C A S E   S T U D Y

Course development

Project

Professional development reimagined: From obligation to authentic engagement

Role

Lead Instructional Designer + Creative Producer

Challenge

Professional development programs in medical education faced barriers to engagement and complex processes that limited participation. Research had identified solutions, but the critical gap was execution — transforming academic insights into an engaging learning experience. I was brought in mid-development to craft something that would genuinely surprise and delight busy physicians, ultimately creating a deliverable that "set the standard for faculty development moving forward”.

Translating academia into design solutions

R E S E A R C H   T R A N S L A T I O N

Working alongside a cross-disciplinary team, I inherited comprehensive grant-funded research including environmental scans, literature reviews, and focus group reports. Rather than developing a basic course, I saw an opportunity to translate these insights into an elevated learning experience through visual design, brand storytelling, and creative production.

Key findings

  • Faculty desired engaging, mixed-media experiences over traditional lecture formats

  • Flexible, bite-sized content was essential for busy medical professionals

  • Peer connection and small group dynamics were critical motivators

  • Content needed to address real-world teaching challenges in digital environments

Design focus: Create a cohesive visual and interactive learning experience that elevates conventional training

Note: Proprietary course materials are not displayed per institutional confidentiality requirements. This case study documents the design methodology, strategic approach, and measurable outcomes. Visuals include public-facing content and privacy-protected examples.

D E S I G N A P P R O A C H

Crafting an instructional strategy

Working with busy physicians who needed flexible, relevant training, I applied adult learning principles with an experiential focus rooted in experiential learning theory (Kolb) and constructivist design.

Concrete experience

Designed patient simulation scenarios with branching decision trees and immediate consequence feedback

Reflective observation

Created structured debrief templates and peer review protocols to capture learning moments

Abstract conceptualisation

Developed concept mapping exercises linking clinical cases to evidence-based practice guidelines

Active experimentation

Built progressive skill-building activities with low-stakes practice opportunities before high-stakes assessments

L E A R N I N G A R C H I T E C T U R E

From drafts to pathways

Leading consultations with 7 faculty SMEs, I navigated varying levels of content readiness — from domain experts with existing materials to emerging topics requiring strategic development sessions. I guided busy physicians through brainstorming and content structuring, conducting multiple targeted meetings to develop robust content while respecting their limited availability.

Content architecture

Transformed dense SME drafts with extensive comments into visually structured content hierarchy

Cognitive load optimisation

Restructured fragmented SME notes into learning progressions with clear prerequisite relationships

Intuitive learning pathways

Created navigation pathways with completion tracking workarounds, enabling busy physicians to seamlessly resume learning

Multimodal asset development

Developed infographics, process diagrams, checklists, visual case study layouts, scenario-based decision trees, self-assessment tools and downloadable templates

C R E A T I V E P R O D U C T I O N

Delight in the serious

Based on faculty feedback requesting more engaging speakers and creative media use, I designed a brand system and produced a complete video series. This involved managing the full production pipeline from guest identification through final branded deliverables.

Visual Design & Brand Development

  • Approachability: Warm, welcoming aesthetic countering the sentiment of “grinding through” traditional training

  • Consistency: Cohesive visual language across all touchpoints

  • Accessibility: High contrast, readable typography, inclusive design practices

Media Production

  • Guest sourcing and interview coordination with 15+ medical professionals and students

  • Created 20+ storyboards in collaboration with SMEs

  • Conducted and recorded all interviews

  • Performed complete post-production: sound design, video editing, and color correction

  • Built templated visual assets for consistent brand application

R E F L E C T I O N

Outcomes & Takeaway

  • Adoption: Successful pilot led to multi-year expansion across medical divisions

  • Engagement: Sustained regional growth drove province-wide program rollout

  • Recognition: Featured and presented at multiple national medical conferences since 2022

We created a learning experience that exceeded traditional course development expectations. Designing for delight and humor didn’t undermine professionalism — it built trust, broke inertia, and reignited pride in the work. By making reflection in professional development feel like a release, not a requirement, we turned obligation into genuine engagement.

Impact

By bridging academic research with user-centered design, my work helped:

  • Unlock development potential in conventional training contexts

  • Transform team vision through engaging storytelling and visual design

  • Demonstrate delight in the serious; setting new standards that inspire approaches to professional education