The purpose of design is to create strategies and products at the macro level, such as programs and curricula, and at the micro level, such as lessons and modules. The domain of design encompasses at least four major subcategories of theory and practice. These subcategories are described below. While ISD may seem to include all the other domains, design emphasizes the parts and the whole of the planning function. Message Design Messages are patterns of signs or symbols that modify cognitive, affective or psychomotor behavior.
Examples are symbols, type faces, visuals, textbook pages, and web pages.
This subcategory emphasizes the planning of a message to fit the medium and the learning task. Instructional Strategies Instructional strategies are specifications for selecting and sequencing events and activities within a lesson. A designer uses instructional strategy theories as principles for instruction, and chooses them based on the learning situation, learning environment, learning task and learner. Again, the focus is on the choice and planning of a strategy to fit the situation. Each learner has past experiences or even innate qualities that impact the effectiveness of a learning process.