In my day to day job, I whip up reels, branded social media assets, animations, email headers, PowerPoints, on-the-fly video edits, LinkedIn ads… you name it, I do it!
Now don’t get me wrong, I love meticulously playing in photoshop or illustrator when I’m working on a large project or branded piece, but when I need a no frills cute image and I’ve got 10 minutes, a Canva design is a life saver.
I use a non-profit Canva account where I work. We’ve taken advantage of all the brand resources. I’ve uploaded many of my own assets and have utilized the library function to make my life 1000x easier. However, like any skill or platform to learn though, graphic design takes practice and I didn’t learn it overnight.
Canva’s user-friendly interface and extensive resources make it an ideal platform for design beginners to learn and improve their skills. It’s also a great tool for seasoned designers in a hurry or if you don’t have access to a monthly Adobe subscription – which can also be costly. (Don’t even get me started on how they raised their prices this year.)
Basic Design Tips
Find Inspiration
If you’re new to Canva, it can be pretty overwhelming. Follow these simple design tips when starting to head in the right direction.
The Home Page. Where do I begin? Jump right in to a new project or browse through pre-designed templates. You can also enter your own dimensions for more file control.
Utilize the “Elements” tab. This tab is your treasure chest. Here, you can find shapes, lines, illustrations, and more. You can search for specific elements using the search bar, making it easy to find exactly what you need for your design.
Less is More. Avoid cluttering your design with too many elements. A clean, simple design often has a stronger impact and white space is your friend.
Be consistent. Pick a theme and stick to it for a polished look.
Love the Grid
Grids are your friends. They help structure your design and create balance. Embrace them!
Align align align: Canva’s built-in alignment tools are your best friends. Use them to make your design look sharp and organized
The rule of thirds divides your image area into a 3×3 grid, creating nine equal sections. Imagine a Tic-Tac-Toe Board on your canvas. Think of these lines and intersections as sweet spots to place your key elements. By positioning your subject, text, or other design elements along these lines or at their meeting points, you create a more visually balanced and interesting composition.
Use grid Overlays. Many design applications offer built-in grid overlays. Activate this feature to visualize the grid on your workspace.
Make it Your Own
Make it pop. Play with contrasting colors, sizes, and shapes to draw attention to key elements. Utilize Canva’s color wheel to design palettes or find accent colors.
Guide the eye: Use different font sizes and colors to highlight important information. Think of it as a visual map showing people what you think is important.
Quality matters. High-resolution images make your design shine. Luckily, Canva has millions of them waiting for you.
Save and Download. Once you’re satisfied with your design, click on the “Download” button on the top right corner to save your design. Here you can choose the file type and quality of your download.
Fun fact: The most common downloads on Canva are social media graphics and printables. Finally, regarding print, be sure to check the sizing — keep an eye on resolution and file type to avoid blurry images when exporting.
