Carey | Measurable objectives | Academic or compliance training |
| Kemp | Learner-centric, modular | Complex/multilingual learning |
| Gagné’s Events | Learner engagement | Webinars, video courses |
| Kirkpatrick | Evaluation | ROI tracking |
| Mayer’s Principles | Multimedia learning | eLearning & video content |
How BrainCert Helps Aspiring Instructional Designers
Becoming an instructional designer takes more than just theory, you need the right tools to apply what you learn, build real-world content, and showcase your skills. That’s where BrainCert comes in.
BrainCert isn’t just another LMS, it’s an All-in-one platform designed to empower instructional designers at every stage of their journey, from beginner to pro.
1. Build Real Courses; No Coding Required
With BrainCert’s drag-and-drop course builder, you can easily:
- Create SCORM-compliant courses
- Add interactive content: PDFs, videos, quizzes, flashcards, and HTML5 elements
- Structure lessons using modules, pre-requisites, and learning paths
This gives aspiring IDs a real playground to:
- Apply instructional design models like ADDIE or SAM
- Practice curriculum design and content sequencing
- Simulate full-blown eLearning courses for their portfolios
2. Master Assessments & Feedback Loops
Instructional design is all about ensuring knowledge transfer. BrainCert supports this with:
- Smart tests and quizzes (auto-graded, randomized questions, timed tests)
- Gamification (badges, points, and leaderboards to keep learners motivated)
- Post-course evaluations & feedback forms
This helps you learn how to:
- Design measurable learning outcomes
- Evaluate learner progress using the Kirkpatrick Model
- Optimize courses based on real analytics
3. Host Live Training, Webinars, or Virtual Classrooms
Want to add blended learning to your portfolio?
With BrainCert, you can:
- Run live instructor-led sessions using the built-in Virtual Classroom
- Schedule webinars with custom branding & registration pages
- Record sessions and reuse them as microlearning content
Perfect for IDs experimenting with synchronous and asynchronous learning models, and for showing clients/employers you can do both.
4. Earn Industry-Ready Certifications
BrainCert Academy offers certification tracks for:
- LMS administration
- Instructional design best practices
- eLearning content creation
If you're looking to upskill or add credentials to your LinkedIn/resume, these certifications signal that you’re ready for real-world roles.
5. Test Industry Tools in One Place
Unlike juggling multiple apps, BrainCert brings everything together:
- Course authoring
- Virtual classrooms
- Assessment tools
- eCommerce for course monetization
- Learning analytics dashboard
- Role-based access and learner management
As an aspiring instructional designer, you’ll learn how to manage entire training ecosystems without needing to rely on IT teams or third-party integrations.
6. Iterate & Improve With Data
BrainCert gives you actionable insights through:
- Learner engagement heatmaps
- Drop-off rates and completion tracking
- Assessment performance reports
That means you can refine your learning materials just like a pro, following data-driven instructional strategies.
Why BrainCert?
| Feature | Benefit for Aspiring Instructional Designers |
|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop builder | Practice real instructional design workflows |
| Assessments & gamification | Learn to evaluate learning outcomes |
| Live class & webinar tools | Experiment with blended & flipped models |
| Built-in certifications | Add proof of skills to your portfolio |
| Analytics | Apply continuous improvement strategies |
| Unified platform | One place to learn, build, teach, and iterate |
How to Become an Instructional Designer in 2025
Instructional design is booming, and if you're coming from teaching, tech, HR, or straight-up curiosity, here’s how to break into it — step by step.
Step 1: Get Clear on the Role
Don’t just jump because it sounds good. Spend time actually exploring what instructional designers do.
Here’s how:
- Binge a few YouTube videos (search: "day in the life of an instructional designer")
- Read blogs
- Tune into podcasts like Dear Instructional Designer or The eLearning Coach
Your goal here? Make sure the role aligns with your interests, not just the salary.
Step 2: Learn the Foundations
Time to build your skill set. You don’t need a degree, just focus on these core areas:
- Instructional Design Models (ADDIE, SAM, Gagné’s Events…)
- Learning Psychology & Adult Learning Theories
- Curriculum & Assessment Planning
- Authoring Tools: Learn to use tools like:
- Articulate 360
- Adobe Captivate
- BrainCert's course + test builder (super beginner-friendly!)
Start with free/low-cost courses and gradually upgrade.
Step 3: Build a Starter Portfolio
This is your golden ticket. You don’t need a client, just a bit of creativity.
Start with 2–3 mini-projects like:
- A sample course outline
- A storyboard that shows flow & structure
- A simple interactive module using tools like BrainCert, Rise, or Google Slides
Step 4: Consider Getting Certified
While not mandatory, certifications boost your credibility and confidence.
Here are a few to check out:
- ATD Instructional Design Certificate
- CPLP (Certified Professional in Learning & Performance)
- BrainCert Academy Certifications, perfect if you're building LMSs or eLearning content
Not all hiring managers care about certificates, but some do. So, choose based on your goals.
Step 5: Apply Smart + Start Networking
Once your portfolio is ready, start putting yourself out there, even if it's scary.
- Optimize your LinkedIn with keywords like “eLearning designer,” “curriculum developer,” or “instructional designer.”
- Engage in ID communities on Reddit, Slack, or Facebook groups
- Explore job boards:
Not seeing results right away? Offer to volunteer, freelance, or intern for small projects. It builds both trust + testimonials.
To Conclude
From a teacher looking to pivot, a creative thinker who loves to teach, or a corporate trainer ready to grow, 2025 is the perfect year to become an instructional designer
And if you're looking for an all-in-one platform to create, test, and deliver your learning content, BrainCert is built just for you. Explore live classrooms, assessments, SCORM tools, and analytics, everything you need to design smarter learning experiences.
So, ready to build your first instructional design project?
Start your BrainCert journey today, and bring learning to life.
