WordPress Web Design Course

Lesson 1 • Installing WordPress

Walks through one-click and manual WordPress installation methods. Students complete a verified, functional WordPress installation.

Lesson 2 • Navigating the WordPress Dashboard

Maps every dashboard panel and admin menu to its function. Students configure core settings to match a real project's requirements.

Lesson 3 • WordPress File and Database Structure

Explains the wp-content folder, core files, and MySQL database tables. Students understand how data flows between files and the database.

Lesson 4 • Choosing a Hosting Environment

Evaluates shared, managed, VPS, and local hosting options by performance and cost. Students select and configure an appropriate environment for their project.

Lesson 1 • Media Library Management

Covers uploading, organising, and optimising media assets. Students maintain a clean, performance-friendly media library.

Lesson 2 • Posts vs. Pages

Distinguishes chronological posts from static pages and their structural roles. Students assign content to the correct type based on site architecture.

Lesson 3 • Working with the Block Editor

Introduces the Gutenberg block editor interface and core block types. Students create and format multi-block page layouts efficiently.

Lesson 4 • Categories, Tags, and Taxonomies

Explains default and custom taxonomies for content classification. Students build a logical taxonomy structure that supports navigation and SEO.

Lesson 1 • Using the WordPress Customiser

Controls site identity, colours, typography, and widget areas via the Customiser. Students apply brand-consistent styles without editing code.

Lesson 2 • Full Site Editing Fundamentals

Introduces the Site Editor, global styles, and block-based templates. Students modify headers, footers, and page templates using FSE tools.

Lesson 3 • Understanding WordPress Themes

Explains theme architecture, template hierarchy, and the role of parent and child themes. Students identify which theme files control each page type.

Lesson 4 • Creating and Editing Child Themes

Builds a child theme to safely override parent styles and templates. Students make persistent customisations that survive parent theme updates.

Lesson 1 • Building Layouts with Sections and Columns

Constructs multi-column section layouts using a builder's drag-and-drop interface. Students assemble complete page structures from scratch.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to Page Builders

Compares leading page builder options by features, performance, and ecosystem. Students select a builder suited to their project scope and skill level.

Lesson 3 • Typography and Colour Systems

Applies consistent typography scales and colour palettes across all builder elements. Students enforce brand identity through global design tokens.

Lesson 4 • Responsive Design and Mobile Optimization

Adjusts layouts for desktop, tablet, and mobile breakpoints within the builder. Students deliver fully responsive pages verified across device sizes.

Lesson 1 • Managing and Updating Plugins Safely

Establishes a safe update workflow using staging environments and backups. Students maintain plugin health without breaking live site functionality.

Lesson 2 • WooCommerce and E-Commerce Basics

Installs WooCommerce and configures products, payments, and shipping. Students launch a functional online store with core e-commerce features.

Lesson 3 • Essential Plugins for Every Site

Installs and configures must-have plugins for security, caching, and forms. Students assemble a baseline plugin stack for any professional WordPress project.

Lesson 4 • Plugin Fundamentals and Best Practices

Explains plugin architecture, the repository, and criteria for safe plugin selection. Students evaluate plugins by update frequency, ratings, and code quality.

Lesson 1 • Measuring and Improving Core Web Vitals

Uses performance auditing tools to diagnose and fix LCP, CLS, and INP issues. Students document before-and-after scores to validate optimisation work.

Lesson 2 • Image and Media Optimisation

Compresses, converts, and lazy-loads images to reduce page weight. Students cut image-related load time without sacrificing visual quality.

Lesson 3 • On-Page SEO Fundamentals

Applies keyword targeting, title tags, and internal linking to WordPress content. Students optimise individual posts and pages for target search queries.

Lesson 4 • Caching and Server-Side Performance

Implements page caching, object caching, and CDN integration. Students reduce server response time and improve Time to First Byte.

Lesson 1 • Ongoing Maintenance Workflows

Builds a repeatable monthly maintenance checklist covering updates, audits, and monitoring. Students document and schedule all maintenance tasks.

Lesson 2 • Hardening WordPress Core Settings

Applies file permission rules, login protection, and admin URL changes. Students reduce the default attack surface through configuration alone.

Lesson 3 • Understanding WordPress Security Threats

Identifies brute-force attacks, SQL injection, XSS, and plugin vulnerabilities. Students map the attack surface of a typical WordPress installation.

Lesson 4 • Security Plugins and Firewalls

Configures a web application firewall and malware scanner via a security plugin. Students establish automated threat detection and alerting.

Lesson 1 • Domain, DNS, and Go-Live Process

Migrates a site from staging to production by updating DNS and SSL records. Students complete a zero-downtime launch using a proven go-live sequence.

Lesson 2 • Client Training and Documentation

Creates user guides and screen-recorded tutorials tailored to client skill levels. Students hand off a site with materials that reduce ongoing support requests.

Lesson 3 • Ongoing Site Management and Reporting

Establishes analytics reporting, maintenance retainers, and client communication cadences. Students define a recurring service model for post-launch site management.

Lesson 4 • Pre-Launch Quality Assurance

Runs a structured QA checklist covering content, links, forms, and cross-browser display. Students resolve all critical issues before the site goes live.