The Anti-Trend Trend: Why Instructional Design in 2025 Is About Results, Not Razzle-Dazzle

Ah, trends. Every year, instructional designers brace themselves for the next big wave of innovation, buzzwords, and shiny objects promising to revolutionize the learning industry. Virtual reality training? Check. Gamification 3.0? Yep. AI-powered micro-nano-micro-learning? Sure, let’s do it.  But for 2025, MATC’s big idea is this: we’re not chasing trends.

You heard me. While everyone else is clamoring to adopt the latest gimmick, we’re sticking to something timeless: doing what works.

Keeping It Simple (and Smart)

The instructional design world is an exciting place, full of tools and technologies with legitimate potential. In fact, the eLearning market size is anticipated to grow to $1 trillion (with a “T”) by 2032. That’s a colossal amount of training development! But chasing every new tool can quickly turn into a treadmill to nowhere. At MATC, we’ve made a conscious decision to step off the hamster wheel and focus on the foundations:

• Results.
• Learning objectives.
• What businesses and learners need.

If it doesn’t serve these three priorities, it’s fluff—and we’re not here for the fluff.

This approach isn’t just philosophy; it’s how we operate. Our team designs solutions tailored to meet the specific challenges and goals of our customers. Whether we’re building an interactive eLearning module or crafting a straightforward job aid, everything is measured against how well it drives outcomes.

Trends: Cool but Not Always Practical

Let’s talk about some of the most hyped trends. Generative AI continues to dominate conversations, promising everything from instant course creation to personalized learning experiences. Don’t get us wrong; it’s a game-changer in many ways. But here’s the catch: if the content isn’t aligned with business goals or learning outcomes, AI just makes bad training faster.

Then there’s the metaverse. Sure, there’s something thrilling about learners attending virtual onboarding sessions on a simulated Mars colony. But how often does that experience translate into measurable business outcomes? Not often.

We’re not Luddites. We love a good innovation as much as the next person: interactive learning, microlearning, personalization, and more are all in our wheelhouse. But here’s the truth: bells and whistles only matter if they improve learning outcomes, align with customer needs, and deliver measurable results.

What Learners and Businesses Really Want

When you peel away the glitz, what do businesses and learners truly care about? Spoiler: it’s not whether their training uses holograms or VR goggles. It’s whether:

• Employees acquire the skills they need to excel in their roles.
• Organizations see tangible ROI on their training investments.
• Time spent in training is efficient, engaging, and effective.

That’s why we start every project by asking, What problem are we solving? and How will we measure success? At MATC, we pride ourselves on balancing creativity with practicality. Our solutions aren’t built around trends—they’re built around impact.

The Art of Saying “No”

One of the most powerful tools we’ll use in 2025? The ability to say, “No.”

• No, we don’t need to add a gamified leaderboard to this compliance training.
• No, creating a VR simulation of your office isn’t the best use of your budget.
• No, AI isn’t the right fit for this problem—you need a simple PDF guide.

Saying, “No” isn’t about being stubborn; it’s about being strategic. By filtering out what doesn’t serve the learning objectives, we create training that’s lean, focused, and impactful.

Measurement: The Unsexy Trend That Works

You know what’s better than the flashiest technology? Proof that your training works. Measurement and data are the unsung heroes of effective instructional design, and in 2025, they’re our secret weapon. There’s a reason why 80 percent of our customers return to MATC for their next project:

• Did learners improve their performance?
• Did the training program reduce errors or increase efficiency?
• Can we tie the outcomes directly to business objectives?

This isn’t glamorous stuff. You won’t see a TikTok influencer raving about data-driven results. But measurement is what separates training that “looks good” from training that actually delivers value.

What We’re Doing Instead

Our 2025 “trends” look like this:

1. Start with the end in mind. Every project begins by asking, What’s the goal? Not What’s the trendiest tool we can use?
2. Focus on learning objectives. Clear, actionable objectives guide our design choices, not the latest tech fad.
3. Prioritize learner experience. That doesn’t mean flashy; it means functional. Content that’s easy to consume, remember, and apply wins every time.
4. Partner with customers. We don’t impose trends; we collaborate to solve real-world problems.
5. Measure and improve. Feedback and data inform our process, ensuring every iteration of training is better than the last.
   
   

Why This Approach Works

The truth is our anti-trend approach isn’t radical—it’s just effective. By focusing on what matters most, we:

• Deliver training that achieves business goals.
• Save customers money by avoiding unnecessary frills.
• Build trust by showing measurable results.
• Keep learners engaged with relevant, practical content.

Final Thoughts: The Beauty of Staying Grounded

In a world obsessed with chasing the next big thing, there’s something refreshing—and, dare I say, revolutionary—about sticking to the basics. Instructional design isn’t about dazzling learners with technology; it’s about helping them learn, grow, and succeed.

So, here’s to 2025, the year of doing what works. While others are busy riding the trend train, we’re over here crafting thoughtful, results-driven learning experiences that make a real difference. Who’s with us?

Related Blogs

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Elevate Your Designs: Visual Principles Meet Modern Tech 

Mastering Learning Objectives: Avoid These 6 Common Mistakes! 

Resources

“E-learning Market Size – By Technology (Online E-learning, LMS, Mobile E-learning, Rapid E-learning, Virtual Classroom, Others), Provider (Service, Content), Application (Corporate, Academic, Government) & Forecast, 2023 – 2032.” Global Market Insights. May 2023. Accessed 12/10/24. https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/elearning-market-size 

Hobson, Luke. “The Disconnect Between Instructional Design Degrees, the Real World, and How to Fix It.” Dr. Luke Hobson. 3/21/24. Accessed 12/10/24. https://drlukehobson.com/blog1/the-disconnect-between-instructional-design-degrees-the-real-world-and-how-to-fix-it 

Jones, Bryan. “10 eLearning Tips from Michael Allen.” eLearning Art. Accessed 12/10/24. https://elearningart.com/blog/michael-allen-elearning-tips 

Jones, Bryan. “10 Engaging eLearning Examples — Make Your Training More Effective with These Expert Tips.” eLearning Art. Accessed 12/10/24. https://elearningart.com/blog/engaging-elearning 

Phillips, Jack J., Ph.D. and Patricia P. Phillips, Ph.D. “Measuring ROI in Executive Coaching.” 2005. Accessed 12/10/24. https://roiinstitute.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Measuring-ROI-in-Executive-Coaching.pdf