IDE 552 wasn’t about learning software. It was about learning how to think like a designer in a digital-first world. I walked in knowing how to open the tools. I walked out knowing how to use them with intention.

Every project forced me to make real design decisions, ones that balanced aesthetics with accessibility, flash with function, and style with instructional purpose. I didn’t just build media. I built media that worked. The kind learners could actually use. From creating microlearning modules in Rise 360 to editing tutorials in Camtasia and designing branded assets in Adobe Express, I learned that effectiveness doesn’t come from the software, it comes from the way you string the tools together to serve the content. This course taught me to look past the shiny features and ask the real questions: Does this layout support the learning objective? Is the user experience clean? Can this be navigated without confusion? These weren’t box-checking exercises. They were working prototypes. And every critique, every revision, helped sharpen my eye. More importantly, I didn’t just produce standalone pieces. I learned how to build ecosystems, integrated, accessible, and intentionally designed for impact. IDE 552 gave me the confidence to step into digital authoring not as a technician, but as a problem-solver who understands that good media isn't just seen. It's felt. And when it’s done right, it makes learning seamless.