Design and Development
Design and Development brings learning to life by transforming thorough analysis into practical, accessible, and trusted learning solutions. At this stage, the focus is on consistency, usability, and integrity. This includes applying clear branding so learners can easily recognise official APS learning. It also involves designing universal, reusable solutions that can be tailored locally without diluting their intent.
Fit-for-purpose artefacts are produced to support delivery, participation, and transfer to work. Images and media are chosen not only to add value but also to meet accessibility standards. All content is written in clear, plain English that is current and learner-centred. Strong governance, referencing, and intellectual property practices are applied to ensure learning is credible, defensible, and safe to share across the APS.
When done well, Design and Development reduces rework, improves learner confidence, and supports the effective use of public resources.
Branding Guidelines
Branding guidelines create a consistent and credible look for learning products, ensuring they are recognised as APS or agency approved. Using standard logos, colours, naming, and plain English builds trust, improves accessibility, and reduces cognitive load. Apply branding from the outset for both APS-wide consistency and relevant local context.
| Branding (coming soon) |
| Brand Name (coming soon) |
| Brand Logo (coming soon) |
| Brand colours (coming soon) |
Build universal solutions
Universal solutions provide a reusable learning product for all agencies, supporting local customisation, preventing duplication, and ensuring consistent messaging across the APS. Agencies can add context as needed while keeping core and local content distinct to preserve learning integrity.
| Build for One-APS, Tailor Locally |
Essential artefacts and documentation
Essential artefacts such as storyboards, prototypes, guides, and evaluation tools provide a consistent structure for learning. They align stakeholders, minimise rework, support effective delivery, and link activities with outcomes. Good artefacts are clear and accessible.
| User experience mapping (coming soon) |
| Storyboards - General (coming soon) |
| eLearning storyboard (coming soon) |
| Prototypes |
| Facilitator guide (coming soon) |
| Participant guide (coming soon) |
| Participate pre-workbook (coming soon) |
| Participant workbook (coming soon) |
| Participant post-workbook (coming soon) |
| Video script (coming soon) |
| Animated video (coming soon) |
| Audio |
| Infographic (coming soon) |
| Data (Dashboards, Evidence and Metadata) (coming soon) |
| Brochure / flyer (coming soon) |
| Survey questions / forms for evaluation (coming soon) |
| Demystifying Gamification |
| Instructions to exit |
Images
Use images, illustrations, and media only to enhance understanding—not for decoration. Visuals should represent actual APS contexts, follow WCAG accessibility standards, and be managed for quality and reuse. Effective visuals build trust and engagement, while poor choices risk distraction and non-compliance.
| Image Library - stock images (coming soon) |
| Entity-owned image library (coming soon) |
| Image, illustrations and icons |
Essential content elements
Key content elements are clear summaries, plain language, active voice, current context, easy navigation, progress tracking, transparent completion criteria, and relevant warnings. These features make learning efficient, accessible, and ensure learners understand objectives, importance, and how to complete the material.
| Subject Matter Experts (SME's) (coming soon) |
| Entity service and / or policy owner (coming soon) |
| Sourcing content material (coming soon) |
| Learning experience / module summary (coming soon) |
| Active voice |
| Plain language (coming soon) |
| Up-to-date context (coming soon) |
| Recording of learning progress and returning to that stage (coming soon) |
| Requirements for completing the learning experience (coming soon) |
| Navigation elements (coming soon) |
| Instructions to exit (coming soon) |
| Content Strategy Guide |
Governance and referencing
Effective governance is essential for credible APS learning. It requires clear roles, SME input, reliable sources, and strong referencing. Intellectual property and licensing details enable safe use and sharing. Good governance safeguards learners and agencies, supports audits, and ensures learning remains reliable and up to date.
| Disclaimers (coming soon) |
| Notifications / warnings (coming soon) |
| Referencing (coming soon) |
| Intellectual property (IP) (coming soon) |
| Copyright (coming soon) |
| Creative commons (coming soon) |
| Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) and contracts (coming soon) |
| Panel arrangement (coming soon) |
| User Acceptance Testing (UAT) |
Build universal solutions
Building once and tailoring locally creates reusable APS learning with shared core content and separate agency-specific modules, reducing duplication, improving consistency and supporting a One-APS approach.
Essential artefacts and documentation
Gamification uses game-like elements such as challenges, feedback and progress tracking to make learning more engaging, helping APS employees practise skills, build confidence and apply learning in real work contexts.
Audio learning uses narration, discussions and podcasts to deliver flexible, engaging and accessible learning, helping APS employees build knowledge through listening at work or on the go.
A low effort simple sample of the learning experience which provides stakeholders and subject matter experts a chance to preview what the final L&D solution may look like.
Images
Image, illustration and icon quality refers to how clear, consistent, accessible and fit for purpose visual elements are within learning products.
Essential content elements
Active voice clearly shows who is doing what. The subject of the sentence performs the action (for example, “You submit the assessment” rather than “The assessment is submitted”).
Governance and referencing
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) validates learning solutions with real users before release, ensuring usability, accessibility, functionality and business requirements are met while reducing risks and rework.