I have talked a lot about “Shiny Tool Syndrome.” In the eLearning industry, it is incredibly easy to get distracted by the latest AI-powered gadget or flashy new software promising to do your job for you in three clicks.

But when you strip away the hype, Instructional Design is about execution. It is about taking a complex business problem, designing a beautiful solution, and getting it approved, built, and launched without losing your mind (or your profit margin).

To do that consistently, you don’t need fifty tools. You just need a bulletproof workflow.

Over the years, I have ruthlessly curated my software stack. If a tool doesn’t save me time, improve my design, or make my clients’ lives easier, it gets cut. Period.

Here is an inside look at my exact workflow, and the 6 software tools I rely on for every single eLearning project.

1. Google Docs (The Blueprint)

Before I open a single design program, I open Google Docs. This is where the strategy happens, and it is the most critical part of my workflow.

• How I use it: I use Docs to write my Learning Strategy, the Course Overview, and my Storyboard. Every word of narration, every click, and every interaction is scripted here first.
• Why I recommend it: It is the ultimate collaboration tool. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) don’t need a special license to use it. We can leave comments, track version history, and get sign-off in real-time. If it isn’t signed off in the Google Doc, it doesn’t get built.

2. Trello (The Traffic Cop)

Nothing kills a project faster than lost emails and confused stakeholders asking, “So, where are we at with the build?”

• How I use it: Trello is my project management hub. I set up a Kanban board with columns for Engagement, Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluation.
• Why I recommend it: It is visual, intuitive, and keeps scope creep at bay. When a client can literally see a card move from “Not Started” to “Completed,” they understand that the blueprint phase is over. It keeps everyone accountable and deadlines on track.

3. Figma (The Visual Playground)

I refuse to design inside an authoring tool. If you try to figure out your colours, fonts, and layouts while simultaneously trying to code interactions, you will end up with a mess.

• How I use it: I use Figma to create my high-fidelity Visual Mockups and custom UI components.
• Why I recommend it: Figma allows me to build pixel-perfect prototypes that look exactly like the client’s brand. I can show a stakeholder a static mockup of the course interface for approval before I spend 40 hours developing it. It is the ultimate “Cover Your Assets” tool.

4. Vyond (The Storyteller)

Sometimes text and static images just don’t cut it. To truly hook a learner (especially in scenario-based or compliance training), you need characters, emotion, and movement.

• How I use it: I use Vyond to create animated videos and scenarios that I then embed into my courses.
• Why I recommend it: You don’t need a Hollywood budget or an animation degree to use it. Vyond makes it incredibly easy to create relatable characters and dynamic stories that bring dry content to life.

5. Evolve (The Engine)

As an Evolve Power User, this is the core of my development phase. Once the storyboard is approved and the Figma mockups are signed off, I bring it all to life here.

• How I use it: I use Evolve to build the actual eLearning content.
• Why I recommend it: It ditches the outdated “click-next” slide model for a modern, deep-scrolling experience. Because it is truly responsive, the courses I build feel like native mobile apps. It gives me the deep customisation I crave, allowing me to build complex, non-linear learning experiences that look incredibly high-end.

6. Fillout (The Reality Check)

The project isn’t over when you hit publish. You need to evaluate it.

• How I use it: I use Fillout to build my Level 1 evaluation forms (smile sheets) and feedback surveys.
• Why I recommend it: Standard LMS surveys usually look like they were built in 1995. Fillout allows me to create sleek, highly customizable, and branded forms that learners actually want to fill out. The integrations are seamless, making it easy to gather and analyse the data to prove the ROI of the course.

The Bottom Line

A carpenter is only as good as their hammer, and an eLearning designer is only as fast as their tech stack.

You don’t need to use these exact tools, but you absolutely must have a tool for each phase of the journey. Lock down your workflow, master your tools, and watch your efficiency skyrocket.

If you are constantly battling your software or losing track of client feedback, your workflow needs an upgrade. Book a coaching session with me, and let’s audit your tools to get you designing faster and smarter.