Instructional design is evolving - your toolkit should, too.
By Bianca Schimizzi
Director & Lead Instructional Designer | Hungry Minds
In learning design, the tools shape the work. They define what’s possible—what can be built, tested, adapted, and scaled. But the sheer number of “solutions” on the market is enough to cause decision paralysis.
This guide cuts through the noise. Inside, you’ll find the tools, frameworks, and strategies that keep learning tied to real business outcomes. We’ve nearly 20 years building programs that last. Here are some of the tools and templates we trust enough to use ourselves.
Here’s what we’re serving up:
- What smart instructional designers are using in 2025
- Frameworks that streamline design without killing creativity
- How the best learning designers pick tools (and what they leave behind)
- Instructional design IRL: real-world combinations that actually land
- AI in instructional design: useful, but not a magic bullet
- The hidden cost of tool overload (and how to stay lean)
- The smart way to build a learning design toolkit
What smart instructional designers are using in 2025
If you’re suffering from decision paralysis when it comes to instructional design tools, we’re here to help. Here’s an overview to help you choose ID tools for upcoming projects*.
| Tool | Best for | Strengths | Watch out for | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articulate 360 | Scalable, interactive eLearning | Versatile, mobile-ready, widely supported | Exxy for small teams, requires design skills | $$$ |
| Rise 360 | Mobile-first, bite-sized learning | Quick to launch, easy for teams without deep design skills | Limited customisation for more complex courses | $$ |
| Miro | Visual - keeps messy ideas moving | Intuitive, great for early-stage mapping | Can get chaotic for larger teams | $ |
| Figma | Mapping learning with sharp design control | Realistic prototypes that show the real user journey | Design background needed for best results | $$ |
| TalentLMS | A lightweight LMS without the IT headache | Fast set-up, mobile friendly, supported | Basic UX - not ideal for complex ecosystems | $$ |
| LearnUpon | Scaling programs without losing quality | Flexible setup, good learner experience, good analytics | Premium pricing, you may need implementation support | $$$ |
| LearnWorlds | Building and selling interactive online courses | Customisable, built-in sales tools, mobile-friendly | Can get pricey with add-ons, learning curve for setup | $$-$$$ |
| ChatGPT | Drafting first-pass content: outlines, quizzes | Speeds up first drafts, broad knowledge | Needs strong review - risk of generic content | $ |
| Synthesia | In-house training videos (no studio or crew) | Fast video creation without a green screen | Edit carefully - can feel flat | $$ |
| Power BI | Making data into business-friendly dashboards | Clear reporting, works well with most learning systems | Prep matters - bad data in = bad data out | $$$ |
*Full disclosure: we’re affiliates for TalentLMS and LearnWorlds – which means we get a small commission from recommending them.
As you can see, learning tech is a moveable feast – but it’s up to you to decide what to put on your plate. Most importantly, you need to choose tools that fit the way you design, deliver, and scale learning. If you don’t know your collab platforms from your rapid authoring tools, here’s how to think about the different flavours on offer.
Multicultural NSW’s eLearning program, designed in Rise 360.
Frameworks: streamline design without killing creativity
When I talk about frameworks, I’m used to seeing people’s eyes glaze over. That’s because they think design frameworks are a one-way ticket to rigid rules and cookie-cutter templates.
In reality, frameworks give us exactly what we need – structure – without shutting down creativity. Not only that, frameworks keep projects moving and make sure the learning delivers for the business.
After nearly two decades in this business, I’m certain of this: working with a team to design learning can be a bit like herding cats. Here’s how we use learning frameworks to build better, faster, smarter programs:
Journey maps
Imagine a map that shows where a learner starts and all the cool places they’ll visit – not just one lesson, but the whole adventure. It helps us plan the trip so nobody gets lost, bored, or stuck. Journey maps help us design learning that builds skills over time, not just in isolated bursts.
Evaluation Scorecards
Scorecards give us a structured way to measure learning impact — not just who completed a course, but what changed because of it. A clear way to link learning outcomes directly to business goals, turning training from a nice-to-have into a clear ROI.
Scenario-Based Learning Frameworks
Pulls learners into real-world situations where they have to make decisions, solve problems, and see the consequences of their choices. Frameworks help us design these experiences consistently, so every situation feels real, relevant, and rooted in the skills people need on the job.
Storyboards
A visual, step-by-step outline of what the learning will look like and feel like. Storyboarding speeds up collaboration: clients can review and give early feedback, and teams find it easier to stay aligned.
