Data, Design Thinking and the Changing Role of the Instructional Designer

The adoption rate of a learning management system (LMS) and eLearning tools is rising. Data from Statista show that by 2029, North America will have 101.1 million online learning platform users. Globally, the eLearning market is projected to increase to $740.46 billion by 2032. Yet despite widespread adoption, many learners still report low engagement and limited knowledge transfer. The culprit? Content saturation without an intentional design strategy. The solution? A fundamental transformation in how instructional design is practiced and perceived. 

The Expanding Skillset of Modern Instructional Design Teams

In years past, instructional design teams were primarily focused on creating eLearning modules, training guides and onboarding materials. While those tools remain foundational, their responsibilities have expanded well beyond asset development.  

Today’s learning design professionals must:  

• Integrate learning theory and science with user experience (UX) design principles  
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, technologists and business stakeholders  
• Use learning analytics to refine and improve learner experiences  
• Design for accessibility and equitable/inclusive learner support  
• Apply agile methodologies to manage iterative learning projects
• Employ strategies of design thinking to develop innovative solutions

Learning design professionals are now strategists, facilitators and systems thinkers. The rise of artificial intelligence has only accelerated this shift. A recent survey from the Digital Education Council found that 86% of students use AI in their studies, with more than half using it weekly or daily. As technology takes on more content-generation tasks, designers must focus on delivering human-centered, high-impact learning experiences that go beyond templates and automation.  

From Delivery to Experience: A Shift in Design Mindset  

The field is undergoing a mindset shift, from delivering content to designing holistic learning experiences. This transformation is deeply rooted in design thinking, a structured, human-centered methodology helping to reshape how instructional design teams approach learning.

By understanding learner needs, defining clear goals and rapidly prototyping solutions, designers can deliver just-in-time, purpose-driven learning. It’s no longer about building a one-hour course; it’s about solving real workplace challenges through microlearning, simulations, peer interaction, and embedded performance support.

This evolving skillset reflects the growing interconnectedness of design thinking and instructional design, positioning instructional design professionals to join strategy with empathy in architecting impactful, learner-centered experiences.  

Harnessing Data to Drive Instructional Decisions 

While creativity remains a vital part of instructional design, data fluency is quickly becoming a core competency. Learning and development teams are under growing pressure to demonstrate return on investment, and that means moving beyond completion rates and smile sheets. Modern learning experience designers must be able to:  

• Analyze learner behavior and completion trends  
• Use learning management system (LMS) dashboards and data tools
• Correlate learning outcomes with performance and productivity metrics relevant for their industry.
• A/B test learning formats and sequences to optimize engagement  

Designers who can connect data to measurable learning effectiveness are better equipped to influence strategic decision-making. In fact, a review of adaptive learning platforms found that 86% of studies reported positive impacts on learner outcomes. Meanwhile, data-driven instruction models helped one Alabama school district improve its state math ranking from 35th to 12th over five years.  

Building for Accessibility and Equitable Learning 

As teams become more remote and globally distributed, designing for broad learner access is no longer optional. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a framework to reduce barriers and support diverse learning needs.  

Best practices include:  

• Designing for neurodiversity
• Designing for various learning preferences
• Incorporating alt text, captions and screen reader–friendly navigation  
• Offering content in multiple formats such as video, transcripts and interactive PDFs  
• Ensuring mobile-responsive design for learners on the go  

Instructional designers play a vital role in expanding access. When accessibility is built into the process, not bolted on later, it improves engagement, retention and learner satisfaction across the board.  

Collaborating Across the Enterprise  

Just as contract managers must navigate multi-stakeholder environments, learning experience designers and instructional designers must collaborate across teams. Whether developing a compliance course, enabling a product launch or supporting internal communications, designers must align learning goals with organizational priorities.  

Effective design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It requires strong communication, stakeholder alignment and partnership, as well as a deep understanding of project scope and constraints. Increasingly, learning experience designers and instructional designers are stepping into strategic conversations, not just delivering slide decks.  

Upskilling for the Future of Learning  

As the field continues to evolve, so too must its practitioners. Designers who once relied solely on PowerPoint and legacy LMS tools are now embracing a broader skill set that includes:   

• Incorporating learning theories, learning science and design models into effective learning experiences
• Backwards Design
• Social Collaboration Tools
• Communication Technologies
• Technology Integration Models (TPASCK)
• and more

Villanova’s Learning Design & Technology Certificate curriculum reflects these emerging needs. The program combines real-world application with academic insight, offering coursework in instructional strategy, educational technology and learning science. Designed for working professionals, this program empowers those in learning experience design and instructional design to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital learning environment. 

Advance Your Skills in Learning Experience Design and Instructional Design at Villanova University

Learning experience design and instructional design are no longer back-office functions; they are strategic drivers of growth, engagement, organizational change and enablement initiatives. Whether you're building onboarding programs, leading enterprise-wide training initiatives or transforming classroom learning, the choices you make as a designer shape how people learn and grow.  

Villanova’s College of Professional Studies offers flexible, career-focused programs designed to help professionals lead the future of learning. Explore our Learning Design & Technology Certificate and develop the skills that matter most in today’s learning economy.