The Summer ID Studio
Develop an AI-Powered Storyline Sample for Your Portfolio
A 9-week sprint to develop the portfolio piece that gets you noticed by employers, learn the AI skills hiring managers are looking for, and use AI to boost your productivity, motivation, and focus. Step by step. Week by week. With me. No tech background required.
Storyline is the heaviest lift in any ID portfolio. This summer, we tackle it together.
- A fully polished, portfolio-quality Storyline sample
- 8 out of 10 expert-level Storyline skills
- In-demand AI skills you can put on your resume
- A documented AI-powered ID workflow
- AI productivity system to keep you on track all 9 weeks
- Two rounds of expert feedback from experienced IDs
Registration closes June 14 • Starts June 15
Another summer is right in front of you.
You said you'd work on your portfolio last summer. Maybe the summer before that too. And then the school year rolled back around, nothing was done, and you were right back where you started.
It's not that you don't want it. It's that life keeps happening. Family. Work. The mental load of everything on your plate. And without a clear plan telling you exactly what to do and in what order, it's easy to keep saying "I'll start next week" until the window closes again.
That changes this summer.
"Summer is your runway. Do the heavy lifting now, when you have more flexibility, so when life picks back up in the fall you're already ahead. Not scrambling to develop what you should have developed in June."
The window is real. 9 weeks to tackle the biggest lift in your ID portfolio: a polished Storyline sample, developed step by step, with AI powering the process at every stage.
The Summer ID Studio was designed for this exact window. And I want to walk through it with you.
Sound familiar?
- ✓You want to transition into Instructional Design and know you need a portfolio but don't know where to start or what to develop
- ✓You've looked at Storyline and felt overwhelmed, or you've never opened it at all (complete beginners welcome)
- ✓You know AI is changing the field but you're not sure how it fits into actual ID work
- ✓You've tried to self-study but kept losing momentum when life got in the way
- ✓You want an expert-designed roadmap with accountability built in so this summer is different
- ✓You want real, polished work to show employers when you're ready to apply
What you'll have by August 15
A fully polished, portfolio-ready Storyline sample that showcases both beginning AND advanced features, developed over 9 weeks with expert feedback at every stage.
AI skills woven into every step of the process, documented in a workflow you can show hiring managers. Plus the AI productivity system that kept you on track all summer.
The confidence that comes from finishing something real.
Ready to make this summer count?
Why Storyline AND AI?
Everyone is talking about AI right now. But here's what most people miss: AI does not replace Storyline. Hiring managers still want to see that you can develop interactive, engaging learning. AI is the layer on top of that. You need both. And this summer is the perfect time to develop both.
Storyline Skills
Storyline shows up in the majority of ID job postings. Employers want to see that you can develop interactive, scenario-based learning. A polished Storyline sample in your portfolio signals you're ready to contribute from day one. It's also the skill that takes the most time to learn, which is exactly why summer is the moment.
By the end of the Studio you'll have completed 18 hours of beginner and advanced Storyline training, including accordion interactions, custom drag-and-drops, branching scenarios, variables, and conditional logic. That's 8 out of 10 expert-level skills.
AI Skills
AI fluency is becoming a real differentiator in hiring. But it's not "I use ChatGPT sometimes." It's specific: using AI to generate learner personas, draft assessment questions, create custom course visuals, generate professional voiceover, and document your full ID workflow. And using AI to stay productive, motivated, and focused throughout the process.
That's what goes on your resume. That's what hiring managers notice. And you'll develop all of it while developing your sample.
What You Walk Away With
Portfolio-Quality Storyline Sample
A polished, shareable Storyline course featuring both beginner and advanced interactions, published and ready for your portfolio.
AI-Powered ID Workflow
A 1-2 page document you can include alongside your sample that shows hiring managers exactly how you use AI in the ID process.
AI Productivity System
Weekly planning prompts, an AI accountability partner, check-in templates, and a custom 9-week schedule built to keep you moving when life gets busy.
Expert-Level Storyline Skills
18 hours of beginner and advanced training. Accordion interactions, custom drag-and-drops, branching scenarios, variables, conditional logic. Skills you can name on your resume.
AI-Generated Course Assets
Professional voiceover, custom images, and AI avatar video generated as part of your sample, demonstrating modern production skills employers are looking for.
Personal AI Prompt Library
A curated set of prompts you'll develop throughout the 9 weeks for every stage of the ID process, ready to use in your next project.
9 Weeks. Week by Week. No Guessing.
This is a sprint, not a course you buy and forget. Every week has a clear focus, real deliverables, and AI woven in from the very first day. Here's exactly what we're doing together.
Set Up Your AI Productivity System
Before you write a single learning objective or open Storyline, you set up your AI accountability partner customized to your goals and schedule, develop a realistic 9-week plan that accounts for real life, and learn the full AI tool stack. This is the system that keeps you moving all summer.
Plan Your Sample and Develop Your Content Map
Most people skip this and regret it. Week 1 is about knowing exactly what you're developing before you develop it. You choose a strategic topic, define your audience, write your learning objectives, and complete your full content map. AI helps you at every single step.
