Learn the Plan Designer, write effective prompts, build a plan step by step, and explore the generated solution so you can move from idea to build-ready blueprint faster.
In Power Platform Plans, Helen Devlin introduces the Plan Designer as a practical way to turn an idea into a structured solution using Power Platform. You’ll learn what the Plan Designer is, how it helps you map out apps, flows, and data needs, and why planning upfront makes builds faster and more consistent. This course is designed to help you move from “I know what I want” to a clear blueprint you can actually build from.
You’ll also learn how to prompt effectively to get better plan outputs, then follow along as Helen builds a plan step by step and explores the solution that gets generated. By the end, you’ll understand how to use Plans to accelerate solution design, reduce trial-and-error, and create a cleaner starting point for building with Power Apps and Power Automate.
Course Outline ( Free Preview)
Module 01 - Introduction to the Plan Designer
Helen introduces the Plan Designer and explains what it’s for, turning business needs into a structured Power Platform solution. You’ll learn how Plans fit into the build process, what outputs you can expect, and how this approach helps reduce guesswork by clarifying apps, automations, and data requirements upfront.
Module 02 - Prompting
Strong prompts produce strong plans. This module teaches how to communicate goals, users, constraints, and expected outcomes so the Plan Designer generates something useful and realistic. Helen shares prompt patterns and refinement tips so you can iterate quickly and guide the output toward a build-ready result.
Module 03 - Let's Make a Plan13 min.
Follow along as Helen builds a plan from start to finish. You’ll see how requirements turn into structured components, what decisions matter during setup, and how to review the plan for gaps or unclear areas. This module helps you understand what “good planning” looks like before you commit to building.
Module 04 - Exploring Our Solution26 min.
Now you’ll explore what the plan produces and how it translates into an actual solution you can work with. Helen walks through the generated components and explains how to evaluate whether the solution matches the original intent. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to use Plans as a starting point and what to refine before moving into full development.
Helen Devlin is a Jacksonville native who graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 2016. After 9 years of teaching varying grades (K-5) in Florida and Tennessee, she joined the Pragmatic Works team as a Power Platform Trainer. As a trainer at Pragmatic Works, her primary goal is to help individuals gain confidence in using the Power Platform. While not in the office, she enjoys coffee, brunch, local parks, and spending time with her family.