ADDIE
When it comes to frameworks, ADDIE is our ride-or-die. It’s a proven process – and the basis of our learning design approach. Following this framework keeps projects on track, reduces rework, and gives creative teams the freedom to innovate inside a smart, proven structure.
ANALYSE
The Appetiser
Identify key learning priorities to deliver everything you need—and nothing you don’t.
No filler, no fluff.
DESIGN
The Recipe
Clarify scope, resources, and learning strategies with decision makers up front.
No surprises in your kitchen!
DEVELOP
Made To Order
We build engaging, interactive learning experiences— aligned to your goals.
Co-designed, iterated and perfected.
IMPLEMENT
Presentation
Prepare the client for a seamless roll-out in F2F, virtual, or blended environments.
Get pilot-ready and go for launch.
EVALUATE
Taste + Tweak
Review against learning outcomes —find out what to start, stop, and keep.
Identify changes for lasting impact.
Frameworks aren’t there to hem us in – they’re structural guidelines. Or those inflatable gutter guards that prevent children from going haywire at the bowling alley. When creativity has a smart structure to play inside, we can move faster, collaborate better, and build learning that actually sticks.
But smart frameworks are just one part of the puzzle. The best learning designers also know how to choose the right tools – and what to leave behind.
How the best learning designers pick tools (and what they leave behind)
Once you’ve hammered out your learning strategy, you might think it’s time to talk to someone in IT about learning programs. But I cannot overstate this: choosing learning tech isn’t about grabbing whatever’s on hand (or cheap). This is a strategic choice. And you need to find something that fits the organisation, the learners, and what you’re working towards.
Here’s the decision filter ID pros use when they choose tools:
Instructional design is the craft of creating educational programs that make learning efficient, effective and appealing. It’s a blend of art and science, where we analyse learners’ needs, design a structured learning path, and use strategies that enhance understanding and retention. Essentially, it’s the behind-the-scenes work that ensures the learning experience is impactful.
First, zoom out. Great learning is a strategic lever (and it doesn’t happen in a vacuum). That means any tool you use needs to tie back to bigger organisational goals. If you haven’t linked your learning programs to your strategic plan – step away from the authoring platform! Before you do anything else, get thee to our guide: Build a learning strategy that shapes culture and drives performance.
How to spot business aligned tools:
- Ask: How will this tool support our business strategy?
- Ask: I’d like to see a real world example of the tool helping a business hit strategic targets – may I see a case study?
There’s nothing more frustrating than being called away from your work for a dumbed-down (or impossibly blue-sky) training session that doesn’t serve you. Choosing the right tools means understanding:
- What learners need to know
- How they learn best
- What makes them tick
If your learners are on the move, a laptop-only course is a brick in their backpack. Mobile-first learning? That’s just good manners. Bottom line, it’s all about context. Learning should be seamless, not an annoying inconvenience.
How to spot learner-friendly tools:
- Always, always test the learner experience on a phone
- Ask: Can learners with different needs use it easily?
Unless you’re chiselling your business plan into stone tablets, I’m going to assume growth is part of your strategic goals. So you need learning tech that scales. Can the LMS handle twice as many users? Will your authoring tool let you make easy content updates that shift with your business needs?
How to spot a scalable tool:
- Ask: What’s the user cap? Can we easily add more learners, teams, or languages?
- Ask: Can we update modules or swap out learning assets without rebuilding?
- Ask: What steps is the platform taking to future-proof the tech?
Professional learning doesn’t happen on an island. It’s part of an ecosystem within your organisation. From one instructional design pro to another: if learning tech doesn’t play well with IT’s stack, you’re in for a long, painful battle. And learning will lose. Remember, the best tech choices are the ones that integrate smoothly, without a battalion of nerds stitching systems together behind the scenes.
How to spot a good playmate:
- Find out if the tool includes out-of-the-box connectors to HR, CRM, and analytics systems
- Can the vendor show you working integrations with the platforms you already use?
- Do they dodge questions about integration timelines? If so – red flag!
It’s easy to track course completions. But you want to know what learners did differently after the course. Choose a tool that delivers real data on behaviour change, skills application, and business outcomes. That’s how to show whether learning is moving the needle.
How to get the tea:
- Ask: What behavioural data can you pull? How do you measure skill gains?
- If the dashboard looks like a labyrinth, it probably won’t work for your execs
- Ask about custom reporting – if you’re limited to canned reports, move on
Instructional Design IRL: Turning good managers into grounded, connected leaders at South32
South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. Their mid-level leaders were technically strong and operationally sharp. South32 needed a program that would help mid-level leaders lead people – not just projects.