Content Map Feedback + Beginning Storyline
You get professional feedback on your content map, make revisions, then start Storyline from absolute zero. No assumed knowledge. Interface, slides, layers, states, triggers. AI is your 24/7 Storyline tutor, and office hours are there when you need a real human to get unstuck.
Develop Draft 1 of Your Sample
This is the heart of the development phase. Three weeks of actually developing.
Week 3: Generate custom course images with AI, establish your visual style, and start the Storyline development.
Week 4: Write and generate professional-quality voiceover with ElevenLabs and add it to your slides.
Week 5: Use AI to batch-draft supporting course text, run a self-review checklist, and submit Draft 1 for professional feedback.
Draft 1 Feedback + Advanced Storyline + AI Avatar Video
You receive and process expert feedback on your draft, then level up to advanced Storyline: accordion interactions, custom drag-and-drops, branching scenarios, variables, and conditional logic. You'll also create an AI avatar video to add to your sample.
Upgrade Your Sample with Advanced Features
Week 7: Implement accordion interactions, drag-and-drops, and branching scenarios. Add variables and conditional logic that respond to learner choices.
Week 8: Refine visual and instructional consistency. Use AI for a thorough self-review. Submit your final draft for the second round of expert feedback.
Final Feedback, Publish, and Document Your AI Workflow
Incorporate final expert feedback. Run AI-assisted proofreading. Publish your sample to Google Cloud and generate your shareable link. Create your AI-Powered ID Workflow document and compile your personal prompt library. You walk out with a portfolio piece and the story behind it.
After the portfolio review portion of my interview, they decided that was all they needed to see. They were blown away. The step-by-step process I went through to develop my portfolio was so beneficial. They give you everything you need. The rigorous review ensures whatever goes in your portfolio is a top-notch example.
The AI Tools You'll Use and Why They Matter
This is not a module you watch about AI. AI is woven into how you learn, plan, develop, and reflect throughout all 9 weeks. Here's what that actually looks like.
Your Accountability Partner, Tutor, and ID Assistant
From building your 9-week schedule to brainstorming topics, writing assessment questions, troubleshooting Storyline, and proofreading your final sample. Your AI tutor is available 24/7 so you're never stuck alone between office hours.
Research Synthesis You Can Actually Use
Upload your research sources and let NotebookLM identify key themes, generate a study guide, and create an audio overview you can listen to while you work. Huge for the content map phase.
Custom Course Visuals Without a Graphic Designer
Generate on-brand illustrations, icons, and imagery for your sample. Consistent, professional, and completely custom to your course. No stock photos, no design software skills required.
AI Avatar Video for Your Sample
Create a professional AI avatar presenter for your course without ever stepping in front of a camera. Avatar video is one of the most in-demand production skills right now and you'll have it in your portfolio.
Professional Voiceover Without a Microphone
Write your narration scripts and generate professional-quality voiceover in a voice that matches your audience and content. Real narration, no recording studio required.
Content Creation That Feels Like Talking, Not Writing
Talk through your content ideas instead of staring at a blank screen. Drop the transcript into AI, and it organizes and refines your words into structured, polished course content.
In every single interview, one thing was consistent: "Your portfolio really stood out to us. Can you tell us more about your work?" I was able to explain not only how I put together the work, but the thought process behind it. I know just from hearing that feedback that the portfolio truly did help me stand out. I've since been promoted to Director of Learning and Development.
The Support Structure That Actually Keeps You Moving
Self-paced programs have a reputation. People buy them and don't finish them. The Summer ID Studio is designed differently, because the accountability structure is the whole point.
Bi-Weekly Live Calls with Jill
Every two weeks you have a live call directly with me. A real check-in to review your progress, answer questions, and keep you on track. I'll be walking through this right alongside you.
3 Office Hours Calls Per Week
Three weekly office hours sessions so you're never stuck for long. Storyline questions, AI tool help, design feedback, anything goes. You don't have to wait days for an answer or figure it out alone.
Two Rounds of Expert Portfolio Feedback
At Draft 1 and again at the end, your sample is reviewed by an experienced Instructional Designer who knows what hiring managers actually want to see. Real feedback on real work, twice.
An Amazing Community
You're in a cohort of people doing the same thing at the same time. The community space is there for peer feedback, accountability, questions, and the kind of support that only comes from people who get exactly what you're going through.
A note from Jill
I want to be upfront about something: The Summer ID Studio is brand new. I've never offered anything quite like this before, and we're going to walk through it together.
I'm developing this roadmap specifically for people who need to maximize their summer, and I'm walking it with you step by step, not handing you a course and disappearing. With 22+ years in ID, I know what hiring managers want to see, and I know how to get you there.
This is a sprint. With me, with your cohort, and with AI handling the heavy production lifting so you can focus on the design decisions that actually matter.
Spots are limited. Registration closes June 14.
My team members kept asking me: "How did you get this so quickly?" And I told them: it was the program. It overprepared me for that job. The storyboards I had to write were so much less complex than what I'd been trained for. I've since been promoted to Manager of Instructional Systems Design and I've hired five program graduates myself. They are my highest performers, every single one.
