Nusrat Ahmed, a Learning Experience Designer at IDEO U, shares her unique career path and insights into crafting impactful learning experiences in this insightful interview. Discover how her journey through journalism, finance, and user experience design led her to her passion for education and the art of designing how people learn.
Nusrat Ahmed, Learning Experience Designer at IDEO U
What Does a Learning Experience Designer Do at IDEO U?
As a Learning Experience Designer at IDEO U, Nusrat plays a pivotal role in shaping online education. Her work involves refreshing existing courses, creating new content, and ensuring that the learning experience is relevant, engaging, and effective for learners worldwide. She emphasizes the importance of delivering content that is not only contemporary and compelling but also deeply engaging to foster a positive and impactful learning environment.
Nusrat’s recent projects include enriching the Foundations in Design Thinking courses by integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) perspectives. She also focuses on enhancing the Human-Centered Systems Thinking course by incorporating data analysis, learner feedback, and insights from the Teaching Team. Looking ahead, Nusrat is excited to contribute to the co-creation of future courses, continuously pushing the boundaries of innovative learning design.
Quote from Nusrat Ahmed on career patience and curiosity
From Anthropology to Learning Experience Design: A Circuitous Career Path
Nusrat’s academic background in Anthropology ignited her fascination with cognitive science, psychology, and human performance. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Cognitive Science in Education, she delves deeper into the theoretical underpinnings of effective learning experience design. Her ultimate career goal is to empower individuals by teaching them not just what to learn, but fundamentally how to learn, maximizing human potential through enhanced learning methodologies.
Interestingly, Nusrat’s path to learning experience design was not linear. She began her career in journalism before transitioning to finance. Her growing interest in education and design led her to the field of user experience (UX) design. Experience at an AR/VR startup then paved the way to her first formal role in learning experience design within a fintech company. Driven by a desire for more creative and impactful projects, she eventually found her place at IDEO U. This journey highlights how diverse experiences can converge to shape a unique and fulfilling career in learning experience design.
Nusrat describes her career path as a journey of listening to her internal compass. She gravitated towards inspiring leaders, insightful courses, and thought-provoking ideas, synthesizing these influences to align with her core values. These experiences consistently pointed towards a career where she could be creative, empathetic, and learner-centric. This self-awareness was crucial in her transition to becoming a learning experience designer.
Her pursuit was fueled by a vision to merge the qualities of people she admired with industries poised to significantly impact future learning. This vision solidified her commitment to learning experience design as the ideal career path.
Advice for Aspiring Learning Experience Designers
Drawing from her own career evolution, Nusrat offers valuable advice for those interested in learning experience design. She emphasizes the importance of self-discovery through elimination – identifying what you don’t enjoy to clarify your true passions. This process of elimination provided her with the clarity needed to dedicate herself fully to her chosen field.
Nusrat advises aspiring learning experience designers to cultivate patience and curiosity throughout their career journey. She believes that being receptive to subtle signs and directions is essential for navigating a fulfilling career path. Embracing a non-linear path is perfectly acceptable, provided that intentions are regularly revisited and realigned with your evolving self. Her key question for career reflection is: “Who do you want to be?” This introspective approach is crucial for personal and professional growth.
For those specifically aiming for a career in learning experience design, Nusrat recommends exploring its interdisciplinary nature. The field intersects with psychology, design, education, cognitive science, and technology. She suggests working backwards from your career goals, identifying skill gaps, and actively seeking opportunities to bridge them. Networking with and learning from experts in the field, and sharing your own story, are excellent starting points for anyone embarking on this rewarding career path.
To deepen your understanding of learning design methodologies, explore online courses like From Ideas to Action to learn about iteration, prototyping, and experimentation in creating effective learning experiences.
