I’m not here to talk pro; rather, I’m here to answer this: what is Canva? And I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on it based on the fact that I’ve been using the friendly app, Canva, to design my article banners. From my calculation, this period is running to over a year.
Now let’s dive in…
What is Canva?
Canva is a software designed for creating graphic images, such as social media graphics, slides, postcards, promotional materials, and more. According to Wikipedia, Canva is an Australian multinational software company. Like every other software platforms they have been existing since 2013.
Canva was cofounder by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams. Over these years, Canva has grown to become the first destination for non-designers like me.
With their creative user and friendly interface you and I can create something nice like the banners you see below. They were designed by my very self.
Well, I can’t go on and on talking about what Canva is and its origin, as time won’t permit me.
So, let’s move on…
My favorite Canva features: Why I love them
You’ll agree with me that what really makes one software stand out from another is its features. The more up-to-date features a software like Canva possesses, the more people are drawn to it.
Reason is because:
1. People find software with great features very useful.
2. People would likely spend more time on a site with superb features.
3. People are willing to invest in pro features like Canva’s if they find them appealing.
4. When software provides easy access to its features, users are more likely to return and recommend it.
Having said these reasons let’s take a look at…
What I like most about Canva and why
1. Its Drag-and-Drop Interface
Canva’s thoughtful design includes an easy drag-and-drop interface. This makes it easy for users like us to create custom designs without needing extensive design experience. So, if you’re visiting Canva for the first time, you can easily play around and create your first beautiful design. Why not try it now? I’m not selling anything, so feel free to click the link.
2. Template Library
I find this to be absolutely amazing to explore; you can disagree with me later! Lol. As a matter of fact, I’m a writer – I write for a living – which is why I’m here talking about Canva. I could be somewhere else right now, but I’m here talking with you. So, maybe you’re a writer too, and you find writing addictive? Why not join us at inkwrit? We’re always looking for talented authors like you. I think we’d make a great team – don’t you?
So, Canva gives you a vast library of pre-made templates for various design types, including social media graphics, presentations, infographics, and more. Here are some examples of what I’ve used Canva templates to create so far:
1. Book covers: If you’re an author looking for quick, free, and easy-to-make beautiful book covers, Canva’s book cover templates can provide the designs you want. To create a book cover, simply go to Canva’s search bar, input “book cover,” and you’ll be amazed at the numerous templates suggested.
Note: Most of these book templates are pro features, meaning you’ll need to pay to use them.
2. Blog banners: Canva provides both free and pro templates for creating blog banners. I personally find Canva’s pro blog banners to be really good.
3. Carousel: If you post on LinkedIn, you’ll likely agree with me that carousels are frequently used by the platform’s content creators to convey their messages. They’re visually appealing, make information easy to consume, and work like slides.
Watch this video to learn how to create a carousel on Canva.
4. Social Media banners: I designed my social media banners for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube using Canva. These visual elements are crucial to design if you want to boost your social media visibility. The best part is that Canva offers numerous templates to edit and customize to fit your personal brand.
5. Presentations and Slideshows
I must say, my first slides were created using Canva. With Canva, it’s easy to create engaging presentations and slideshows that effectively convey your message to your audience.
6. Infographics
I find creating infographics challenging, but that hasn’t stopped me from giving it a try. And for good reason – I believe infographics provide audiences with easily consumable information, especially when creating checklists.
3. Customizable Design Elements
On Canva, you can access various customizable elements, including fonts (such as Heading 1 and Heading 2), colors, shapes, and icons. These elements allow you to create unique and personalized designs. Although Canva offers pro features, I find the free elements to be solid and reliable.
6. Marketing Materials
Whenever I run Facebook ads, I use Canva to create my marketing materials, specifically flyers. Similarly, you can utilize Canva to design effective marketing materials like Facebook flyers for your ad campaigns. With thousands of templates available, all you need to do is search using relevant keywords.
4. Integration with Other Tools
Have you visited sites like Pexels? While downloading images or videos, you might have noticed a notification suggesting you work with Canva. I’ve seen this countless times. Indeed, Canva has seamlessly integrated with other popular tools and platforms, including social media sites, WordPress, and Google Drive. This integration provides quick access to import your downloaded images into Canva if needed.
How Canva has simplified my design process:
We wouldn’t have come this far without discussing the benefits of using Canva to design your materials. As a user of this software, I’d like to share some of the benefits I’ve experienced:
1. Free
You don’t need to pay to use Canva, as it offers a completely free version. Although they have a paid subscription, the free version is available forever at no cost. All you need to do is create an account, and you’re good to go!
2. Easy to Use
Although Canva wasn’t easy for me to use at first, I found that the more I used it, the more intuitive it became. Additionally, watching video tutorials on YouTube helped me learn new skills and overcome challenges that initially stumped me.
3. Time-Saving
Imagine having to start your design from scratch on Canva, without any templates to guide you. It would be a time-consuming process, to say the least. Fortunately, Canva offers a wide range of templates that enable you to create stunning designs quickly and efficiently.
4. Saves automatically
Canva automatically saves your designs, ensuring that your work is never lost. When you work with Canva, your designs are saved in real-time, allowing you to pick up right where you left off at any time.
Wrapping up
A lot has been said about Canva, including its definition, key features, and benefits. My goal isn’t to convince you to use Canva, but rather to highlight its value as a powerful online graphic design platform. Canva provides users with the necessary tools and features to create stunning visual content. With a long history in the market, Canva’s work speaks for itself.
However, every platform has its pros and cons. If you’re planning to invest in graphic design services tailored to your needs, I recommend reading reviews on sites like Trustpilot. This will help you make an informed decision.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a design solution without committing significant time and money, Canva is an excellent choice.
I hope you found this article helpful. Please share your thoughts and personal experiences with Canva in the comment section below.
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