Overview
Canva is a user-friendly, online graphic design tool that helps users to create visual content easily and efficiently through a drag-and-drop interface. Canva simplifies the design process and allows users with all levels of design experience to create clean and contemporary designs that adhere to CCL design standards.
The following guide helps anyone 1) log on and access Canva... and 2) start creating CCL-branded materials.
Let's dive in.
Step 1: Get Started by Requesting Canva Access
Click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of any CCL page. Send us a message that includes your name, your email, your job title, and your organization:
We'll respond in the same chat by providing log-in credentials for Canva.com
Step 2: Sign in with your new account credentials.
Accept Invitation: if you're new to the CCL Canva team, make sure you've accepted the invitation sent by our team. This involves clicking on a link in your email which directly adds you to the team.
Step 3: Explore the Canva Interface.
When you first log in to Canva, you'll land on the dashboard. This is your central hub for all design activities. The dashboard is organized to give you quick access to everything you need in Canva, from creating new designs to managing previous projects.
Main Components of the Dashboard:
Home Button: Located at the top left, clicking the Home button will always bring you back to this main dashboard screen from wherever you are in Canva.
Search Bar: Use this feature to quickly find specific designs, templates, or design elements like photos, icons, and fonts. Just type in what you're looking for, and Canva will display relevant results.
Template Gallery: Beside the search bar, you’ll see suggestions for different types of design templates such as presentations, social media posts, flyers, and more. Clicking on one of these starts a new design with the selected template type.
Recent Designs: Your most recently edited or created designs will appear right on the dashboard. This makes it easy to pick up where you left off. Each design thumbnail will show a preview, which you can click to open and continue editing.
Create a Design Button: This prominent button, found at the top right of the dashboard, allows you to start a new design. Clicking here will let you choose from a blank canvas or a variety of pre-set dimensions for different design needs.
Left Sidebar: The sidebar is your navigation guide to different areas within Canva:
All your designs: This section stores all the designs the CCL Team has created or edited.
Shared with you: Here you can view designs that others have shared with you for collaboration.
Brand Kit: Access this area to use or the CCL brand-specific elements like logos, colors, and fonts.
Templates: Canva provides a vast array of templates grouped by categories such as ‘Social Media’, ‘Personal’, ‘Business’, ‘Marketing’, and more. You can browse these categories to find a specific type of template.
Folders: Organize your designs into folders. You can create new folders and manage existing ones to keep your projects tidy and accessible.
Trash: Deleted designs go here, and you can recover them if needed.
Profile and Settings: Clicking on your profile icon, typically located at the bottom left or top right of the page, gives you access to your account settings, team settings, billing information, and more. This is also where you can log out of your account.
Help and Resources: Often found at the bottom of the sidebar or under your profile menu, this link provides access to Canva’s help center where you can find FAQs, tutorials, and contact support for more specific issues.
By familiarizing yourself with these elements of the Canva dashboard, you can efficiently manage your design tasks and navigate the platform with ease. This setup is designed to help you quickly access the tools and features you need, making the design process smoother and more intuitive.
Step 4: Creating a Design.
First, start a New Design:
Click on 'Create a design' button, which is usually located at the top right corner of the dashboard. This will open a new menu.
You can either choose a custom size for your design or select from various pre-defined dimensions and types like posters, social media posts, or documents.
Next, apply CCL Brand Assets:
Once you select the type of design, a new workspace will open.
Go to the 'Styles' tab on the left sidebar if you want to quickly apply CCL’s colors and fonts across your design.
To add a logo, go to the 'Uploads' section, where you should find all CCL logos already uploaded. Drag and drop your chosen logo onto your canvas.
Then, begin designing your project:
Use the toolbar at the top for adding text, elements, photos, and more. To ensure consistency, always refer back to the Brand Kit for font styles and color codes.
Canva also offers a wide range of design elements like icons, shapes, and lines. Add them by exploring the 'Elements' tab.
Next, you'll customize your design:
Customize your text by selecting it and using the text editing tools that appear above the canvas. You can change the font size, color, alignment, and spacing.
Adjust the size and color of other elements to match the CCL brand guidelines.
For images, you can use Canva’s photo library or upload your own images. Make sure any images you use complement the brand’s aesthetic.
Finally, you'll save and download your design:
Once your design is complete, click on 'Download' in the upper right corner.
Choose the appropriate file format based on how you plan to use the design—PDF for print, JPEG for web use, etc.
You can also save your design in Canva for future edits or re-use.
Final Thoughts
This guide walks you through the process of creating a design with CCL’s predefined brand assets in Canva. By utilizing these assets, you can ensure that all materials you create maintain a consistent and professional look that aligns with CCL’s branding. Always take advantage of Canva’s intuitive design tools and collaboration features to enhance your productivity and creativity.