(Legacy) DesignPLUS User Guide

Note: Anything designed on the original, legacy version of DesignPLUS will continue to function as originally intended.

DesignPLUS is designed to help you create and style course content! This page serves as a guide to direct you to the appropriate resources to help you elevate your course design to the next level.

Below, you can view a summary of all the Design Tools features available to you. Have any questions? Send us an email or schedule a 1-on-1 appointment!

Quick Start

Using Design Tools, you can easily customize the content of content pages, assignments, the course syllabus, discussion descriptions, and quiz descriptions. You can launch the Design Tools from content pages, assignments, discussions, announcements, or the course syllabus.

• Welcome to Design Tools
• Tutorial Videos
• Content Editor Tools
• Set Design Tools Tool Comfort Levels

Creating & Editing Content

The Creating & Editing Content section contains the basic tools for building out your content in your Canvas course.

• Create/Edit Content Overview
• Copy Existing Content
• Choose a Theme
• Customize Banner Text
• Choose a Banner Image
• Add a Navigation Block
• Edit a Navigation Block
• Add or Rearrange Content Blocks
• Add Grading Scheme to Syllabus
• Add Institutional Policies to Syllabus

Customizing the Style

The Customizing the Style section allows you to customize the style attributes of your content. Different tools are available based on selected comfort levels.

• Customize the Style Overview
• Colors for Banner Theme
• Current Element Style Contents
  • Edit Image Size/Position/Style
  • Turn a Link into a Button
  • Edit an Ordered or Unordered List
  • Edit Table Style
  • Colors for Current Element (Basic)
  • Colors for Current Element (Advanced)
  • Add Margins and Padding
  • Add Borders to Current Element
  • Add Block Alerts/Highlights
  • Add Text Emphasis/Highlights
  • Create and Apply Box Styles
  • Set various HTML Attributes
  • Using the Additional Actions tool
• Working with Videos and Other “iframed”  Content
• Customize Color Palette

Adding Advanced Elements

The Advanced Elements section contains tools and features that let you extend the content and how you present it in your Canvas course.

• Add Advanced Elements Overview
• Add Accordion Panels and Tabs
• Custom CSS
• Add Description List
• Embed HTML in the Editor
• Create Key Action Item Instructions in the Editor
• PageInsert HTML Snippets
• Insert/Style Icons
• Add Module List
• Add Module Progress Indicators
• Add Objectives and Outcomes
• Add Popup Content
• Add Quick Check
• Add Teacher and TA Details