Learner Spotlight: Anthi Kollara
From Apprenticeship Insights to Real‑World Change
Anthi is a Content Developer at Pearson, where she is developing her skills in creating clear, engaging and accessible learning experiences. Pearson is a global education company providing learning content, assessments and digital solutions to learners, educators and organisations worldwide.
The interview below explores her journey on the Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship; what prompted her to pursue the programme, how it has challenged and shaped her development, and the impact it is already having on her day‑to‑day work.
What prompted you to choose the Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship?
I was working as a Business Skills Coach at Pearson when I applied for an internal role that included the Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship. It felt like the right move for me, still within education, but giving me room to grow and be more creative.
I’ve always loved being creative by sketching, painting and generally improving things or making information clearer. Even though digital learning was new to me, the mix of creativity and purposeful design felt like the perfect next step.
Which parts of the programme have stretched or challenged you the most so far, and how have you adapted or grown from those experiences?
When I started, my experience was pretty much just basic PowerPoint. The authoring tools were all new, and I had a lot to learn. Over time, I realised it’s not just about visuals, there’s structure, planning and reasoning behind everything to make sure learning is clear, meaningful and accessible to everyone. I’ve also learned that real design comes with constraints like tools, accessibility and brand guidelines. Learning to balance my ideas with what’s practical has helped me become more flexible, patient and intentional in my approach.
Can you share a project or task you’ve worked on recently that made you feel particularly proud or more confident in your digital learning skills?
Yes, I created a podcast recently, which is something I haven’t been familiar with. When it was first raised as an idea, I was hesitant but found it interesting to explore a new way of sharing information with learners. I was really happy with my first podcast; it was also a good opportunity to learn about the video editing tool, and I look forward to creating many more.
How are you applying what you’re learning on the programme to your day-to-day role right now? E.g., design principles, learning theory, authoring tools, accessibility, stakeholder engagement.
Before the apprenticeship, I didn’t know much about design principles, learning theory or accessibility. I used to just jump straight into creating. Now I follow a clear process and think more intentionally about clarity, structure and learner needs. Accessibility is a huge thing; making sure everyone has the same opportunities to learn is very important.
Seeing my progress has been encouraging, and the support from LDN, especially Frazer, my Skills Coach, has made such a difference.
What aspects of the apprenticeship do you enjoy the most, and what makes them particularly engaging or motivating for you?
The Live Sessions. They are interesting. I learn from the creativity of other people, and they inspire me in a way, but also remind me of how much I am growing too. I feel more confident now.
I love my new role and the apprenticeship. I am finding it addictive; I get caught up so much with what I am creating because I have become so passionate about digital learning design.
As you look ahead to the remainder of your programme, what skills or areas are you most excited to develop further?
I want to keep building both my creative and technical skills. I have an upcoming session on scripting, which I’m looking forward to because a strong script really shapes the flow of a learning experience.
Huge thank you to Anthi for telling us more about her experience of the programme. To find out more about the Digital Learning Designer apprenticeship, click below.