Design thinking meets Learning Design: a fresh take on eLearning experiences
As a classroom teacher, learner-centered design is second nature. It's in your bones. But step into higher education or corporate L&D, and suddenly, the learner isn't always front and center. Sometimes, they're barely an afterthought. That's where design thinking enters the chat—and trust me, it's a game-changer for anyone working in Learning Design or building impactful eLearning experiences.
Hi, I'm Bianca Raby—former teacher, current cat lover, and lifelong champion of design that actually works for humans. Including learners. I also make videos, like this one below:
How design thinking is reshaping Learning Design and elevating eLearning
You've probably seen a dozen different diagrams explaining design thinking, and that's fair—it's not a one-size-fits-all formula, especially for eLearning. But most frameworks agree on one thing: design thinking starts with empathy and ends with iteration.
Here's how the six-step design thinking process can breathe new life into your Learning Design:
Step 1: Empathise
You can't build for learners without knowing them. Through this first step of design thinking, you gather real insights—learner personas, pain points, motivations, and constraints. If you're designing eLearning, this could mean understanding tech access, learning environments, and time availability.
Step 2: Define
Now that you know your audience, define what they need to walk away with. In Learning Design, this means clear, aligned learning outcomes—knowledge, skills, and attitudes. If you skip this, your eLearning becomes directionless.
Step 3: Ideate & co-design
This is the brainstorming phase of design thinking. Collaborate with SMEs (subject matter experts), tech leads, and maybe even learners. Think through the course structure with a design thinking mindset, format (blended? self-paced?), assessments, and interactivity. This is where Learning Design really becomes an art form.
Step 4: Prototype
Build something quickly—often just Module 1. Use your authoring tool or LMS and expect it to change. In eLearning, prototyping helps you identify early limitations and fix them before they become expensive mistakes.
Step 5: Test & iterate
Get feedback from users (or surrogate learners if needed). Build feedback loops into your design process. Agile Learning Design loves this step because it acknowledges that great eLearning doesn't happen in a vacuum—it evolves.
Step 6: Deliver & evaluate
Roll it out, but stay alert. Monitor how the eLearning performs, how learners engage, and what outcomes are (or aren't) achieved. True Learning Design is never truly "done."
So why does design thinking matter so much in Learning Design?
Because it ensures the learner—the actual human—is never sidelined. It reminds us that great eLearning isn't just content; it's experience, empathy, and evolution.
Have you tried using design thinking in your Learning Design projects? What worked? What didn't?
Until next time, stay awesome!