"Canva makes you a graphic designer the same way a microwave makes you a chef...sure, you can make a decent meal in minutes, but like a TV dinner it is flavorless and bland."
Jon-Stephen Stansel
(Social Media Strategist)
" ...making graphic design accessible to everyone."
Melanie Perkins
( CEO, Canva)
I finally get a chance to talk about the ongoing mud figth or street brawl between free design tools like Canva, PicMonkey, Desygner and co vs the professional design world.
And sipping some tea while at it.
I've always loved a good fight or argument. Best part of living in hostels back in college.
I love drama, forget. And this one is pretty dramatic. I really just burst out laughing right now 😂
It's been interesting and sometimes scary to see or feel the looming fear and insecurity these tools have created in the professional design world
As an ex-designer for as brief as that was, I experienced both ends, the metaphorical grass on both sides
Ex- graphic designer, because I'm a creative and not a designer.
Found out early enough and it has saved me trauma... or is it just laziness? I'll keep finding out and unfolding me to me.
But yeah, Canva!
So I started off with Canva and was basically a Canva fan boy for the longest.
I mean why disturb myself with what I considered unnecessary technicalities when I have templates and can put my keen eye for aesthetics and design to use?
That was just the creative in me leaping and begging for expression.
I sensed it and picked it up fast!
I'd create amazing designs for church programs and events and soon enough ads and flyers for businesses, and they were really dope to me back then (LMAO)
Now I know I am quite an emotional writer, but this piece isn't me taking sides, it is me actually addressing how unnecessary it is and how both parties play specific roles and can co-exist!
Yes they can!
As a creative and the co-owner of a budding Brand & Design agency Thedorknight inc, I can't help but love canva! The idea is BRILLIANT!
I've googled the founder Melanie and can't help but love the babe. Fine Australian woman with an amazing smile, co founder fiance, and their $1 BILLION company!
He bought her a $30 ring and they seem to be all pro charity and anti- materialism, amazing people.
And as a budding entrepreneur, I simply can't hate on an amazing idea and person, I'm sorry J.S Stensel.
Canva is Visionary and Commendable!
...As a business. And even a tool.
I want to tackle this very neutrally and explain the cons and pros and help you navigate your way through this dilemma. Keep reading 😊
I'll quickly start off with the role it plays in Design
From a designers perspective, I know how much design guys passionate about their art pretty much hate it when they're called upon for social media flyers and sale banners
(Except starving artists Sha, they need the money)
And tools like Canva save us from that kind of work.
So dear professional designer, Canva like police is your friend.
And I'll go ahead and clearly state it.
Canva is or was made for and is the greatest tool on the planet for short term emergency designs if you have no design skills.
You have to quickly design a poster for your business, personal brand, create some social media sale frenzy, menus, pricelists...
Canva is your friend!
Digital marketing & content marketing for those properly positioned in the online field is extremely vital.
If you have an online business, and no design skills, please get the App! and familiarize with it
Call me, hit me up, I'll teach you. I've seen people sell eBooks and courses on how to master it. IT IS ABSOLUTELY RELEVANT..
Forget what any professional design nerd tells you. It plays a vital role in DIGITAL MARKETING
Graphics will be needed at the drop of a hat, there's an ocean of competition and other online businesses, you have to keep up!
Why stress a graphic designer with work he most likely doesn't want to do, or do for "chunkuli money"...Save yourself, up your game, get a design tool and learn to use it to your advantage.
BUT…
THERE IS A BUT FACTOR
Canvas was not created for long term foundational brand identity designs
I had the App, built awareness with it. (LMAO didn't earn from it though). I'm pro excellence and I without a choice had to collaborate with an illustrator for my first paying gig.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF I DID NOT.
I was to create the official logo for a Music creative hub called '5 minutes world' and as an Igbo boy if I could get away with doing a canva design, I would.
But it had to be original, authentic and personal, so I sketched, did all my brand creating voodoo and sent them to an illustrator
And for the first time, I was initiated and immersed into the world of real professional design and it's relevance for creating and playing in the big leagues, with the big clubs.
Hate me if you want, but you simply CANNOT create original proposed long term brand design and identity kits with free design tools.
I mean, you can try...
But it'll come out pretty mediocre.
I didn't say you shouldn't, I said can not. Like impossible. Technically speaking
First of all Canva was not designed for that.
And this is were the issue is...
[Canva and free design tools were not created to replace professional design and it's tools]
They were actually created to compliment them.
See why this street fight is funny?
Why fight what was created to help you and make your life easier?
Ignorance & Lack of understanding.
Technically speaking they can't do much for you. They have limited design functions.
They were programmed to practically offer the barrest minimum...
Relative to actual professional design tools and platforms like Adobe Photoshop
( Face off picture, because I can't do without dropping a movie reference, sorry not so sorry)
They are so limited or limiting to create real sustainable authentic Brand designs.
It's like comparing a "chinko Nokia torchlight" phone to an iPhone, there's actually no competition.
They both do the barrest minimum by making and receiving calls and texts.
But you really cannot compare functionalities. The iPhone user is at a super advantage.
Can reach more audience, is more respected and valuable, you already can join the dots to your business or personal brand, yes?
To save my battery as an iPhone user, I'd have a small phone for just calls to avoid interrupting my internet connection and reducing unnecessary use...
Is it coming together?
They were made to work together, but one has a wider advantage than the other
Secondly, the design templates programed on these free design tools are Homogeneous.
With Differentiation and Authenticity a core element in building a sustainable long term brand, these pre-designed templates are unfortunately available to you as they are with everyone else in the world
7 billion other people have access to the same designs you want to use for your brand? Lol. Please dear. No be Aso Ebi.
If you're really serious about your brand and business you're already seeing the light.
I mean do a statistic of the amount of online businesses in Nigeria alone, hell, in your sphere of influence banking on free design tools.
I mean I can go into functionality issues you might have if you don't consult a professional even if you decide to scale using them
Intellectual property problems, Technically related file format issues for digital print projects, publishing right issues from pictures you might use from the internet or Google Search…
LMAO. I hate stress dear.
DON'T BE CHEAP.
SEEK PROFESSIONAL BRAND DESIGN HELP TO CREATE TAILOR MADE LONG TERM AUTHENTIC BRAND ASSETS LIKE LOGOS, BUSINESS CARDS, LETTERHEADS, COLOUR SCHEMES & STRATEGY
Designs and Brand Scapes that will effectively communicate the core of your brand and provide the guidelines for your short term online designs. Using if you may, free design tools.
It's that simple.
SUMMARY,
THEY CAN CO EXIST
CANVA IS FOR SHORT TERM DESIGNS, ON THE FOUNDATION OF REAL BRAND PROFESSIONAL DESIGN GUIDELINES
SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP FOR AUTHENTIC LONG TERM BRAND DESIGNS OR COUNSEL
I actually feel like I put this one to rest 😊
If you need help or counsel creating a personal and authentic brand identity designs and finding your way around free design tools, I and my agency would be delighted to help!
I'd be glad to answer any design related questions in the comment section.
But bye for now, I guess.
PS: I desperately need a new playlist to write to, suggest something?
Love, Mez.