Canvas@Illinois, Getting Started with DesignPLUS

This article includes a list of resources to learn more about DesignPLUS and access training resources.

Getting Started with DesignPLUS

Are you looking to enhance the visual design of your Canvas course sites? Using DesignPLUS is a quick and easy way to help elevate the design of your course content without needing to know HTML/CSS code. To access the DesignPLUS Sidebar, you'll need to use a keyboard shortcut (see the following Knowledgebase article: Canvas@Illinois, Enable the New DesignPLUS Sidebar).

Video Resources from Cidi Labs

When viewing these videos, you may be prompted to enter your institutional email but this is not required. If you do not want to receive emails from Cidi Labs about DesignPLUS, you can select the Skip button!

DesignPLUS Resources Media Space Channel

The DesignPLUS Resources Mediaspace Channel consolidates many video resources related to the DesignPLUS tools. This channel includes a number of helpful playlists, including training recordings, webinars, and quick tips.

Additional Questions?

If have more questions about DesignPLUS or would like a one-on-one consultation, please reach out to Technology Services at consult@illinois.edu to get in touch with the Canvas Support team or the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL) at citl-info@illinois.edu.

Legacy DesignPLUS Sidebar Information

Getting Started

If you're just getting started learning about DesignPLUS, we recommend starting with the New DesignPLUS Sidebar. The resources in this expanded section are relevant only for the Legacy DesignPLUS Sidebar and are included here only as a reference.

Please note that you need to use the keyboard shortcut to access the DesignPLUS Sidebar before you can access the tools!

Recorded Training Sessions

You can access all recorded training sessions in the Training Recordings playlist on Illinois Media Space, or access the individual recordings below:

NOTE: Although the Customizations Training is included in the Training Recordings playlist, that training is only relevant if you are managing an extended customizations course for your subaccount. For more information about Extended Customizations, see Canvas@Illinois, Extended Customization with DesignPLUS.

Legacy DesignPLUS Sidebar User Guide

The Legacy DesignPLUS User Guide was developed by Cidi Labs, the company that provides DesignPLUS. This guide contains a lot of helpful documentation and tutorials to get you started!



Keywords:
canvas, designplus, design tools, design tools sidebar 
Doc ID:
129478
Owned by:
Canvas G. in University of Illinois Technology Services
Created:
2023-07-05
Updated:
2025-08-25
Sites:
University of Illinois Technology Services