This examination of instructional development from a futurist's perspective focuses on three questions: (1) What are the probable future developments in educational technology that will affect instructional development?; (2) What are the probable future developments in learning and cognition that will affect instructional development?; and (3) What are the social trends that will affect the future demands for and resources available to instructional development? Both theoretical developments and impending innovations are considered, and implications for the training of instructional developers and for the nature of their practice are described. The importance of flexibility and the use of new tools, both physical and conceptual, are emphasized. (47 references) (Author/EW)