Behind the Design

In true ako spirit, this is the learning that happens behind the design, behind the learning. Behind the Builds is part reflection, part experimentation, and all about growing through the creative process.

After years leading projects and teams, I realised I’d been missing the hands-on joy of building.

 

So I opened Storyline, pressed “New Project,” and decided to play. What started as a simple test of AI voices turned into a story about curiosity, family, and one very mischievous goat.

 

Purpose

 

This side project was a creative reset, a way to reconnect with the craft of eLearning design. No client brief, no constraints, just a chance to experiment with storytelling, sound, and character-driven learning.

 

 

Process in 3 Acts

 

Act 1 – The Spark

 

It began with the AI voice “Hemi” in Storyline 360. I imagined the story of two brothers in rural Aotearoa — Tama and Hemi — and their goat, Tina Turner. The idea was to explore emotional storytelling in an interactive form that still felt playful and distinctly local.

 

 

Act 2 – The Build

 

I sketched rough scenes, used ChatGPT to bounce around story ideas, and rebuilt them in Storyline. Triggers became tools for choice-making and humour, every click revealing a small surprise.


Sound brought it to life: laughter, goat bleats, and subtle background cues that made Tama’s world feel real. Illustrations were refined in Illustrator, giving the characters warmth and expression.

 

Act 3 – The Insight

 

When I previewed the full experience, it felt like more than practice, it was a reminder that learning design can be artful, emotional, and fun. Sometimes, the best way to sharpen your skills is to simply play.

 

 

Lessons for Others

 

  • Treat personal projects like creative labs — they’re where skills grow fastest.
  • Use AI tools to ideate and refine, but keep your human storytelling front and centre.
  • Don’t forget to laugh while you build — joy shows up in the design.

 

Closing Reflection

 

“Sometimes the best way to learn again is to build something that makes you smile.”