7 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Canva

Canva has made graphic design accessible to everyone with its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. However, just because the tool is intuitive doesn't mean there isn't room for error. Many Canva users, from complete novices to seasoned designers, frequently make the same easily avoidable mistakes that detract from their designs' visual impact and professional polish.

In this article, we'll cover seven of the most common mistakes creators stumble into when using Canva. By being aware of these mistakes and implementing a few simple tips, you'll be able to level up your Canva skills and create truly stunning visuals that capture attention.

Mistake 1: Forgetting to Customize Canvas Dimensions  

If you want your visuals to be the best possible quality, you need to tailor your content to the different dimensions of websites and social media platforms. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make in Canva is not customizing their canvas dimensions.

You can customize your dimensions manually by going to File > Create a Design > Custom Size and entering the correct height and width. You can also choose from the pre-made layouts if you already know where you'll use your graphics and images.

Mistake 2: Not Utilizing Canva's Project Organization Tools

I use Canva for various projects, and I'm sometimes guilty of leaving everything disorganized. This may not be a huge problem if you remember your file names, but it quickly becomes confusing when you have many projects.

Thankfully, Canva has user-friendly tools to help you organize everything effectively. In the Projects section, you can access your favorite projects via the Starred folder. To see the pictures, you've uploaded to Canva, go to the Uploads folder.

You can also create new folders to keep everything organized:

• Press control + click or right-click.
• Select "New Folder" and give it a name.
• Once created, you can start adding projects to that folder.

Mistake 3: Only Uploading Files from Your Computer

Canva makes it easy to upload images and files directly from your computer into your projects. However, a major mistake even experienced Canva users make is thinking this is their only option.

If you click the three-dot icon next to "Upload Files," you'll find a dropdown menu with all the available upload options. For example, you can add pictures from cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive. It's even possible to import images directly from Instagram.

Once you've connected your accounts and verified access, you'll have everything you need to upload files and folders to your Canva projects from multiple sources.

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Mistake 4: Using Incorrect Text Box Styles

One mistake I consistently made early on was using a standard paragraph text box for all my text elements. When you have a lot of text in one place, this can lead to formatting issues and make your design look disorganized.

The best way to keep your text organized in Canva is by using the appropriate pre-formatted text box styles. For example, if you need to add a subtitle, Canva has pre-sized subtitle text boxes you can insert and customize.

Mistake 5: Going Overboard with Font Varieties

If you spend much time online, you've likely seen the "graphic design is my passion" meme mocking amateurish visuals that use excessive fonts and colors. Many Canva users make this mistake of using too many different fonts.

Using more than 2-3 font varieties in your design can make it look cluttered and unprofessional. Study effective brand design - most logos and marketing materials stick to just 2-3 complementary fonts to maintain a cohesive, clean look.

Experiment with Canva's font options to find a simple palette that fits your aesthetic. For example, a minimalist design may look best using just two sleek font styles.

Mistake 6: Choosing Conflicting Font Pairings  

Even if you limit your design to 2-3 fonts, you can undermine your visual polish if those fonts clash or fail to complement each other visually. Combining drastically different font styles like Old English and Comic Sans will make your design look confused and amateurish.

Do some research into typography pairing guidelines. As a rule, choose fonts that share similar characteristics like stroke weights, heights, or styling to create a harmonious, cohesive palette.

Mistake 7: Ignoring Canva's Alignment Guides

In my early Canva days, I would manually position text and graphic elements until the layout looked right to my eye. However, this approach often led to misaligned elements that made the overall design appear sloppy.  

Canva provides helpful alignment guides in the form of pink lines and boxes that appear when moving objects. Use these guides to easily snap elements into perfect horizontal and vertical alignment for a polished, professional look.

Conclusion

Canva is intuitive, but easy to misuse if you're not careful. Avoiding pitfalls like improper canvas sizing, font overload, and misalignment can instantly elevate your Canva designs. Start slow and implement these tips one-by-one as you practice.

Creating beautiful, cohesive visual designs takes a little nuance beyond just Canva's simple drag-and-drop interface. But with a few easy adjustments to canvas sizing, font pairings, alignment, and project organization, you'll be well on your way to Canva mastery. The key is being intentional about the details that give designs a professional polish.

So, take note of these common mistakes and start leveling up your skills one project at a time. Your audience will definitely thank you for visuals that look crisp, clean, and pulled-together.