About

Forma & Function

Forma & Function teaches course creators how to design learning experiences that work. The approach comes from twenty years of professional instructional design, formal credentials, and experience across a variety of industries and institutions.

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What We Do

Achieve your course goals with expert instructional design guidance.

We help course creators turn what they know into courses that genuinely teach. The approach is built on how people learn: how they take in new information, how skills develop through practice, and how knowledge transfers into real life. When you understand those principles, you can design courses that hold your learners' attention, develop real skill, and deliver the kind of results your expertise deserves.

Learning-Centered

Design for Your Learners

We teach you to build courses around how people take in and process new information, not around how you prefer to teach.

Science-Based

Proven Methodology

The approach is based on established research on learning, retention, and skill development.

Capability-Focused

Real Change

You learn to create courses that build genuine capability and meaningful outcomes in learners' lives.

Results-Driven

Measurable Impact

Courses built on learning science deliver better engagement and real-world application of what's taught.

Credentials & Experience

The Professional Foundation

Certifications

Certified Master TrainerLangevin Learning Services
Certified Instructional Designer/DeveloperLangevin Learning Services
Certified Instructor/FacilitatorLangevin Learning Services
Certified Technical TrainerLangevin Learning Services
Certified Virtual TrainerLangevin Learning Services
Project Management for TrainersLangevin Learning Services

Education

B.A. Art History, Summa Cum LaudeSUNY College at Buffalo — Minor: Museum Studies
Graduate-level coursework in Museum EducationBank Street College of Education
Graduate-level coursework in Early Childhood EducationBank Street College of Education
New Media studiesSUNY College at Purchase
Training & Development DiplomaLangevin Learning Services

Experience By Area

20+ YearsEducation & Learning Design
15+ YearsCorporate Instructional Design
9+ YearsCertified Master Trainer Practice
10+ YearseLearning Development
6+ YearsIndependent Practice & Business Ownership
Skills

Professional Capabilities

Hover over the info icon on any skill to learn more about what it means in practice.

Adult Learning Theory
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Understanding how adults take in, process, and retain new information, and applying those principles to every design decision.
Cognitive Load Management
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Structuring content so learners aren't overwhelmed, keeping each lesson focused on what matters most at that moment.
Performance Gap Analysis
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Identifying the gap between what learners can do now and what they need to be able to do, so courses close the right problem.
Blended Learning Design
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Combining live instruction, self-paced eLearning, and hands-on practice into a coherent learning experience.
Instructional Writing
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Writing content that teaches rather than just informs, with clear structure, appropriate pacing, and language calibrated to the learner.
Technical Writing
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Translating complex processes and systems into documentation that people can follow without expert support.
Visual Storytelling
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Using visuals, graphics, and layout to make information easier to understand and more memorable.
Facilitation & Live Delivery
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Leading live training sessions, workshops, and instructor-led programs in person and virtually.
Needs Analysis
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Diagnosing what a learner or organization needs before designing anything, so the solution fits the actual problem.
Assessment & Evaluation Design
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Building assessments that measure whether learning actually happened, not just whether someone completed the course.
Strategic Rollout Planning
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Coordinating training launches across teams, stakeholders, and timelines so new learning lands effectively at scale.
Multilingual Content Design
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Designing courses for translation and delivery in multiple languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
Accessible Content Design
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Building learning experiences that work for diverse audiences, learning styles, and accessibility needs.
eLearning Development
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Building interactive eLearning courses using Articulate Storyline, Rise, Captivate, and other authoring tools.
Graphic & Icon Design
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Creating visual assets, icon sets, and branded design elements that support learning and communication.
Video Production & Scripting
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Writing, producing, and voicing instructional video content, from short explainer clips to full training modules.
Project Management
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Managing complex instructional design projects across multiple stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables simultaneously.
Stakeholder Collaboration
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Working with subject matter experts, managers, and cross-functional teams to develop accurate, aligned learning content.
Experience

Types of Learning Experiences Designed

A representative range of the learning experiences designed and delivered across twenty years of professional practice.

