The purpose of this article is to explore the need for imagination and creativity in adult education instructional design both online and face-to-face. It defines both imagination and creativity as well as provides an overview of the history of instructional design. It provides an examination of imagination and its application in educational settings. Suggestions are presented for promoting creativity in instructional design as well as overcoming obstacles to creativity when creating classes. The article will also examine how creative activities in both online and face-to-face classes can contribute to successfully meeting learning goals in adult education.