Where do you find Design Upgrade for LearnDash?

When creating an online course, while the content is important, the design also matters. Many course creators find themselves stuck with pages that look too simple, messy, or difficult to use.

If your course layout is unclear or doesn’t align with your brand, it can turn students away, even if your lessons are great. Poor design makes it harder for people to stay interested and finish your course.

The positive news? You don’t need to be a web designer to fix this. There are user-friendly tools available that make it easy to upgrade your course design, even if you’re starting from scratch

Want help making your course look better? Book a free LearnDash consultation today and let us guide you step by step.

Book Free Consultation Call

Use a WordPress Theme Built for Online Courses

An initial step is selecting the right WordPress theme. Not all themes work well with online learning platforms. Some may cause issues with layout, fonts, or menus. To prevent these problems, opt for themes designed to support course platforms.

Popular options include:

Astra: It is lightweight and fast, with ready-to-use LearnDash templates.
Kadence Theme: This theme is easy to customize and works great with block-based layouts.
BuddyBoss Theme: Perfect for social learning and membership-based sites.

These themes come with clean layouts, better navigation, and mobile responsiveness—all of which improve user experience.

Read this: Where does Learndash keep its CSS?

Try a LearnDash Design Plugin

If your existing theme seems limited, design plugins can help you customize your course layout without touching code.

Top design tools include:

Design Upgrade Pro for LearnDash: This tool offers over 100 styling options such as button colors, course grids, lesson navigation, and more.
Elementor (Pro): A user-friendly drag-and-drop page builder that allows you to fully design your course pages, landing pages, and additional content.
Spectra (formerly Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg): This is an excellent choice if you’re using the WordPress block editor.

These tools give you more control over how your course looks, making it easier to match your brand and improve readability.

Customize With CSS (If You’re Comfortable)

If you want more detailed control over how your course looks, basic CSS (custom code) can help you make small design changes that aren’t available through themes or plugins.

Adjust font size and color: Make text easier to read by adjusting font styles and colors to match your brand.
Fix spacing or padding issues: Add space between course elements so everything looks neat and clean.
Customize buttons and progress bars: Make key features stand out more clearly for your learners.
Target specific elements: Apply styles only to lessons, quizzes, or topic areas, without affecting your whole site.

If you’re not familiar with CSS, consider hiring a developer or using a plugin that allows you to insert custom styles safely.

Read this: Where in the admin design upgrade for LearnDash

Use Pre-Made LearnDash Templates

Some platforms offer ready-made LearnDash templates that are already designed with good structure, spacing, and user experience in mind. These templates are easy to install and save hours of manual work.

Where to find them:

Theme marketplaces like ThemeForest
WordPress template libraries built for LearnDash
Agencies or freelancers who offer LearnDash setup services with design included

Keep It Simple and Student-Focused

Effective design should help students focus, not distract them. Clean, simple layouts work best, especially for online learning.

Use clear fonts: Choose easy-to-read fonts like Arial, Roboto, or Open Sans. Avoid script or decorative fonts.
Limit colors: Stick to 2 or 3 brand colors to keep the design clean and consistent.
Avoid clutter: Leave white space between sections so the content doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Mobile test: Make sure your course looks great on smartphones and tablets, not just on desktop.
Focus on user experience: Every design choice should make it easier for students to follow along and complete the course.

Simple, clean design builds trust and keeps students focused on what matters, your content.

Join us today and avail 75% off on the original LearnDash license—plus expert design help to create a layout that works for you and your learners.

Where do you find Design Upgrade for LearnDash?