I Don't Like Your Template

For many years, I didn’t understand templates.

I would get hired for a contract, open up the files, and there it was—a PowerPoint or Storyline template with a color palette that made me cringe and fonts that felt outdated. My instinct was immediate: fix it. I thought, “Surely, they’ll appreciate a fresh, creative touch once they see how good my version looks.”

So I changed it.  The colors. The fonts. The images. The spacing. Sometimes even the logo placement.  I wanted my work to stand out—and it did. Just not in the way I expected.

The Lesson I Learned (The Hard Way)

What I didn’t realize back then is that templates aren’t a creative prison—they’re a framework for consistency.
Managers weren’t looking for designers to reinvent the wheel. They wanted professionals who could step in, understand the system, and make the content shine within the existing structure.

I thought my job was to prove my creativity.  Their expectation was that I’d demonstrate discipline, adaptability, and respect for brand standards.

When I swapped out fonts or redesigned slides, I wasn’t showcasing innovation—I was signaling that I didn’t understand the importance of brand alignment. In their eyes, I wasn’t saving the day; I was creating extra work.

Templates Are Trust

Now, I see templates differently.  They’re not there to limit my creativity—they’re there to build trust.

A solid template ensures accessibility, consistency, and clarity across teams and projects. It tells learners, “You’re still in the same course, still supported by the same organization, and this content belongs here.”

Once I learned to use templates instead of fight them, my work got smoother, faster, and, ironically, more creative. Because when the structure is handled, your energy can go into storytelling, interaction, and user experience. That’s where real design happens.

The Takeaway

If you’re a new instructional designer, hear this:

Don’t change the template.
Master it. Understand its purpose. Then elevate the design within its boundaries.

The goal isn’t to make it your style—it’s to make their brand come alive.

And once you do that, you’ll find the freedom you were looking for all along.