Learning designers

A socio-material snapshot of the profession

Abstract

The contemporary post-digital university is ever more dependent on the expertise and labour of ‘third space’ professionals such as learning designers. Reporting on the initial findings of a recent survey, this paper presents a snapshot of the people who do the work of learning design, their perspectives on their work and their contributions to teaching and learning in higher education. Four defining characteristics emerged through thematic analysis of 90 survey responses: 1) learning designers come from varied academic and professional backgrounds; 2) our job functions, working conditions and organisational settings can vary significantly; 3) our work practices—and so the knowledge and skills required for the role—can be highly diverse; 4) despite the variety, a shared motivation and sense of purpose is shaping emergent professional identities. Adopting a socio-material lens, this paper presents a rich picture of an expanding profession, providing vital insights into the practices, identities, and impact of learning designers.