As instructional designers, we pour our hearts and souls into creating meaningful learning experiences. But how do we know if our efforts truly make a difference? This question lies at the heart of effective instructional design and brings us to one of the most enduring frameworks in our field: the Kirkpatrick Model.

In a groundbreaking interview on the Designing with Love podcast, Russell Van Brocklen, known as "The Dyslexic Professor," shared revolutionary insights about dyslexia that challenge conventional understanding of learning disabilities. Russell, who describes himself as having "the worst case of dyslexia people have ever seen," doesn't just manage his condition—he's transformed it into an extraordinary advantage and developed a methodology that's changing lives.

When we talk about creating learning experiences that truly work, we need to address a fundamental question: Are we designing for all learners? This question sits at the heart of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework that has revolutionized how instructional designers approach their craft. As instructional designers, our mission is to create learning experiences that empower every individual, regardless of their abilities, background, or learning preferences. UDL provides us with the blueprint to accomplish this mission effectively.

In today's digital learning landscape, effective multimedia design isn't just about aesthetics—it's about respecting how the human brain processes information. On episode 43 of the Designing with Love podcast, we explored Richard Mayer's 12 Multimedia Principles, a research-backed framework that transforms how instructional designers, educators, and trainers approach content creation. These principles aren't arbitrary guidelines; they're grounded in cognitive science and offer a roadmap to creating learning experiences that genuinely enhance knowledge retention and application.

Motivation lies at the heart of effective adult learning. As instructional designers and educators, we often focus heavily on content development while overlooking the psychological aspects that drive engagement and knowledge retention. This is where John Keller's ARCS model, introduced in 1983, offers a structured approach to creating learning experiences that truly resonate with adult learners.

Understanding the principles of adult learning is crucial for any instructional designer or educator working with mature students. In episode 41 of the Designing with Love podcast, we explore the foundational aspects of adult learning theory and its practical applications in creating effective learning experiences. This comprehensive overview serves as both a primer for newcomers and a refresher for experienced professionals in the field of educational design.

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the art of course design has never been more critical. The latest episode of Designing with Love podcast features an illuminating conversation with Dr. Catrina Mitchum, founder of Catrina Mitchum Learning Design, who shares invaluable insights about effective course creation and instructional design principles that can transform learning experiences.

Tommy Kilpatrick's journey from California to the Philippines represents a profound transformation in faith and purpose that offers valuable lessons for all of us. As a guest on Designing with Love podcast, Tommy shared his remarkable life story and the spiritual principles that guide his work today.

In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin interviews Shane Strand, an instructional designer working in higher education. The conversation illuminates the journey many educators take when transitioning into instructional design and offers valuable insights for those considering or currently pursuing this growing field.

The instructional design field continues to evolve rapidly, creating exciting opportunities for professionals willing to bridge the gap between education and corporate training. In a recent episode of the Designing with Love podcast, host Jackie Pelegrin interviewed Sakina Brandford, who completed her master's degree in instructional design at Grand Canyon University (GCU) in January 2025 and successfully transitioned from K-12 teaching to a corporate instructional design role.

Dr. Craig Hane, known to his students as Dr. Dell, is revolutionizing mathematics education with a practical, real-world approach that challenges decades of traditional teaching methods. In a recent conversation on the Designing with Love podcast, Dr. Hane shared his transformative journey from being told he wasn't "college material" to becoming a mathematics professor, entrepreneur, and educational innovator.

The SAM (Successive Approximation Model) instructional design approach represents a significant shift from traditional, linear design methodologies. Developed by Dr. Michael Allen, founder of Allen Interactions and a renowned expert in instructional design, SAM was created to address the limitations of sequential models like ADDIE. While ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) has been the go-to framework for many instructional designers, its linear structure often leads to discovering design flaws too late in the process, resulting in costly and time-consuming revisions.