We partnered with South32 to co-design a blended learning journey: a series of flagship workshops, virtual social learning circles, and guided coaching conversations – supported by custom activity cards, facilitator guides, and a learning journal for on-the-job growth. Every element was tailored to their real-world context and designed for scale.
The result?
A leadership ecosystem that meets leaders where they are. It helped South32 leaders change behaviours, develop connections, and develop a new mindset. The feedback was so strong, they’re now planning to expand the program across regions – bringing the same practical, people-first leadership approach to mid-level leaders around the world.
Read the case study: How Hungry Minds helped South32 turn capable managers into confident, connected leaders
AI instructional design tools: useful, but not a magic bullet
AI definitely has a place in instructional design. It’s great for drafting outlines, building quiz banks, and building early scenarios. Instructional design tools like ChatGPT and Synthesia can handle some of the grunt work – helping inform design teams as they move into decision-making mode.
But speed isn’t everything. And AI consistently misses what matters most: nuance, context, and understanding. It certainly won’t notice when the brief has shifted or when learners stop caring.
Used well, AI can help clear the first draft fog. It helps teams spend less time staring at a blank screen and more time designing for impact. But the outcomes that matter still need a human hand.
AI traps even good designers fall into
Let’s be honest about what happens when IDs lean too heavily on AI. It isn’t just that they create mediocre courses. Not only that, it’s easy for bias to creep in, which is a huge compliance risk. Over time, those courses start to erode trust – undermining learning itself in the organisation.
By all means, use AI as a tool – but be aware of these common pitfalls:
What to do instead
- Pair AI use with expert review. Look for missed nuance, bias, cultural fit, and context.
- Use AI for drafts, but leave real learning design – the flow, friction, and connection – to humans.
- Look for real engagement signals: time on task, decision-making patterns and knowledge transfer.
The hidden cost of tool overload (and how to stay lean)
You’re familiar with the phrase ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ – the same is true of instructional design tools. It can be tempting to get your hands on the latest and greatest of everything, but having too many tools can put you in hot water, too.
Fragmentation
Business cost
Wasted money
Business cost
Learner fatigue
Business cost
How we fix tool overload
At Hungry Minds, we don’t collect tech trophies. We build ecosystems that work – and keep working. Here’s how we frame our tech stacks:
Less is more
Every platform earns its place. No ‘personality hires’.
Integration first
If it doesn’t talk to your systems, it’s not invited.
Outcomes over output
We’re here for behaviour change, not busywork.
Less is more
Every platform earns its place. No ‘personality hires’.
Integration first
If it doesn’t talk to your systems, it’s not invited.
Outcomes over output
We’re here for behaviour change, not busywork.
The smart way to build a learning design toolkit
Learning toolkits that get the job done
A good instructional design toolkit doesn’t start with tech. It starts with knowing what moves the needle — and building from there. That’s why our learning design and eLearning teams create hardworking learning ecosystems. You’ll get the right tools, connected to the right strategies, made for your people doing what matters to your organisation.
Ditch that bloated tech stack and get serious about learning that moves your organisation forward. Learn more about learning design and eLearning or book a call with Michael to get started.
FAQS
Instructional design is the craft of creating educational programs that make learning efficient, effective and appealing. It’s a blend of art and science, where we analyse learners’ needs, design a structured learning path, and use strategies that enhance understanding and retention. Essentially, it’s the behind-the-scenes work that ensures the learning experience is impactful.
Instructional design covers everything involved in creating effective, engaging learning experiences. That includes:
- Needs analysis: understanding what learners need to know and why
- Learning objectives: defining clear, measurable outcomes
- Content design and development: crafting learning materials (digital, print, video, etc.)
- Structure and sequencing: organising content in a logical, impactful flow
- Learning activities: designing interactive, practical ways for learners to apply knowledge
- Assessment design: creating ways to check understanding (quizzes, scenarios, projects)
- Technology integration: choosing the right tools to support the learning
- Evaluation: measuring how well the learning worked and where to improve
ADDIE is the go-to model for instructional designers – and for good reason. It’s flexible, practical, and helps create learning that actually sticks. At Hungry Minds, we use our own take on the ADDIE framework to guide every project:
- Analyse: What are the business goals? What do learners need? What’s already working (or not)?
- Design: Structure the learning journey, sequence the content, map the experience
- Develop: Build the assets – slides, videos, toolkits, workbooks, platforms, the lot
- Implement: Time to launch. We help roll things out smoothly and support you along the way
- Evaluate: What changed? What landed? We capture feedback and measure impact