Canva Design For Non-Designers: 10 Dos & Don’ts + Working with Designers

Designing can be a daunting task, especially if you have little or no experience in it. However, thanks to the rise of user-friendly design tools like Canva, anyone can create professional-looking designs without the need for specialized knowledge or a design team.

In this blog post, we will discuss the dos and don’ts of using Canva as a non-designer, and compare designing on Canva with working with a design team.

What Is Canva?

Before jumping in, it’s good to understand what Canva is. Canva is a web-based graphic design platform that allows users to create professional-quality designs without needing any prior design experience.

It offers a wide range of templates, design elements, and stock images that users can use to create a variety of designs such as social media graphics, presentations, posters, flyers, logos, and more.

Canva’s user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop design tools make it easy for non-designers to create visually appealing designs. Users can also upload their own images, logos, and fonts to further customize their designs.

Canva offers both a free and a paid version, with the paid version offering additional features such as more design elements, the ability to upload custom fonts, and the ability to resize designs easily for different platforms.

Canva has become popular among small business owners, entrepreneurs, social media managers, and educators who need to create professional-looking designs quickly and affordably.

Can I Use Canva with Zero Experience?

The good news is yes, you can use Canva with zero experience. Canva is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, even for people with no prior design experience. Canva offers a wide range of templates, design elements, and stock images that you can use to create a variety of designs, such as social media graphics, posters, flyers, logos, and more. You can customize these templates by adding your own images, text, and design elements using Canva’s drag-and-drop interface.

Canva also offers a range of tutorials, courses, and design resources that can help you improve your design skills and learn how to use the platform more effectively. These resources can be especially helpful if you’re new to design and want to learn more about design principles, color theory, typography, and more.

Overall, Canva is a great option for non-designers who need to create professional-looking designs quickly and affordably. With its user-friendly interface and wide range of design elements and templates, you can create a variety of designs with zero prior experience.

Dos Of Designing on Canva

Designing on Canva can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re not a designer. However, there are certain dos that can help you create professional-looking designs that are both visually appealing and effective in conveying your message. Here are some of the dos of designing on Canva for non-designers:

Use Templates

Canva offers a wide range of templates for different types of designs, such as social media posts, flyers, posters, and presentations. Using a template can save you time and effort, as it already has a layout and design elements in place. All you need to do is customize it to suit your needs by adding your own text and images.

Choose Colors Wisely

Colors play a crucial role in design, as they can evoke different emotions and convey different messages. When choosing colors for your design, make sure they are harmonious and complement each other. Canva offers a color palette tool that can help you choose colors that work well together.

Keep It Simple

Less is often more when it comes to design. Don’t try to cram too much information or too many design elements into your design, as it can make it look cluttered and confusing. Instead, focus on the key message you want to convey and use design elements that support that message.

Use High-Quality Images

Images can make or break a design. Make sure the images you use are high-quality and relevant to your message. Canva has a library of stock images that you can use, but you can also upload your own images if you have them.

Pay Attention to Typography

Typography refers to the style, size, and arrangement of text in a design. Make sure the typography you use is legible and fits the overall style of your design. Canva has a wide range of fonts to choose from, but it’s important not to use too many fonts in one design as it can look chaotic.

By following these dos of designing on Canva, you can create designs that are both visually appealing and effective in communicating your message.

Don’ts Of Designing on Canva

While there are certain dos to keep in mind when designing on Canva, there are also several don’ts that can help you avoid common design mistakes. Here are some of the don’ts of designing on Canva for non-designers:

Don’t Use Too Many Fonts

Using too many fonts in a design can make it look cluttered and unprofessional. Stick to one or two fonts that complement each other and are easy to read. Canva has a wide range of fonts to choose from, so it’s easy to get carried away. But it’s important to remember that less is often more when it comes to typography.

