Hey, I’m Jess!

Jessica Thal smiling with arms crossed against a green background.

I design accessible learning experiences that turn knowledge into confident action.

Featured Project

Laptop showing “Bark to Basics” foster training course with a dog in the background.

Training for Dog Foster Parents

A scenario-based course that helps new dog foster parents prepare for their first placement through realistic choices and visual consequences.

I designed this end-to-end, from action mapping to full development in Storyline 360, focusing on behavior change over knowledge transfer.

See What Others Are Saying

  • Scott Schmidt headshot

    “Jessica is an exceptional instructional designer. Her learner-centered designs are simple, but elegant; sophisticated, but effortless for learners. She has a keen eye for good visual and UX design and when and where to add enhancements that not only delight learners, but facilitate learning. I'm impressed with her ability to create such smooth learning experiences even when the subject is complicated or content-heavy.”

    -Scott Schmidt, Instructional Designer

  • Nicole McNally headshot.

    “Jess’s work is not only visually polished, it’s purposeful. Her attention to layout, flow, and consistency creates a smooth and professional experience for learners. We’ve worked together on several projects, and her sense of design always lifts the final product. She has a real ability to balance creativity with usability, adding touches that keep a course engaging while still clear and accessible. That thoughtful approach makes her stand out as a designer.”

    -Nicole McNally, Marketing Operations Manager

  • Lashelle Coenen headshot.

    “Jess was an incredible team lead who was organized, thoughtful, and supportive. She brought a creative spark to everything we worked on, whether it was planning lessons or tackling challenges together. Her leadership made a clear difference in how smoothly our team ran and how motivated we felt. What stood out most was how she combined strong organization with genuine collaboration, making everyone feel valued while keeping the work moving forward.”

    -Lashelle Coenen, Educator at Fairfax County Public Schools

  • Megan Moloney headshot.

    “Jess is one of the most organized people I’ve worked with. She plans thoroughly, stays on top of every detail, and delivers work that feels thoughtful, complete, and ready to launch. What stood out during her foster project was how she balanced creative vision with clear execution, keeping the process smooth while producing a final product that was polished and effective.”

    -Megan Moloney, Director, Meetings & Exhibits at NPM Association