University of South Florida

Tampa, Florida

I have used DesignPLUS since the USF College of Public Health first gained access in 2020. Since then, I have developed hundreds of course designs for both academic and continuing education learners across a wide range of health topics. After transitioning to the USF COPH Lifelong Learning Academy, I have continued working alongside our team of Learning Designers to create engaging, professional Canvas courses that push the boundaries of what we thought was possible within the LMS.

Our office provides continuing education and digital microcredentials for healthcare professionals, making navigability, professional design, accessibility, and ease of use some of our highest priorities. Because many of our learners are working professionals accessing content on the go, mobile-friendly design is equally important. DesignPLUS features for checking color contrast, heading structure, links, and alternative text help us efficiently build high-quality, accessible learning experiences across devices.

Some of our Canvas spaces house multiple micro-courses, which previously would have been challenging to organize without overwhelming learners. DesignPLUS elements such as Cards and Tabs allow us to present course links, resources, and important information in ways that keep content condensed, readable, and easy to navigate.

The Advanced Tools area is personally one of my favorite parts of the DesignPLUS toolbar. It gives me the flexibility to fine-tune colors, sizing, spacing, and other design elements, adding the polish and unique touches that give each course its own visual identity while maintaining consistency and usability.

The course screen captures provided here represent just a few of the designs created by me and our team. They demonstrate how we use DesignPLUS tools to give each course a distinct look and feel while maintaining the accessibility, usability, and professionalism that are essential to our learners’ experience.