Two complementary approaches are proposed when designing the learning event, viz. a journeybased approach and a destination-based approach. These two approaches take a big-picture approach to instructional design, intended to contextualize and categorize the many theories and models of learning and instructional design. With Destination-based Learning (DBL), the instructional design explicitly promotes the achievement of the learning objective as the focus or destination of the event. It is outcome-centric. Journey-based Learning (JBL) requires an authentic task or goal as the destination and the learning objective is part of the journey. It is process-centric. A competition, a real-world problem, or a pursuit of personal interest as the destination contextualizes the need for the learning objective skill or knowledge during the journey. The approaches are not mutually exclusive. This bifurcated view of instructional design exposes a broader conceptual understanding of the range of possibilities available to accomplish the learning objectives. Blended approaches of these two perspectives are also presented to support optimal learning in the diverse contexts we have to contend with.