Thing I'm most happy about is the upgraded export course materials. The zipped file is now logically organized. They used to have seemingly random arbitrary grouping of materials in folders with half of the directories only leading to one subdirectory.
Not a big fan, honestly. It looks like it was designed in 2006. This could definitely benefit from less striped backgrounds and more whitespace.
It is so much more functional though. Navigation and discovery is heaps better now.
The functionality is definitely better, but I would have to agree, the design needs some serious help. It has become pretty clear lately that people don't like using ugly websites, even if they work better than their pretty counterparts...
Sure, it's not a gorgeous next-gen startupesque web design, but I think it's more than visually appealing enough.
I agree with primatology; it is not ugly. Maybe not a shining perl, but it is easy on the eyes.
I think something with much more whitespace and less stripes and unnecessary colors would be much easier on the eyes.
Main navigation doesn't work in Chromium Version 23.0.1271.91 (167501) due to a floating error. "Featured Sites" doesn't fit on the nav.
Aside from the web design, they use a weird term in the copy: "Self Learner". I know what it means, but boy is it awkward.
I agree here with some of the comments. It needs a little bit of work on the front end.
Mobile layouts or an app would be really nice for on the go purposes.