Creating Professional Graphics with Canva: Do’s and Don’ts

Creating professional graphics is no longer reserved for those of us who’ve spent years learning design software and perfecting layouts. Tools like Canva have leveled the playing field, allowing anyone to design — whether for social media, websites, or client presentations. But while Canva makes it easy to create something, creating something great takes a bit more thought.

But just because Canva makes it easy doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get it wrong. As a professional designer, I’ve seen plenty of Canva missteps, from overcrowded layouts to mismatched fonts that scream “DIY.” That’s why we’re going to cover the essential do’s and don’ts for using Canva, so your designs don’t just look good — they look great.

Let’s dive in!

Do: Keep Your Branding Consistent

One of the biggest mistakes I see is inconsistency in branding. Your visuals should speak the same “language” no matter where they appear — whether it’s an Instagram post, a website banner, or a presentation slide.

How to Keep It Cohesive:

• Stick to Your Brand Colors: Canva’s Brand Kit is your best friend here. Save your go-to colors and make sure every design matches your brand’s vibe. If you start experimenting with neon greens and hot pinks just because you can, it might leave your audience wondering, “What happened here?”
• Choose 1-2 Fonts: Canva offers more fonts than you could ever need, but restraint is your friend. Pick one or two that represent your brand and stick with them. Already have a professionally designed brand? Stick with the fonts your designer has curated. Mixing five different fonts in one graphic? That’s a no from me.
• Consistent Logo Placement:  Your logo should appear consistently across all your designs, but it doesn’t have to be on everything. A subtle logo in the bottom corner can tie everything together without distracting from the main content.

When you maintain consistency across your visuals, you build brand recognition — and trust. Plus, it just looks more professional.

Don’t: Overcrowd Your Designs

It’s easy to get excited when Canva offers you so many tools and elements, but one of the golden rules of design is knowing when to stop. Less is almost always more.

Here’s the thing: Canva offers a lot of options. From quirky illustrations to sparkly text effects, it’s easy to get carried away. But here’s your reality check—just because it’s in Canva doesn’t mean you need to use it.

Watch Out For:

• Font Frenzy: Yes, Canva’s font library is impressive, but that doesn’t mean you need to use all of them at once. Stick to two fonts, max. And definitely stick to your brand fonts, if you have them. More than that and you’re heading into “DIY” territory.
• Too Much Going On: Negative space isn’t wasted space — it’s breathing room for your design. Don’t feel like you need to fill every inch of the canvas with text, shapes, or icons. A well-placed element or two can say more than a cluttered collage of ideas.
• Color Overload: Sure, Canva has a color wheel that goes on forever, but if your design looks like it could give someone a headache, it’s time to dial it back. Choose complementary shades that work together or opt for your brand colors (if you have them).
• Too Many Elements: Glittery fonts, animations, and clip art might be fun, but they don’t always belong in a professional design. Before adding an element, ask yourself: does this add to the design, or just fill space?

Think of it like interior decorating. You wouldn’t stuff every corner of a room with furniture, right? The same goes for design — create space for the important elements to shine.

Do: Leverage Templates (Smartly)

Templates can be your secret weapon for creating polished designs without the stress of starting from scratch. Whether you’re using Canva’s free templates or investing in premium designer templates, they provide the structure you need to produce a professional-looking design quickly.

Ways to Work Smarter:

• Start with a Template That Fits Your Needs: Whether you’re designing a social media post, flyer, or presentation, templates help you jump right in with a layout that’s already optimized for balance and structure. Canva’s free templates are a great starting point, but if you’re looking to truly elevate your designs, consider using premium templates created by professional designers.
• Customize to Match Your Brand: The magic of templates lies in their flexibility. Whether you’re using a free Canva template or a premium one, don’t just stick with the default colors and fonts. Swap them out for your brand’s palette, adjust the layout to better fit your content, and make sure the design aligns with your aesthetic.
• Consider Premium Templates for a More Polished Look: Free templates are great, but when you’re ready to elevate your designs, investing in professionally designed templates is a smart move. These templates often come with more refined details, sophisticated layouts, and design elements that give your graphics a truly high-end look without the extra effort.

