Say you start a new job tomorrow and watch an onboarding video. Then, another day, you attend an all-day CPR training. And over the weekend, you log in to an online French course you’re taking.
What’s the common denominator? Behind the scenes in all of these scenarios, you’ll find instructional designers — the pros who plan, craft and implement learning experiences like these.
A Versatile Role
As an instructional designer, you need skills in a variety of areas — from pedagogy to writing, visual design to technology. On a project, your role starts with analyzing the course or training objectives and the needs of your learners. Next, you design and develop the learning experience, which can involve interviewing faculty or other subject matter experts, writing content, creating graphics and videos, and even doing some light coding. You’ll need to make sure that your content is accessible to all. Your final step is to evaluate whether the course met its objectives.
projected growth
U.S. (2024-2034): 11%
Washington state (2022-2032): 16%
Median Annual salary
U.S. (2024): $65,850
Washington state (2024): $82,290
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET
All of the above aims to do one thing: Make an impact.
“As an instructional designer, you want to see a change in the learner — to see somebody able to do something they weren’t able to before or do it better or faster. Sell more, save more lives, whatever the case,” explains Shawn Lock, global partner enablement manager at Imperva and an advisory board member of the UW Certificate in E-Learning Instructional Design.
Job Opportunities Abound
While this role is far from new, advances in technology and a boom in online learning have turned it into a high-demand profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for training and development specialists, which includes instructional designers, is expected to grow 11% between 2024 and 2034. In Washington state, growth in this field is projected to be even more rapid — 16% between 2024 and 2034, per O*NET.
“It’s a great field to be in because it’s still developing,” says Matt Saavedra, training and development manager at LifeCenter Northwest and an instructor in the UW Certificate in E-Learning Instructional Design. “People entering the field now are going to define what it ends up being in the years and decades to come. Plus, with the web, video and smartphones, there are a lot of opportunities to deliver content in an exciting way, so it's a very creative time to be in the industry.”
Becoming an Instructional Designer
If you have a knack for organizing information, almost any background can act as a springboard into instructional design, and many people transition from other jobs to this one. Educators, writers, and subject matter experts in areas like technology, health care and business often make the move.
If you’re coming from another role, the first step to making the switch is to learn best practices and tools of the trade. Self-study is one option. Or you can take a certificate program, like the UW Certificate in E-Learning Instructional Design, which also gives you the opportunity to practice the work and start building a professional portfolio you can show to potential employers.
“I tell people that instructional design is a great job if you’re a good communicator and have some technical aptitude as well as creative aptitude,” Saavedra says. “There’s art, science and technology involved in instructional design, and you’re putting all these things together to do your job well.”
Keep Learning
Want to gain the skills to break into the growing e-learning field as an instructional designer? Check out the offerings below from UW Professional & Continuing Education. If you’re an experienced training and development professional who wants to harness the power of AI for learning design, check out our new program, Generative AI for Instructional Design.