About Natalie
A teacher who learned
to call her work design.
For over a decade, I stood in elementary classrooms and did something that sounds simple but isn't: I took the complexity of the world — big emotions, difficult systems, uncomfortable truths — and translated it into something a child could understand, engage with, and use.
I didn't have language for it then. But what I was doing every day was instructional design — analyzing my learners, sequencing content, designing for engagement, and adjusting in real time based on what I saw.
"Teaching was never just content delivery.
It was empathy, architecture, and translation — all at once."
When I discovered the field of learning design, I didn't feel like I was pivoting. I felt like I finally had the vocabulary for work I'd always been doing.
I earned my graduate certificate in Learning Design & Technology from Arizona State University, where I built scenario-based eLearning, microlearning modules, and accessibility-centered digital experiences. I work in Articulate Storyline 360, Rise, Canva, and Adobe Express — and I bring to every project something many ID professionals build their entire careers trying to develop: an instinct for the learner.
What I bring to every project
Empathy First
Years in the classroom taught me to read the room — to design not just for what content demands, but for how humans actually learn under real conditions.
Accessibility by Default
Inclusive design isn't a checklist item. It's built into how I think from the first wireframe — because every learner deserves to engage fully.
Complexity Made Clear
I have spent my career turning difficult, high-stakes information into something understandable without losing its integrity. That skill translates directly to corporate and organizational learning.
Iterative & Evidence-Based
I don't guess — I prototype, test, and refine. Every design decision is grounded in instructional theory and learner feedback.
I am based in Arizona and available for freelance learning design projects, contract roles, and full-time opportunities. If you're looking for a designer who brings both technical skill and genuine learner-centered instinct to the table — I'd love to connect.
Let's talk about what you're building.
nqwalraven@gmail.com →