Designing Human-Centered Learning in an AI World

I began my career in publishing, working as an editorial assistant. I spent my days immersed in fiction and poetry, analyzing language, shaping stories, and contributing to design-focused tasks like laying out our quarterly publication and designing book covers.

This creative foundation led me to instructional design, where I applied my design and communication skills to building corporate learning and development, and designing tailored programs for professionals around the world, including senior executives at companies like Hitachi and Sony during my time in Japan.

Today, I design leadership development programs at The Humphrey Group, creating learning experiences that are delivered to leaders at some of the world’s top organizations. Learning is always evolving and the tools I use may be different from when I started, but the core goal remains the same: help people meaningfully connect with ideas.

From Literature to eLearning

The common thread within my career has always been to make complex ideas accessible and engaging.

When I worked with c-suite executives at companies like Hitachi and Sony, I often designed custom programs to help them refine their pitches for North American audiences. These leaders weren’t looking for generic content. They wanted precision and they needed a relevant learning experience tailored to their exact needs.

It was in these moments, working one-on-one to identify the learning goals so that I could design their curriculum with intention, that I came to understand something essential about adult learning: it has to be personalized, relevant, easily applicable.

What Adults Actually Want from Learning

Adult learners don’t want information for information’s sake. They want clear outcomes and a direct line to their lived and professional experience. Engagement can drop pretty quickly if they don’t see a connection to their “why.”

But in a world of “popcorn brain”, which refers to the fact that attention spans are shorter than ever, achieving this is becoming increasingly complex. That’s why successful learning programs must connect to personalized real-life situations and job-related challenges, offer immediate application through practice and reflection, and deliver tailored feedback that acknowledges experience and builds mastery.

AI has the Potential to Transform Learning

I believe in the power of technology, but only when a tool is used with care and intention. Right now, there’s a lot of buzz about AI in learning and development. When used poorly, for instance, to push out volume rather than quality, AI risks flattening the learning experience. Learners may complete more modules, but they remember less and forget the why.

But when used thoughtfully, I believe AI has the potential to enhance human learning. AI can help learners practice in private before stepping into a live setting and it can create space for facilitators to focus on what matters most: higher level processing with real-time human connection.

That’s exactly the philosophy behind ELI, our AI-powered learning tool.. ELI doesn’t just present information, it supports ongoing growth by offering feedback and practice opportunities long after a training ends. In this way, AI becomes not a replacement for human learning, but a reinforcement of it.

Presence Still Matters – Even Online

Learning is about more than knowledge transfer. It’s about connection. It’s about presence. And that’s something that no machine can replicate. True learning happens in the space between people. It happens in the questions we ask, the reflections we share, and the connections we build. It’s in those moments of conversation that ideas are challenged, understanding deepens, and insight emerges.

After my time in Japan, I often found myself reflecting on Tokyo’s nickname, “The Lonely City.” Despite all its technological brilliance, genuine one-on-one connection could feel surprisingly scarce… So much so that some people even paid for it as a commodified service.

That left a lasting impression on me. In today’s increasingly digital world, authentic human connection isn’t just meaningful, it can feel rare. When it comes to learning, it’s more essential than ever.

But presence alone isn’t enough. If we want learning to stick, we have to make it last.

Reinforcement is the New Frontier

One of the biggest challenges in learning and development today is reinforcement. The “forgetting curve” tells us that people forget up to 90% of what they learn if it isn’t reinforced. That’s why we embed structured reinforcement tools into every program:

• A leadership philosophy or mindset grounded in communication. We believe that communication is at the core of leadership, and this shapes every learning experience we design.
• Clear frameworks that bring the learning to life. Every program includes tools that translate the concepts into action, like our DESP framework. These frameworks give learners something tangible to hold onto and apply.
• Opportunities to practice and apply. Real learning happens through doing. That’s why every program includes hands-on opportunities to apply and develop new skills, receive tailored feedback, and translate theory into lived leadership moments.

Simply put all our programs encompass:

The eLearning Landscape: What’s coming next?

This structure ensures that when leaders show up for one-on-one sessions, they’re ready to go deeper and make the most of the real-life human interactions.

The world may look very different from when I was laying out poetry journals and designing book covers, but the heart of my work hasn’t changed. I’m still creating experiences that help people connect to ideas, each other, and to their own growth.

We live in a world where learning risks becoming faster, flatter, and less human. That’s why I stay focused on what truly matters: designing experiences that serve the needs and best interests of people.

Tools change. Attentions shift. But real learning still begins with relevance, connection, and care. At The Humphrey Group, we’re not just keeping up, we’re choosing to move forward with advanced technologies in a way that is thoughtful, intentional, and human.

Curious to see how ELI can support ongoing leadership growth? Click here to learn more!