Breast Cancer Basics
EXPLORE
Breast cancer affects millions of individuals each year—not only those diagnosed, but also the families, friends, and caretakers who walk alongside them. I am one of those people. When a close family member received a diagnosis, I found myself searching endlessly for answers—reading studies, articles, and medical resources in an effort to understand and support them.
As an instructional designer, I channeled that search into something meaningful: an eLearning lesson designed to bring clarity, compassion, and credible information to others facing similar circumstances. This project is more than a professional endeavor—it’s a personal mission to help others navigate the overwhelming early stages of diagnosis and caregiving.
By combining evidence-based research with thoughtful design, this lesson aims to empower learners with knowledge, comfort, and actionable insights. It represents the intersection of my personal journey and professional skillset, and stands as a testament to the power of learning in times of uncertainty.
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Responsibilities: Instructional Designer
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Target Audience: people interested in a basic overview of breast cancer
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Tools: Articulate Storyline 360
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Budget: low
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Year: 2021
Background
When a loved one was diagnosed with breast cancer, I felt compelled to understand the disease—not only to support them, but to empower others facing similar challenges. As both a concerned family member and a professional instructional designer, I combined personal urgency with professional skill to create an eLearning course that informs, uplifts, and educates.
Built in Articulate Storyline 360, this course is tailored for young adult learners navigating the complexities of a new diagnosis or supporting someone who is.
My design approach was intentional: soft shapes, graphite-toned image overlays, and bright white text convey clarity and calm. The use of pink, the official ribbon color for breast cancer awareness, reinforces the theme, while off-yellow directional icons provide visual consistency and intuitive navigation—anchoring the "next" button in the lower right corner throughout the course.
While visual design played a key role in creating an optimistic and inviting tone, the heart of this project lies in its content. I prioritized scientific accuracy and clarity, presenting dense medical information in a format that’s easy to navigate and digest. Technical terminology is introduced gradually across multiple slides, ensuring learners gain a foundational understanding without feeling overwhelmed.
This project represents a meaningful intersection of personal experience and professional purpose—an instructional design solution built to inform, support, and inspire.
Process and Design
This eLearning course began with a structured Mind Map to organize content flow and learner pathways. From that foundation, I built a central menu hub that allows users to navigate the course non-linearly—giving them ownership over their learning experience. All navigation links return to this hub, reinforcing clarity and consistency throughout the course.
To ensure accessibility and engagement, I selected clean, modern fonts and used photography featuring diverse women, reflecting the demographic most statistically affected by breast cancer. Visual design choices—including graphite-toned overlays, bright white text, and soft shapes—were intentionally optimistic and inviting. I also incorporated interactive “Did you know?” prompts to reinforce key concepts and encourage reflection.
Because this course is intended for the general public and not tied to credentialing or formal assessment, it was designed without test questions. This project reflects a thoughtful blend of instructional design, user experience, and empathy—providing accessible, science-based information in a format that’s both engaging and supportive.
Takeaways
This project marked my first full eLearning build in Articulate Storyline 360 developed independently—not for a client—which gave me complete artistic and creative freedom. With that autonomy, I set out to create a course that felt modern, approachable, and hopeful, while also incorporating a subtle artistic sensibility.
In my work, I strive to champion visual design with the same rigor and intention as I do instructional content. This project reflects that balance—a thoughtful marriage of aesthetics and substance. From layout and typography to imagery and navigation, every design choice was made to support and elevate the learning experience.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue exploring how design and content can work in harmony—pushing boundaries, experimenting with new formats, and finding fresh ways to make learning both beautiful and impactful.
Update 2025
Looking back four years later, I’m deeply proud of the growth I’ve made as both an instructional designer and project manager. In our field, it’s rare to revisit early work—let alone pause to recognize how far we’ve come. This project, my first full build in Articulate Storyline 360 not created for a client, represents a pivotal moment in my development. It was a space where I had full creative freedom, and I poured my energy into making something that reflected both my emerging skills and my passion for learning design.
At the time, I leaned heavily on premade templates—not out of limitation, but as a way to understand the backend mechanics of Storyline: triggers, states, menu logic, and user pathways. That hands-on exploration taught me the foundations of interactive design and gave me the confidence to build more complex, customized solutions later on.
Today, as a more seasoned designer, I no longer rely on templates. I’ve developed the ability to craft learning experiences from the ground up, integrating strategy, design, and technology with precision. And while I could make countless refinements to this early project, I choose to preserve it as a milestone—a reminder of where I started and a source of inspiration to keep evolving.
Using tools like Copilot AI has helped me articulate the design choices and emotional intent behind this work. It’s a testament to how far I’ve come, and how much more there is to explore.