Instructional design is not easy and, for that reason, getting feedback is essential. Making sure you’re on the right path and proving the efficacy of your work is so important in working towards a successful career.

Ask fellow professionals, follow your customers and watch them use what you create. Gauging people’s opinions on what you build can sure be uncomfortable, but it’s worth it in the end.

That’s the opinion of Julie Dirksen, Learning Strategy Consultant at Usable Learning, who joins Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador, on this episode of The Visual Lounge.

Julie explains how she got into the instructional design game, how she defines success in the industry and reveals what trips folks up when they first enter instructional design.

Plus, she takes a deep dive into her book and tells us what resources inspire her.

Learning points from the episode include:

0:00 – 2:43 – Introduction

2:43 – 5:33 – How Julie got started in instructional design

5:33 – 9:35 – Defining success in learning design

9:35 – 17:00 – One tip for image and video in learning design

17:00 – 17:56 – Ad break

17:56 – 21:06 – Julie explains her book

21:06 – 25:01 – What trips people up in learning design?

25:01 – 32:01 – Simple vs cursive fonts and keeping learning design clear

32:01 – 35:17 – What learning design pros need to improve on

35:17 – 39:25 – The resistance to practice design

39:25 – 45:56 – Learning styles – not a thing?

45:56 – 50:34 – Where Julie turns for self-development

50:34 – 55:45 – Julie’s speed round

55:45 – 56:39 – Final take

56:39 – 57:26 – Outro

Important links and mentions:

• TechSmith Academy: https://academy.techsmith.com
• Book by Clark Quinn: https://www.amazon.com/Millennials-Goldfish-Other-Training-Misconceptions/dp/1947308378
• Julie’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Design-People-Learn-Voices-Matter/dp/0134211286
• Usable Learning: https://usablelearning.com/
• What Viewers Want: 2021 Video Viewer Study Deep Dive: https://www.techsmith.com/blog/what-viewers-want-2021