Templates provide structure and efficiency, but your creativity and personal touch are what will make the design stand out. Whether you use Canva’s built-in library or premium templates crafted by professional designers, starting with a well-thought-out template can help you create polished, professional graphics faster and with less hassle.

Do: Prioritize Image Quality

It doesn’t matter how great your layout is; if your images are blurry or pixelated, your design is instantly downgraded. High-quality visuals are non-negotiable for professional graphics.

Keep It Sharp:

• Use High-Resolution Images: Canva has access to high-res stock photos, so always choose those over lower-quality alternatives. If your image looks blurry on screen, it’ll look worse in print or when published online.
• Skip the Cliché Stock Photos: Canva offers tons of stock images, but not all are created equal. Avoid overly staged, generic stock photos that can cheapen your design. Authentic, high-quality imagery always wins.
• Scale Images Properly: When resizing images, hold down the shift key to keep the aspect ratio intact. Nothing screams “amateur” like a stretched or squished image.
• Use Premium Images: I love using HauteStock, Elevae Visuals, and Editorial Stock Images (these are affiliate links) for images that feel more elevated and intentional.

Think of your images as the foundation of your design—if they’re off, the whole thing crumbles.

Do: Explore Canva Pro for Advanced Features

If you’re using Canva regularly, upgrading to Canva Pro is a game-changer. Canva Pro offers a host of features that save time and take your designs from “good” to “great.”

Canva Pro Perks:

• Brand Kit: Keep your brand’s colors, fonts, and logos saved for easy access. The Canva brand kit is a lifesaver if you’re working on multiple projects or clients.
• Background Remover: Canva Pro’s background remover is a fast, easy way to make your images pop — without ever needing to open Photoshop.
• Magic Resize: Create a design once, then resize it with one click for all your social media channels. This feature is a huge time-saver if you’re repurposing content across platforms.

In my opinion, Canva Pro is worth every penny if you’re looking to streamline your design process while maintaining quality.

Don’t: Forget About Accessibility

Great design is more than just looking good—it needs to communicate. And to do that effectively, you need to make sure everyone can read and engage with your content. That means thinking about accessibility.

Make Sure Everyone’s Included:

• Use High-Contrast Text: If your text blends into the background, no one’s going to stick around long enough to read it. High contrast—like dark text on a light background—keeps things readable.
• Keep Fonts Legible: Tiny fonts might seem chic, but if people need a magnifying glass to read them, they’re not doing their job. Canva lets you easily scale your font size, so keep it big enough to be readable on both desktops and mobile devices.
• Add Alt Text for Images: While Canva doesn’t have built-in alt text functionality, when you upload your designs elsewhere (like websites or social media), make sure you include image descriptions. This ensures your designs are accessible to people who use screen readers.

Prioritizing accessibility not only makes your designs more inclusive, but it also improves user experience for everyone.

Canva Design Do’s and Don’ts Recap

Here’s a quick summary to keep your designs looking sharp:

Canva Design Do’s:

1. Do stick to consistent branding—colors, fonts, and logos.
2. Do use high-quality templates and customize them thoughtfully.
3. Do choose high-resolution images that enhance your design.
4. Do explore Canva Pro for time-saving, advanced tools.
5. Do make sure your designs are accessible to all audiences.

Canva Design Don’ts:

1. Don’t overcrowd your designs—less is more.
2. Don’t go overboard with fonts and colors—keep it streamlined.
3. Don’t add elements just because they’re there—focus on simplicity and purpose.
4. Don’t use low-res images—clarity is key.
5. Don’t forget about accessibility—good design communicates to everyone.

Canva makes it easier than ever to create professional designs, but it’s still up to you to make sure those designs hit the mark. By following these do’s and don’ts, you’ll not only elevate the look of your graphics, but you’ll also ensure they’re effective, on-brand, and polished. Remember, great design is about clarity and simplicity — it’s about using the right tools to communicate your message, not just throwing everything at the canvas.