Open LinkedIn right now, and you will see job postings that look like a wish list for a mythical creature.

“Wanted: Instructional Designer. Must be an expert in Adult Learning Theory, a master of Articulate Storyline, a graphic design wizard, a video editor, a UI/UX researcher, and a project manager.”

The industry is confused. It uses these titles interchangeably, creating a “Frankenstein” role that inevitably leads to burnout.

But words matter. While there is overlap, an Instructional Designer, an eLearning Developer, and a Learning Experience Designer (LXD) are three distinct disciplines.

If you want to build a better team—or build a better career—you need to know which hat you are wearing.

1. The Instructional Designer (The Architect)

The Core Question: Does this solve the problem?

The Instructional Designer (ID) is the strategist. They are the guardians of the pedagogy. An ID doesn’t start by opening software; they start by asking questions.

• The Focus: Analysis, structure, and outcomes.
• The Tools: Needs Analysis, Course Overviews, Storyboards, Action Mapping, ADDIE/SAM.
• The Analogy: They are the Architect. They draw the blueprints. They calculate the load-bearing walls to ensure the building doesn’t collapse. They don’t necessarily lay the bricks, but they decide where the bricks go.

2. The eLearning Developer (The Builder)

The Core Question: Does this function beautifully?

The eLearning Developer is the technologist and the artist. They take the blueprint (the storyboard) and bring it to life on the screen. Their goal is to make the content accessible, bug-free, and visually slick.

• The Focus: Functionality, interactivity, and multimedia.
• The Tools: Evolve, Articulate Storyline, Rise, Parta, Camtasia, Adobe Creative Cloud, HTML/CSS.
• The Analogy: They are the Builder. They pour the concrete, wire the electricity, and paint the walls. If the Architect says “we need a door here,” the Builder ensures the door opens smoothly and doesn’t squeak.

3. The Learning Experience Designer (The User Advocate)

The Core Question: How does this feel for the human?

The LXD is the newest evolution. It is the marriage of Instructional Design and User Experience (UX) Design. While the ID focuses on the business goal, the LXD focuses on the user journey. They care about emotion, friction, and the environment in which learning happens.

• The Focus: Empathy, usability, emotional connection, and human-centered design.
• The Tools: Personas, Empathy Maps, Journey Maps, Wireframes, Design Thinking.
• The Analogy: They are the Interior & Landscape Designer. They ensure the house flows. They care about how the light hits the room, how comfortable the furniture is, and whether the person living there feels at home.

The “Unicorn” Trap

Can one person do all three? Yes. We call them Unicorns. I am a Unicorn.

But let’s be clear: You are not born a Unicorn. You don’t graduate from a bootcamp as a Unicorn.

To be a true Unicorn, someone who can architect the strategy (ID), design the user journey (LXD), and build the technical asset (Dev) takes years of deliberate practice. It requires mastering three completely different “languages”:

1. The Analytical Language of pedagogy and business metrics.
2. The Visual/Technical Language of code, software, and design.
3. The Emotional Language of empathy and user experience.

The Challenge: Managing the “Brain Switch” The difficulty isn’t just knowing the tools; it’s the mental agility required to switch gears. You have to be deeply analytical one hour, deeply empathetic the next, and deeply technical the hour after that.

If you are just starting out, this can lead to cognitive overload.

• Focus too much on the Dev, and the pedagogy suffers (Pretty, but ineffective).
• Focus too much on the ID, and the engagement suffers (Effective, but boring).

The Verdict If you are a Unicorn, wear that horn proudly, you have earned it through years of trial, error, and upskilling. You don’t just “know your lane”; you own the whole highway.

But for those hiring or just starting, remember: A Unicorn is a Senior status. Don’t expect a Junior designer to carry the weight of three departments on Day 1.

Conclusion: Respect the Hats

Whether you are a freelancer offering the “Full Stack” or a manager building a team, clarity is power.

• Need to fix a performance gap? Prioritise ID skills.
• Need a slick SCORM package? Prioritise Dev skills.
• Need to transform a culture? Prioritise LXD skills.

These are the three legs of the stool. You can hire three specialists, or you can hire one seasoned Unicorn who has spent a decade learning how to balance the stool alone. Just respect the expertise required to keep it upright.

Are you writing job descriptions that ask for the impossible? Book a coaching session with me to analyse your team structure and hire the right specific talent.