There’s a lot of noise online about designers bashing Canva—dismissing it on social media, refusing to touch it, or even scoffing at the thought of learning how to use it. This sentiment seems especially common among formally trained designers, while self-taught designers often defend Canva as a practical, accessible tool. As someone with a traditional creative undergrad degree, here’s my stance: Canva isn’t the problem. It’s how it’s being used.
With the rising cost of industry-standard programs—yes, Adobe, I’m looking at you—Canva offers a fantastic alternative for clients who need to create their own designs without breaking the bank. Here’s the thing: Most clients aren’t going to invest in expensive design software just to make social media posts. As designers, it’s our job to meet them where they are and help them succeed. One way we can do this is by creating branded templates and designs tailored for Canva, empowering clients to maintain their visual identity without constant outside help.
This approach benefits everyone. Clients save money and time, while designers build stronger relationships by delivering practical solutions. Bonus: Canva allows you to lock elements within templates, ensuring brand assets stay consistent and protected from unintentional edits. It’s a win-win.
Now, full disclosure—I’m not a Canva expert. I’m firmly rooted in the Adobe camp (except when it comes to pricing… ouch). But I can still appreciate Canva’s value in collaborative client work. And here’s another tip: Adding Canva social media templates to your branding packages is an easy way to increase the value of your services. It’s a quick task that can make a big difference to clients—and your bottom line.
Ultimately, tools like Canva aren’t here to replace designers. They’re here to bridge the gap between professional design and practical needs. Embracing that reality not only strengthens our work but also helps build trust and collaboration with the clients we serve.
Ensure templates are easy to customize: Provide clear instructions and guidelines for how to use them. Bonus points if you lock items that shouldn’t be changed to maintain brand consistency.
Use Canva’s Brand Kit feature: It’s quick and easy to upload elements like logos and color codes from your brand identity project. While you can’t currently share or download a Brand Kit directly for clients, you can set it up in their Canva account or supply the assets for them to upload themselves.
Check designs for accessibility standards: Make sure your templates follow accessibility guidelines, such as ensuring sufficient color contrast and readable text sizes. This is especially important for social media and web usage. For more information on accessibility, check out resources like this article.
Be collaborative: Clients may feel intimidated when starting out with new tools. Hosting a quick tutorial video (via Loom, for example) or walking them through templates on a handoff call can make a huge difference. Encourage feedback to refine the templates if needed.
Do you have any tips on working in Canva or sharing templates with clients? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Shoot me an email at hello@freehouse-design.com to chat about your ideas!
