7 Steps to Become an Instructional Designer in 2026

Summary

The video introduces instructional design as a career that combines learning, creativity, technology, and practical problem-solving. Instructional designers create learning experiences—often online courses and self-study materials—by working with subject-matter experts and applying learning principles. They do not necessarily need to be experts in the topics they teach.

Instructional Design Compared with Teaching

• Teaching typically involves direct interaction with learners and live instruction.
• Instructional designers often work behind the scenes, creating materials learners can use independently.
• The speaker contrasts teaching’s focus on pedagogy with instructional design’s emphasis on adult learning, or andragogy.
• Instructional designers use information from subject-matter experts and learning models to develop courses and other training materials.

Why Consider the Field?

The speaker highlights several potential advantages:

• Creative work: Design storyboards, interactive activities, and clear explanations of complex topics.
• Flexible work arrangements: Explore remote roles, freelance work, or structured corporate positions.
• Demand across sectors: Organizations in business, education, healthcare, government, and nonprofits invest in e-learning.
• Earning potential: The speaker cites an approximate U.S. average salary of $83,000 per year, with potential for higher income through experience, specialization, and a strong portfolio.
• Variety: The work can involve design, technology, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Seven-Step Roadmap for Getting Started

1. Decide Whether the Career Suits You

Consider whether you enjoy solving problems, explaining complicated ideas, and working with different people. Instructional design can involve a mix of educator, designer, marketer, and negotiator responsibilities. Explore introductory courses or free resources to see whether the work interests you.

2. Choose a Work Setting or Niche

• Corporate: Create employee training, such as onboarding, leadership development, and compliance courses. The work may be fast-paced, with resources and opportunities for growth.
• Public sector: Develop training or explanatory materials about government services and policies. Projects may involve more approvals and longer timelines.
• Education: Support universities, schools, teachers, or education technology initiatives. The work may feel familiar to former teachers, though budgets or technology adoption can be limited.
• Freelance: Choose clients and schedules independently while also handling business tasks such as contracts, invoicing, and self-promotion.

3. Learn Foundational Instructional Design Models

• ADDIE: Understand the overall process for developing learning content.
• Bloom’s taxonomy: Structure learning objectives across levels, from recalling information to solving complex problems.
• Gagné’s nine events of instruction: Plan a learning sequence that may include gaining attention, providing feedback, and encouraging practice.

The speaker advises learning commonly used models rather than trying to master every theory. Familiarity with these models can also help when discussing projects with clients and teams.

4. Develop Practical Technical Skills

Learn a small number of content-authoring tools through practice; advanced IT expertise is not required to get started. Begin with affordable tools rather than investing heavily in software. The speaker recommends iSpring Suite as an accessible option for creating interactive courses, quizzes, and video tutorials.

5. Create a Portfolio

You do not need real clients to create initial samples. Choose a familiar or interesting topic and turn it into a learning module. Include different formats—such as a slide-based course, short video, or quiz—to demonstrate your range. Keep the portfolio professional, clear, and easy to navigate.

6. Prepare a Resume and LinkedIn Profile

Emphasize relevant skills, such as e-learning development, authoring tools, and collaboration. Career changers should translate their previous experience into relevant strengths; for example, teachers can highlight curriculum development and educational technology.

List the tools you can use, link to your portfolio, and tailor your resume and cover letter to each opportunity. On LinkedIn, use a clear photo and relevant headline. Connect with other designers, join groups, and share projects or lessons learned.

7. Apply Broadly and Build Experience

Search beyond the exact job title “instructional designer.” Related titles may include “curriculum developer” and “e-learning specialist.” Consider freelance projects, contract work, and entry-level roles as ways to gain experience. Treat each project as an opportunity to develop your skills and strengthen your portfolio.

The overall message is that entering the field can feel challenging, but steady practice, experimentation, and incremental steps can help build a path toward a career in instructional design.

Speakers and References Featured

• Speaker: Anna Poli (the subtitles also render her surname as “Pali”).
• Instructional design frameworks: ADDIE, Bloom’s taxonomy, and Gagné’s nine events of instruction.
• Tools and platforms: iSpring Suite, Figma, Photoshop, AI tools, and LinkedIn.