Creating Totally Awesome Graphics with Canva

One of my favorite parts about my Web Technologies class was getting to build my brand and shape my aesthetic through the use of graphics in Canva. Aesthetics, like logos and slogans, are a great way to communicate to your audience what it is you are trying to market. For the aesthetic of my slushie truck, I went with a sort of nostalgic, '80s-throwback type look with an emphasis on lush neon colors.

Canva is a free and easy-to-use platform that I had a great time learning. It gives you the tools as a creator to make stellar designs via preset templates, customizable designs and text, and intuitive drag-and-drop technology. It also gives you the option to import photos you have saved on your computer, and photos from the web. There are both free and pay-to-use features available, and yet only having had the ability to test the free ones, I had no trouble whatsoever in creating my envisioned designs. I loved how specific some of their template layouts were. You can search things like "Instagram story template" or "Facebook cover template," and within seconds be presented with a myriad of options to choose from. To fine-tune your design even further, you can enter keywords like "food truck" or "slush drink" to generate templates and images specific to what you may have in mind. Featured below are graphics for a Facebook cover photo, as well as some social media posts — all created using Canva.

If you're interested in using Canva, I would definitely give it a shot. You will not be disappointed.

www.canva.com