Sign Up Early and Get These Too
1:1 Call with Jill
Sign up within the first 48 hours and you get a private 1:1 call with me personally. Not office hours. Not a group session. Just you and me. Use it however you need it: map out your specific 9-week plan, get a head start on your sample topic, or talk through anything in your ID transition. This alone is worth showing up early for.
AI Job Search Prompt Guide
A full library of prompts for using AI to develop your resume, optimize your LinkedIn profile for ID roles, prepare for interviews, and navigate the job search. This pairs directly with the Job Search Assets Guide you receive in Week 9 and gives you a head start the moment you're ready to apply.
Registration closes Sunday, June 14 at 11:59pm CST. The Studio starts June 15.
Ready to Join the Studio?
Two enrollment options based on whether you have Storyline access. Everything else is identical.
Studio + Storyline Access
Storyline license included for the full 9 weeks. Limited to 8 spots.
Enroll with Storyline AccessOnly 8 Storyline licenses available. When they're gone, they're gone.
Studio Only
Already have Storyline access? This is your option.
Enroll — Studio OnlyEverything is included at every tier. All training, all live calls, all office hours, both rounds of expert feedback, the community, and the AI productivity and accountability structure. The only difference is the Storyline license.
What Happens When You Have a Plan and Real Support
Their words. Their results. This is what working with Jill's guidance and framework makes possible.
I was constantly surprised at how amazing it was at every step of the way. It prepared me not just to enter ID, but completely changed how I approach job searching, talking about my skills, marketing myself. The skills I gained are unquantifiable. I am more confident than I ever was.
I had assignments to do with feedback and a whole community I could lean on when I needed support. I found it was flexible and attainable. I started applying for jobs and got an offer. Now I have a team I literally look forward to working with every day.
I was hesitant, but I'm so glad I did it. It gave me a solid foundation, the skills and know-how, the confidence, and a wonderful supportive community. I started in September and by April I was in my current full-time role. I feel like my voice is heard and I'm always working on something creative.
After hundreds and hundreds of applications over a year and a half, I got two interviews and neither led anywhere. I knew I had transferable skills, but I didn't know how to show them. What I needed was the structure. The program walks you through every piece of the puzzle — every part you need, including preparing for jobs, which I clearly wasn't doing well enough. After joining in May 2023, less than a year later I was hired full-time. I'm now happily thriving in ID and I'm so grateful.
Good questions, real answers
Yes. Complete beginners are welcome and the program is designed with you in mind. Beginning Storyline training starts from absolute zero, no assumed knowledge. You'll have 10 hours of pre-recorded beginner lessons, AI as a 24/7 Storyline tutor, and three office hours sessions per week where you can jump on and get unstuck with a real human. You don't have to figure it out alone.
Plan for 20-25 hours per week. Some weeks will be lighter, some heavier depending on the phase you're in. This is a real commitment, and that's why summer is the right window. The AI productivity system in Week 0 helps you map this out around your actual life before you ever start developing.
You will not be lost. Every AI tool in the program has a clear purpose, a prompt, and a specific outcome. You're not studying AI theory. You're using it to develop something real, like generating images, creating voiceover, and building your accountability system. Learning AI in context is much less overwhelming than learning it in the abstract.
Week 1 solves this. You use AI to brainstorm 10 potential topics, then work through a process to choose the one that's most strategic for your background and career goals. By the end of Week 1 you know exactly what you're developing and why. You don't go into the development phase guessing.
That's exactly why there are two rounds of expert portfolio feedback built into the program. You're not guessing whether your work is ready. You're getting real feedback from an experienced ID who knows what hiring managers want to see, twice. You won't go into the job market with a sample nobody has looked at.
The Summer ID Studio gets you into the conversation with employers. It's designed as Step 1 of a complete ID transition. AIDA covers everything else: needs analysis, design documents and storyboards, working with subject matter experts, the ID project management process, additional authoring tools, a full resume and LinkedIn review, employer connections, job search strategy, and interview prep. Studio payments apply toward AIDA enrollment within 60 days of completing the program.
Storyline does offer a 30-day free trial, but the Studio runs 9 weeks, so the trial won't cover the full program. Articulate may let you extend if you ask, but that's not guaranteed. On your own, Storyline is $1,449 a year (with a 25% discount if you qualify as an educator or student). The license included in the Studio option covers you for the full 9 weeks at a fraction of that cost and is the most straightforward path if you don't already have access.
Registration closes Sunday, June 14 at 11:59pm CST. The Studio starts June 15. Early enrollment bonuses close sooner: the 1:1 call with Jill is for the first 48 hours only, and the AI Job Search Prompt Guide goes away Friday night. Don't wait if you want those.
Don't Let This One Slip By Too
9 weeks. A polished Storyline sample. Expert-level skills. AI woven into every step. And a roadmap designed to maximize your summer and get you to the finish line with something real to show.
Registration closes June 14. Studio starts June 15.