Design engaging, accessible, beautiful LMS content with DesignPLUS!

Have you ever wished for an easy way to spruce up the design of the content you create in your LMS course? DesignPLUS is a time-saving toolset and content designer built right into Canvas that makes it super easy to be consistent, accessible and engaging in the design of pages and more. Instructors with any skill level can use DesignPLUS to create something professional, fun and effective. 

How do instructors use DesignPLUS?

DesignPLUS offers four ways to create and style course content, streamlining the course-building experience through templates, content blocks, and visual organization tools.

• The DesignPLUS Transformation Wizard is one of the easiest entry points to using DesignPLUS. It allows instructors to apply designs and styles to existing content that has been created without DesignPLUS. If you import a Moodle page into Canvas, for example, you might use the Transformation Wizard to spruce up the page quickly, easily and accessibly. Find out more from the Transformation Wizard Overview to see what it can do.

• The QuickStart Wizard is another easy entry point, allowing instructors to build engaging, accessible Canvas courses from pre-styled, NC State-branded and DELTA-endorsed templates without needing web design expertise. Access the QuickStart Wizard from a button directly above the Rich Content Editor when you create a new page assignment or discussion in Canvas. Watch an overview of the QuickStart Wizard (1 minute, 7 seconds) to see what it can do.

• The DesignPLUS sidebar takes a bit more time to familiarize yourself with. It is available anytime the Rich Content Editor is open. It provides a way to add accessible visual style and structure and interactive elements when you are editing a page, assignment, or discussion. A rocketship button at the top right of the editing page will open the DesignPLUS sidebar. Watch an overview of the DesignPLUS Sidebar (6 minutes, 36 seconds) to see what it can do.

• The DesignPLUS Multi-Tool allows for rapid course and module creation, allowing instructors to automatically generate, name, and organize pages, assignments, discussions, quizzes and module text headers for an entire course. It’s accessed through the Canvas Course Navigation Menu. Watch an overview of the Multi-Tool (6 minutes, 9 seconds) to see what it can do.

Ready to get started?

• Each of the different DesignPLUS features benefits from different levels of comfort with technology; using any of them is much easier after reviewing some guidance from DesignPLUS. 
• DesignPLUS Transformation Wizard tutorial (coming soon!)
• DesignPLUS QuickStart Wizard tutorial (7.5 minutes)
• DesignPLUS Sidebar: Introduction (6 minutes)
• DesignPLUS Multi-Tool tutorial (21.5 minutes)
• Overview of DesignPLUS (DELTA Knowledge Base Article)