Abstract: The traditional methodology of the instructional design field encompasses the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of instructional processes and products, also known as the life-cycle of design. However, to orient the field toward design work that engages learners in more meaningful and effective learning, instructional designers must focus on designing experiences, as opposed simply to designing products or processes. Instructional designers must surpass the pedagogical and technical issues of developing theory-based processes and products, only then will the field enter the realm of aesthetics. In this brief paper we illustrate the prospective role of aesthetics in the design of online learning experiences, present a cognitive load framework for exploring the role of aesthetics in instructional design, and discuss findings from a qualitative study which examined the impacts of aesthetics on the learner experience in an online assessment environment.