Best Templates for Instructional Designers in 2025

Instructional designers are the architects of learning. You take complex information and turn it into structured, engaging experiences that actually stick — whether that's an onboarding course, a compliance training module, or a full certification program. And while the creative work is rewarding, the project management side can get overwhelming fast. That's where great templates come in.

The right templates let you focus on designing great learning, not reinventing your workflow every time a new project lands.

What Templates Do Instructional Designers Actually Need?

Unlike some roles where a single project tracker does the trick, instructional designers operate across multiple domains at once: content strategy, visual design, project management, and client communication. That means you need templates that cover all of it.

The most useful template types for IDs include:

Course design and storyboard templates — the backbone of any eLearning project
Project plan templates — to keep timelines, milestones, and stakeholder reviews on track
Content outline templates — for structuring learning modules before building them
Client communication templates — for proposals, feedback requests, and status updates
Learning objective frameworks — to ensure every piece of content ties back to measurable outcomes

Having all of these in a consistent format also makes you look more professional when working with clients or stakeholders who may not have experience commissioning L&D work.

Best Course Design & Storyboard Templates

The storyboard is the most important document in any eLearning project. It's where instructional design meets visual design — and it's usually the first deliverable you hand off to a developer or review with a client.

A great storyboard template for instructional designers should include:

Slide/screen number and title — for easy navigation and reference
On-screen text — exactly what the learner sees
Audio script — narration or dialogue, clearly separated from on-screen text
Visual notes — directions for graphics, animations, or video
Interaction notes — clicks, drag-and-drop, quizzes, or branching scenarios
SME review fields — so subject matter experts can leave comments inline

For course design templates more broadly, look for ones that include a learning objectives section, a module structure overview, and an assessment strategy. This keeps the design intentional and aligned from the start.

Best Project Plan Templates for L&D Professionals

L&D projects have a lot of moving parts: SME interviews, content drafts, design reviews, development sprints, QA passes, and final approvals. Without a solid project plan, things slip — and in client work, slipped timelines hit your reputation and your bottom line.

The best project plan templates for instructional designers include:

Project phases — ADDIE or SAM model phases baked in
Task ownership — who's doing what, with due dates
Review and approval gates — formal checkpoints where stakeholders sign off
Dependency mapping — so you know what's blocking what
Buffer time built in — because SME availability is always unpredictable

A good L&D project plan also tracks the number of seat hours or modules, so scope creep is easy to identify. If a client keeps adding content, you have documentation that justifies a change order.

Best Content Outline Templates

Before you jump into storyboarding, a content outline helps you and your client agree on what the course will actually cover. It's a lower-fidelity document that's much faster to revise than a full storyboard — making it the ideal early alignment tool.

Great content outline templates for IDs include:

Module and lesson breakdown — the hierarchy of the course at a glance
Learning objectives per module — tied to Bloom's taxonomy levels
Key content points — bullet-level summaries, not full scripts
Assessment type per module — quiz, scenario, reflection, etc.
Estimated time per module — so learners and clients know what to expect

Content outlines are also incredibly useful for working with SMEs. Instead of interviewing someone and taking your own notes, you can co-create the outline in real time — which usually gets you better content and faster approvals.

Best Client Communication Templates for IDs

If you do freelance or contract instructional design work, client communication templates are non-negotiable. Clear, professional communication builds trust and reduces the back-and-forth that eats up your time.

Must-have client communication templates for instructional designers:

Project kickoff agenda — sets expectations from day one
Feedback request email — structured prompts so clients give useful input, not vague comments
Revision tracking template — a log of what was changed, when, and why
Project status update — a weekly or bi-weekly snapshot of progress and upcoming steps
Project close-out summary — recaps what was delivered and sets up the next engagement

Having these templates ready means you're never staring at a blank email wondering how to phrase a difficult status update. You just fill in the details and send.

How the Career Launchpad Kit Helps Instructional Designers

Whether you're new to instructional design or leveling up your freelance practice, the Career Launchpad Kit has everything you need to hit the ground running. It includes professional templates for project management, client communication, portfolio building, and more — all designed for knowledge professionals who want to work smarter.

At $24, it's an investment that pays for itself the first time you land a client or nail a project review. No more reinventing the wheel on every project.

Great instructional design is about creating learning experiences that work. The right templates handle the infrastructure so you can focus on the craft.

Explore all templates at Skillhood →