When designing digital learning, it’s easy to get caught up in tools, templates, and timelines. But if we only ever look within our industry—or worse, within our screens—we risk creating experiences that feel flat, repetitive, and disconnected from the real world.
We came to London for the World of Learning conference, but as much as we value professional events, we were reminded that some of the best design insights don’t come from keynotes or breakout sessions.
They come from what you notice outside the conference hall—out in the real world. From visiting a museum, watching how people interact in a public space, or even noticing how a shopfront draws you in with light, sound, or movement.
Here are 5 reasons why looking outside your field is one of the most powerful things you can do as a designer:
1. Emotion is crafted — observe how it's done
Think about the last time something moved you—an exhibition, a piece of music, a public installation. That feeling wasn’t accidental. Someone designed for it. As learning designers, we can borrow those cues—timing, contrast, storytelling, colour, texture—to build emotion into our experiences. Because when learners feel something, they’re far more likely to remember it.
2. Inspiration helps break patterns
Working on course after course, it’s easy to fall back on the same structures. But look at how other industries solve problems—architecture, theatre, retail, even theme parks. How do they create flow? Build anticipation? Simplify complexity? These insights can help you rethink how a learning journey unfolds—not just what it includes.
3. Environments influence behaviour — so should yours
In the physical world, space influences how people act. A library invites quiet. A playground invites exploration. Digital spaces should do the same. From the tone of your copy to the way content is spaced out, everything sends a signal. Observing how real-world environments guide behaviour can help you design more intuitive learning spaces.
4. You need contrast to see clearly
If all your inspiration comes from digital learning, your work will start to look like everything else out there. By stepping away—literally—you gain a fresh perspective. It’s not just about creativity. It’s about clarity. Seeing how things could be done differently.
5. You’re designing for humans, not users
At the end of the day, learners are just people. They scroll social media, go to concerts, shop, wait in queues, get frustrated, get inspired. The more you immerse yourself in everyday human experiences, the better you understand what engages, distracts, delights, or bores people. And that’s priceless insight when designing for attention and impact.
In short: your best design ideas won’t always come from another course or LMS demo. They might come from what you notice on your walk after a conference, while browsing a gallery, or from the rhythm of a busy street.
So next time you’re in a new city for work—or just stepping out for a break—stay curious. Pay attention. The world around you is full of lessons in engagement, emotion, and experience design. You just have to look up.