Museum & Arts Education

  • Hands-on art programs for all ages
  • Docent-led museum tours
  • School group and family programs
  • Adult lecture programs
  • Exhibit label writing and interpretation
  • Summer camp and field programs

Software & Technology Training

  • Platform and LMS tutorials
  • Business intelligence and reporting tools
  • Tablet and app rollout training
  • SharePoint design and administration
  • Acquisition onboarding for new systems
  • One-on-one technical coaching

Corporate Onboarding & Performance

  • Blended sales training programs
  • New hire onboarding systems
  • Career development programs
  • Train the trainer programs
  • Leadership and professional development
  • Scenario-based sales training

Compliance & Regulatory

  • Sexual harassment prevention (state & federal)
  • HIPAA training
  • FERPA training
  • Driving and fleet safety
  • Multilingual compliance courses
  • Diversity and inclusion training

eLearning & Media Production

  • Articulate Storyline interactive courses
  • Articulate Rise courses
  • Scenario-based eLearning modules
  • Instructional video and voiceover production
  • Animated explainer videos
  • Five-minute microlearning modules

Live & Facilitated Training

  • Instructor-led workshops and seminars
  • Virtual training via Zoom and WebEx
  • Lunch and learn programs
  • Design seminars
  • Group facilitation and hands-on activities
  • Large-scale enablement programs
Who We Are

Holly Perret

Founder — Instructional Design & Development

Learning design is about helping people succeed through experiences that work. The challenge of turning complex ideas into clear, engaging instruction is what drives everything here. It's not enough for a course to look good or sound smart. It has to teach.

The approach is built on clean, modern design paired with solid instructional method. Thoughtful visuals, clear structure, good storytelling, and attention to detail aren't just nice touches. They're the tools that help learners stay engaged and care about their own development.

A career that started in art history and museum education meant spending a decade building learning experiences for every kind of audience. Hundreds of programs, all ages, all levels of prior knowledge. That work built the instinct for making complex material accessible and designing hands-on experiences that help people learn by doing.

From there came fifteen years in corporate instructional design, turning static, ineffective training into something people learn from. Overwhelming documentation and tangled processes redesigned as structured, interactive experiences that build real skill. Across industries from technology to retail, developing everything from technical implementation training to leadership development to multilingual compliance courses.

A strong visual sense and a background in the arts shapes every learning experience created here, because good design isn't decoration. It's a tool that makes information easier to understand and more satisfying to engage with.

Pierre Perret

Technical Experience Manager

Technical learning experiences work best when the technology stays invisible. The moment learners have to fight with a platform, troubleshoot access issues, or figure out a confusing interface, learning stops and frustration takes over.

Making sure that doesn't happen has been the focus for over eighteen years working in enterprise IT environments. Supporting thousands of users across complex systems built a simple guiding principle: the best technology solutions are the ones people never have to think about.

Expertise covers the full range of learning technology infrastructure: cloud platforms, server management, user access systems, and troubleshooting complex technical issues before they reach learners. Work with organizations like MassMutual and major technology companies built deep experience in reliable, secure, and scalable systems that support real learning outcomes.

Every technical decision serves one goal: removing anything that stands between learners and what they're trying to learn.

We'd love to hear about your course creation goals.

We're always interested in connecting with course creators and educators. Whether you're just starting to plan your first course or looking for ways to strengthen what you've already built, we'd like to hear what you're working on.
Whether you're:
  • In the early stages of planning your first course
  • Looking to improve existing content
  • Exploring how instructional design principles might enhance your teaching approach
  • Working through specific challenges with learner engagement or outcomes
Good learning design happens through collaboration and conversation, and we're always curious about the expertise and perspective you bring to education.
Send us a message and tell us about your projects, your learners, and what you're hoping to accomplish. We love talking about learning design and are always happy to connect with others who care about creating educational experiences that actually work.
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