Meet Canva : The Content Creators best kept secret

When you think of an app or program for illustration or photography work, companies like Adobe and Apple are the first to come to mind. If you bring up graphic design or image touch-up workflows in a conversation with creatives, you will typically hear phrases like “just Photoshop it” . Canva is set to change that.

Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool that allows users to create various visual content such as social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, and logos. It is a template-based cloud app with drag-and-drop features, making it accessible for individuals regardless of artistic skill.

It offers AI tools, brand management, photo/video editing, and audio capabilities for diverse design needs..

While it’s UX and template gallery similar to apps like Adobe Express, Microsoft Designer, and Apple’s Pixelmator Pro – the type of content you can create in Canva is much more than what the prior three apps offer combined. Canva takes it a step further, and offers audio and video – expanding the templates to Websites, Video, Presentations and Spreadsheets.

Once you choose the type of media you want to create, you’re presented with the design view of the app, where all the magic takes place. While the interface is straightforward, there are a plethora of tools neatly organised within categories accessible by clicking on the corresponding icon. Text button to adjust font color, size, etc. Tap the FX to customize or the Photo icon to remove the background from an image. Typical stuff.

Most of my designs from the last year have been made in Canva, from this websites logo designs to our physical media:

Canva is widely praised for its user-friendly interface, extensive template library, and collaborative features, making professional design accessible for non-designers and quick content creation. However, it often faces limitations in advanced customization, unique aesthetic generation due to template reliance, and occasional performance issues, especially when compared to professional design software.