We’d all like to think that we are designers. Canva, with its user-friendly interface and vast library of templates, images, and design elements, has emerged as a popular choice for amateurs and professionals alike. But like any tool, Canva is only as effective as the person using it.
Canva’s ease of use and accessibility have democratized design to some extent, making it accessible to individuals without formal design training. While this is empowering for marketing teams that are without a professional designer, it also raises concerns about the erosion of design standards and disregard of design principles.
Creating a visually appealing design in Canva is one thing, but understanding design principles, typography, color theory, and composition is another. Whether you’re designing social media posts, presentations, or promotional materials, here are some of the most common mistakes non-designers make when using Canva:
Ignoring Design Principles
Canva makes it easy to create visually appealing designs, but that doesn’t mean you can bypass fundamental design principles like alignment, contrast, hierarchy, and balance. If you’re new to design or simply need a refresher, check out 8 Basic Design Principles to Help You Make Awesome Graphics from Adobe.
Overcrowding Your Design
Canva offers a vast library of elements, from images and icons to text and shapes. It’s tempting to use them all, but overcrowding your design can lead to visual clutter and confusion. The same applies to filters and effects. Overusing them can create a chaotic and sometimes illegible mess. Less is always more.
Ignoring Typography
Typography plays a crucial role in design, yet it’s often overlooked by beginners. Avoid using too many different fonts in one design, as it can create a disjointed look. Stick to a maximum of two or three complementary fonts and pay close attention to factors like readability and hierarchy.
Forgetting About Copyright
Just because an image or graphic is available in Canva doesn’t mean it’s 100% free to use. Always double-check the licensing terms for any assets you use in your designs, especially if you’re creating content for commercial purposes. Canva offers a variety of free and paid elements, so choose wisely and respect copyright laws.
Skipping Proofreading
Spelling and grammar mistakes can undermine the credibility of you and your design, no matter how visually appealing it may be. Take the time to proofread your text carefully before finalizing your design. Canva provides spell-check functionality, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your text and graphics for any errors.
Neglecting Image Quality
Canva offers a vast selection of stock photos and graphics, but not all of them are created equal. Low-quality images can detract from your design rather than enhance it. Whenever possible, opt for high-resolution images and graphics to maintain visual clarity and professionalism.
Disregarding Branding Guidelines
Canva prides itself on providing fast creative. But to use it as plug-and-play is a disservice to your brand. Brand consistency is paramount, and essential, for maintaining a cohesive visual identity across various platforms and channels. This includes using the correct colors, fonts, logo placement, and more to adhere to brand guidelines. Canva’s branding tool allows the upload of brand colors, fonts, and graphics—but a brand is so much more! It’s voice, aesthetic, attitude, intention, and style. Just because something has the right fonts and colors doesn’t make it brand-worthy or compliant with brand standards.
Canva does a great job of providing a vast array of templates to use with your content or as a starting point for your design but often gives users a false sense of design proficiency. Bemindful of these common mistakes and your creative should be accurate, consistent, and on-brand to create impactful and visually stunning designs no matter what tool you use.
Written by Dana Comfort Gay || Senior Graphic Designer