Don’t Clutter Your Design

Similar to using too many fonts, cluttering your design with too many design elements can make it look chaotic and confusing. Instead, focus on the key message you want to convey and use design elements that support that message. Make use of white space to create a clean, uncluttered design.

Don’t Use Low-Quality Images

Low-quality images can make your design look unprofessional and amateurish. Make sure the images you use are high-quality and relevant to your message. Canva has a library of stock images that you can use, but it’s always better to use your own images if you have them.

Don’t Ignore White Space

White space, also known as negative space, refers to the empty space around design elements. It’s an important design element that can help create balance and harmony in a design. Don’t be afraid to use white space to create a clean, uncluttered design.

Don’t Forget to Proofread

Typos and grammatical errors can undermine the effectiveness of your design. Make sure to proofread your design before finalizing it. Canva has a spell-check tool that can help you catch any errors.

By avoiding these common design mistakes, you can create designs that are both visually appealing and effective in communicating your message. Remember to keep it simple, use high-quality images and typography, and don’t be afraid to make use of white space to create a clean, uncluttered design.

Canva vs. Working with a Design Team

When it comes to creating professional designs, you have two options: designing on Canva or working with a design team. While both options have their pros and cons, it ultimately comes down to your needs and budget.

Using Canva

Designing on Canva is a great option for non-designers who need to create professional-looking designs quickly and affordably. Canva offers a wide range of templates, design elements, and stock images that make it easy for non-designers to create designs that are both visually appealing and effective in conveying their message.

Canva is also user-friendly, so you don’t need any design experience to get started. However, designing on Canva has its limitations. While you can create professional-looking designs, they may not be as unique or customized as designs created by a professional designer. Canva’s templates are also used by many people, so your design may not stand out from the crowd.

Design Partner

Working with a design team, on the other hand, can give you access to a professional designer who can create a customized design that is unique to your brand and message. A design team can also offer you a wider range of design services, such as branding, web design, and marketing materials.

However, working with a design team can be more expensive and time-consuming than designing on Canva. You may also need to spend more time communicating your needs and providing feedback to the design team.

Ultimately, the choice between Canva and working with a design team comes down to your needs and budget. If you need a design quickly and affordably, Canva may be the better option for you.

If you need a customized design that is unique to your brand and message, and have the budget to hire a design team, then working with a design team may be the better option for you.

Now that we’ve entered the part of the conversation about time and budget, here’s a question to consider: Is the time spent working on Canva myself worth it? Can i do something more impactful with my time in my business instead?

This is a great question and one that many business owners and entrepreneurs should consider when deciding whether to use Canva or to outsource their design work. While Canva is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, creating professional-looking designs can still take time, especially if you’re new to the platform.

Consider Your Time

When deciding whether to use Canva or outsource your design work, it’s important to consider the value of your time. As a business owner or entrepreneur, your time is valuable and should be spent on activities that generate the most value for your business.

If you’re comfortable using Canva and can create designs quickly and efficiently, then it may be worth it to create your own designs using Canva.

If you find that creating designs on Canva takes up too much of your time and prevents you from focusing on other important tasks in your business, then outsourcing your design work may be a better option.

Outsourcing your design work to a professional designer or design team can save you time and allow you to focus on other important tasks in your business, such as marketing, sales, or product development.

A professional designer or design team can also create customized designs that are unique to your brand and message, which can help you stand out from the competition.

In Conclusion

Canva is a great tool for non-designers who want to create professional-looking designs without breaking the bank. By following the dos and don’ts outlined in this blog post, you can create visually appealing designs that effectively communicate your message.

While Canva may not offer the same level of customization and expertise as working with a design team, it’s a great option for those on a budget or with limited time. Ultimately, the choice between Canva and working with a design team depends on your specific needs and budget.

If you’re looking for design help and need a reliable design partner, Mad Creative Beanstalk is a great solution. Having helped 100s of early-stage startups and entrepreneurs with amazing designs, we can create quality designs that can take your business to the next level.


Posted

in

,

by

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *