What Makes a Great Academy? 7 Trends & 1 Template

Let’s face it: creating an academy is no small feat. Whether you’re building from scratch or revamping what you’ve got, it’s easy to find yourself lost in a sea of competitor sites, trying to pinpoint what works and what doesn’t. What sets these academies apart? What keeps learners coming back, even when their attention is being pulled in a hundred different directions?

Here’s the thing: no two academies are exactly alike. And that’s the point. Your academy should be uniquely tailored to your audience and your goals. That said, there are foundational elements that the best ones nail—those sticky details that make learning seamless, engaging, and downright delightful.

This isn’t just a matter of design or navigation. In a world of leaner teams, scaled CS models, and mounting pressure to retain customers, your academy isn’t a nice-to-have anymore. It’s a key player in driving value, educating your users, and keeping your C-suite happy.

So we did the work for you. We combed through 11 standout academies, analyzed what they’re doing right, and boiled it down into actionable trends. Whether you’re looking to level up your current academy or dreaming about launching one, this guide is packed with examples, real-life quotes, and ideas you can put into play today.

Ready to dive in? Let’s go.

The 11 Academies We Covered

1. Canva Design School
2. Pendo Academy
3. Personio Academy
4. Sequel.io Academy
5. Zapier Academy
6. Vanta Academy
7. Clay University
8. Miro Academy
9. Apollo Academy
10. Shopify Academy
11. Totango Campus

The Inspiration We Uncovered? An Academy Blueprint

Alas, we developed a template just for you—obviously this will look different for every academy, and we'll break down key aspects in the 7 tips.

1. Personalization: Speak Directly to Your Learners

No one wants to feel like just another user ID. The best academies make learners feel seen with role-based pathways, dynamic filtering, and curated content that anticipates their needs.

Examples to Steal From

• Pendo Academy: Organized content based on roles and use cases. As Skilljar’s Director of Product Marketing, Sonia, noted “This makes it easy for learners to see themselves in the experience.”
• Totango Campus: With filters like “What I do,” “Who I am,” and “How long it takes,” learners can quickly find content that resonates.
• Miro Academy: “They focus navigation on user goals rather than just content formats, which is brilliant,” said Evan Hall.

Make It Happen

• Add filters like “Who I Am” or “What I Do” to help learners self-identify.
• Use dynamic SSO data to auto-personalize pathways.
• Create curated playlists by role or experience level to guide users seamlessly.

2. Design: Balance Aesthetics with Functionality

A stunning academy is great, but only if it helps users get where they need to go. The sweet spot is clean, thoughtful design that makes navigation intuitive.

Examples to Steal From

• Canva Design School: Their text summaries under videos make content searchable and accessible to all learning styles.
• Clay University: Beautiful branding meets simple navigation. It’s clear they thought about the user first
• Apollo Academy: High-quality visuals immediately pull learners into an immersive experience.

Make It Happen

• Pair text guides with videos to increase accessibility.
• Use subtle animations for “surprise and delight,” but keep navigation clear.
• Test navigation pathways with tools like Hotjar to ensure users don’t get stuck.

3. Beyond Product Knowledge: Deliver Real Value

Your academy should teach more than just “how to use our product.” It should help users level up in their roles and solve real-world challenges.

Examples to Steal From

• Zapier Academy: Focused on broader automation strategies to empower users.
• Shopify Academy: Courses like “Planning for Peak Season 2024” speak directly to their audience’s challenges.
• Apollo Academy: Their masterclasses aren’t just informative—they’re inspirational, capturing the blend of basic education with thought leadership. 

Make It Happen

• Develop courses around industry challenges and hot topics.
• Invite industry experts to lead thought leadership sessions or masterclasses.
• Include actionable steps learners can implement immediately.

4. Clear Navigation: A Roadmap for Success

When a learner lands in your academy, they shouldn’t wonder where to start. Clarity is everything.

Examples to Steal From

• Totango Campus: Their language is approachable and human, like, ‘Not sure where to start?’ It’s so refreshing.
• Vanta Academy: Minimalist navigation with action-driven CTAs like “Get Started” or “Create Your First Audit.”
• Shopify Academy: Their three primary categories (Platform, Partners, Developers) make it easy for users to self-identify.

Make It Happen

• Use clear, action-oriented language for CTAs (e.g., “Solve This Problem” instead of “Browse Courses”).
• Include a “Where to Start” tool for new users.
• Group courses by goal or milestone rather than format alone.

5. Certification & Badging: Reward Their Progress

Gamification works. Certifications and badges don’t just keep learners motivated—they create shareable proof of success.

Examples to Steal From

• Shopify Academy: Badging is core to their offering. They make certification aspirational and actionable.
• Sequel.io Academy: Learners are incentivized to earn certifications to validate their skills.
• Pendo Academy: Ties badges to tangible outcomes like reduced churn or improved usage.

Make It Happen

• Offer shareable digital badges for certifications.
• Create milestone badges to reward learners within longer courses.
• Include progress-tracking dashboards to keep learners motivated.

6. AI Integration: Scale Smarter

From personalized course recommendations to intelligent chatbots, AI can elevate your academy without adding headcount.

Examples to Steal From

• Canva Design School: AI-powered search makes transcripts searchable, helping learners find exactly what they need.
• Apollo Academy: AI nurtures learners post-course with automated follow-ups.
• Miro Academy: Paired text summaries and video for accessibility and usability.

Make It Happen

• Use AI tools to suggest relevant courses based on learner activity.
• Add chatbots to answer questions in real time.
• Automate progress nudges via email or in-app notifications.

7. Seamless Ecosystem Integration

Your academy should feel like a natural part of your product, not a separate island.

Examples to Steal From

• Zapier Academy: Their academy integrates directly into the product, offering a seamless experience.
• Totango Campus: Unified navigation connects the academy, knowledge base, and product site effortlessly.
• Vanta Academy: Embedded in their broader trust management platform for easy access.

Make It Happen

• Link your academy to product navigation or Help Center.
• Match branding and tone across all touchpoints for consistency.
• Create single sign-on (SSO) for frictionless logins.

Dive Deeper Into the Secrets Behind These Stellar Academies

Curious about how these academies came to life? We’ve got the inside scoop. Watch the full webinar recordings—#1 & #2 to see these academies in action and hear directly from experts about what sets them apart.

And if you’re wondering how to bring your academy dreams to life without spending an eternity building it, check out how Airtable launched their Academy in just 75 days. Yes, you read that right—75 days. It’s the blueprint you’ve been waiting for.

Happy watching!

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