Alex Tofte, instructional designer, seated at a desk in a professional setting

Instructional Design That Turns Complexity Into Clarity

I design accessible, evidence-based learning experiences for workplaces and educational institutions, using scenario-based design, thoughtful technology integration, and iterative instructional strategy.

Featured Projects

Screenshot of an AI-powered coaching simulation built in Articulate Storyline 360, showing a branching scenario interface with a Coach Response feedback panel

AI Coach Module (Storyline)

Scenario-based coaching simulation

Storyline 360
JavaScript
Triggers
Variables
Gemini API

Articulate Rise 360 course cover for the AI-Powered Coaching in Corporate E-Learning prototype, featuring a Start Course button and module overview

AI Coach Course (Rise)

End-to-end AI-supported course

Rise 360
Embedded Storyline
ChatGPT & Gemini
Scalable design

From Monster to Teammate (Capstone Video)

Design narrative & process walkthrough

Camtasia
Canva
AI-assisted scripting
Systems thinking

Accessible Corporate Training

WCAG-aligned learning experiences

Rise 360
Storyline 360
Scenarios
Accessibility-first design

Thoughtful Technology, Not Novelty

I integrate AI and emerging tools where they improve instructional quality, scalability, or learner support, not as replacements for human judgment.

My work emphasizes instructional integrity, accessibility, and transfer, whether supporting employee onboarding, leadership development, or higher education course design.

Core Capabilities

Core capabilities that set my work apart: scenario-based instructional design, AI-powered efficiency, and accessible learning solutions that deliver measurable results.

Innovative Solutions

Scenario-based and reflective learning experiences designed for real-world application in professional and academic contexts.

Client-Centered Approach

Collaborative design grounded in stakeholder needs, learner experience, and institutional constraints.

Quality Assurance

Accessibility-first design aligned with WCAG, UDL principles, and evidence-based instructional frameworks.

Portfolio

A broader selection of projects demonstrating instructional design across workplace training, educational environments, and scenario-based learning.

Twin Cities Pets — Volunteer Onboarding Course

Self-paced onboarding course supporting consistent training, accessibility, and learner confidence for volunteer roles.

Rise 360 course
Onboarding design
Job aids & scenarios
WCAG-aligned accessibility

Desktop monitor displaying the Approaching the Dog Kennel scenario-based eLearning course, showing a branching decision interface

Approaching the Dog Kennel — Scenario-Based Training

Interactive scenario-based training focused on safe handling, decision-making, and learner confidence in real-world contexts.

Scenario-based eLearning
Storyline 360
Branching decisions
Performance-focused design

Coaching for Consistent Onboarding — Leadership Project

Manager-focused onboarding workshop integrating adaptive leadership, coaching practice, and transfer planning.

Leadership development
Workshop & microlearning
Coaching simulations
Evaluation planning

Instructional infographic thumbnail for AI Safety in the Workplace, illustrating core principles of responsible AI use in learning and workplace contexts

AI Safety in the Workplace — Instructional Infographic

Visual job aid communicating core principles of responsible AI use in learning and workplace contexts.

Instructional infographic
AI ethics & safety focus
Human-in-the-loop design
Workplace learning context

AI-Powered.Coaching.In.Corporate.E-Learning.Thumbnail.png

AI-Powered Coaching — Executive Instructional Design Report

Executive design case documenting AI-supported coaching, instructional decision-making, and evaluation planning for scalable onboarding.

Executive instructional design report
Scenario-based learning
AI-supported coaching
Accessibility-first design

Communication.Reporting.ChatGPT.NotebookLM.GoogleDocs.thumbnail.png

Twin Cities Pets — Communication Needs Analysis

Performance and needs analysis identifying communication gaps to inform a mobile-first microlearning solution.

Needs & performance analysis
SME collaboration
Mobile-first training context
Business-aligned instructional planning

Design Journal Blog

A working record of design decisions, learning, and iteration.

The Recruiter Podcast: Bridging the Gap with a Human in the Loop

Sample Audio Context I am currently working on my transition into higher-level Instructional Design (and adjacent) roles. This shift requires me to align ten years of classroom experience with very specific needs in Higher Ed. Branding myself is confusing. I needed a way to hear my own career story through the eyes of a recruiter before I ever stepped into the room. The Challenge Interview prep has often been a struggle for me. I found that I was using a lot of mental energy

Opening the Hood: Why I am Building the Tofte Design Journal

I have spent the last several years operating as a performance-first designer, moving from K-12 classrooms into digital learning enablement and formal Instructional Design. During that time, I have developed frameworks, storyboards, and AI-accelerated workflows that I’ve largely kept behind the scenes. Today, I am making those systems public. I’ve noticed that the current Instructional Design landscape is often filled with noise. I found that I had much more success in my ow