PD - Iowa Youth Military Programs

IOWA ARNG CYP

PD SHARE FAIR 2022

Canva Design Tips Ideas to Improve your Designs

Want to know more?

Canva Tips

Download Canva Handout

This will determine the colors, font, and photos you choose.

Example: Professionals, parents, teens, etc.

Less is more.

For most of our flyers we only communicate:

Event Name

Location

Date

Link

Families can get more information from your link if they are interested.

What do you want your audience to do with this information?

Display a way to get in touch with you. Make sure it's easy to read, and not long.

For us it is usually a way for the audience to register at the following link.

Example: Register Now! (Then include a QR code, or link.)

Canva Tips

Download Canva Handout

This will determine the colors, font, and photos you choose.

Example: Professionals, parents, teens, etc.

Less is more.

For most of our flyers we only communicate:

  • Event Name
  • Location
  • Date
  • Link

Families can get more information from your link if they are interested.

What do you want your audience to do with this information?

Display a way to get in touch with you. Make sure it's easy to read, and not long.

For us it is usually a way for the audience to register at the following link.

Example: Register Now! (Then include a QR code, or link.)

Canva Tips

Download Canva Handout

This will determine the colors, font, and photos you choose.

Example: Professionals, parents, teens, etc.

Less is more. For most of our flyers we only communicate:

  • Event Name
  • Location
  • Date
  • Link

Families can get more information from your link if they are interested.

What do you want your audience to do with this information?

Display a way to get in touch with you. Make sure it's easy to read, and not long.

For us it is usually a way for the audience to register at the following link.

Example: Register Now! (Then include a QR code, or link.)

Limit your Fonts

When selecting a typeface or font for headings, subtitles and body text, use easy to read fonts for simple and effective graphic design. The eye finds it hard to scan multiple typefaces, so stick to a simple collection of fonts. This design uses variants from the Aileron font family, a geometric sans serif typeface that has a simple and modern aesthetic. Create visual uniformity by applying one typeface or font family to text. Use a typeface or font family that has a selection of variants, such as italic, bold, condensed, to keep options open. This image combines Libre Baskerville Bold, Light and Italic.

Scale your Fonts

Increasing your titles font size and decreasing other fonts can be tricky. The tip here is to make your font size proportionate to the level of importance of your information. Titles are obviously large and links are smaller. The eye will gravitate towards larger font first and slowly read more if interested. The trick is to not overwhelm the idea by making everything the same size.

Watch your Borders

DO NOT CRAM INFORMATION. Give your information space between the borders. Use letter spacing to fill dead space, aligning text, or condense words that take up too much space.

Use a Small Color Scheme

Choose a color scheme that has 1-3 primary colors and an additional 1-3 secondary colors that contrast and complement each other. Use different tones of the same color for consistency by adjusting brightness for contrast. Finer typefaces will need stronger distinction against a colored background. Here, bright aqua is offset against forest green background for clarity and readability.

Displaying Links

Links can sometimes be an eye sore. Consider using a dedicated website to display your events, but if this is not an option use a link shortened like Bitly.com. Also QR codes can be generated directly within Canva if you have the paid version. QR codes are only necessary in print marketing, where digital versions should use a direct link. The reason here is most people will be using their phone to view the digital version which makes it a challenge to scan the QR code.

Relax your Eyes

Recharge your creative batteries by taking a break. Relaxation boosts energy and productivity so take a walk, grab a bit to eat, sit in the park to refresh the brain and revitalize the vision.

Steal from Others

We aren't talking about plagiarism. Though there is room to take ideas from other people's designs. Try searching "camp flyer design" and you will find all kinds of examples to work from and then try to recreate it yourself. Also Pinterest is another good option to search.

Don't be afraid to Fail

It doesn't matter how creative anyone claims to be they all have failed, and I would argue that only the successful ones learned from their mistakes. Everyone will eventually look back at their past work and cringe, but great thing is when you compare to where you are now you can see improvement. Good luck out there! Reach out if you need any help.

Limit your Fonts

When selecting a typeface or font for headings, subtitles and body text, use easy to read fonts for simple and effective graphic design. The eye finds it hard to scan multiple typefaces, so stick to a simple collection of fonts. This design uses variants from the Aileron font family, a geometric sans serif typeface that has a simple and modern aesthetic. Create visual uniformity by applying one typeface or font family to text. Use a typeface or font family that has a selection of variants, such as italic, bold, condensed, to keep options open. This image combines Libre Baskerville Bold, Light and Italic.

Scale your Fonts

Increasing your titles font size and decreasing other fonts can be tricky. The tip here is to make your font size proportionate to the level of importance of your information. Titles are obviously large and links are smaller. The eye will gravitate towards larger font first and slowly read more if interested. The trick is to not overwhelm the idea by making everything the same size.

Watch your Borders

DO NOT CRAM INFORMATION. Give your information space between the borders. Use letter spacing to fill dead space, aligning text, or condense words that take up too much space.

Use a Small Color Scheme

Choose a color scheme that has 1-3 primary colors and an additional 1-3 secondary colors that contrast and complement each other. Use different tones of the same color for consistency by adjusting brightness for contrast. Finer typefaces will need stronger distinction against a colored background. Here, bright aqua is offset against forest green background for clarity and readability.

Displaying Links

Links can sometimes be an eye sore. Consider using a dedicated website to display your events, but if this is not an option use a link shortened like Bitly.com. Also QR codes can be generated directly within Canva if you have the paid version. QR codes are only necessary in print marketing, where digital versions should use a direct link. The reason here is most people will be using their phone to view the digital version which makes it a challenge to scan the QR code.

Relax your Eyes

Recharge your creative batteries by taking a break. Relaxation boosts energy and productivity so take a walk, grab a bit to eat, sit in the park to refresh the brain and revitalize the vision.

Steal from Others

We aren't talking about plagiarism. Though there is room to take ideas from other people's designs. Try searching "camp flyer design" and you will find all kinds of examples to work from and then try to recreate it yourself. Also Pinterest is another good option to search.

Don't be afraid to Fail

It doesn't matter how creative anyone claims to be they all have failed, and I would argue that only the successful ones learned from their mistakes. Everyone will eventually look back at their past work and cringe, but great thing is when you compare to where you are now you can see improvement. Good luck out there! Reach out if you need any help.

Limit Your Fonts

When selecting a typeface or font for headings, subtitles and body text, use easy to read fonts for simple and effective graphic design. The eye finds it hard to scan multiple typefaces, so stick to a simple collection of fonts. This design uses variants from the Aileron font family, a geometric sans serif typeface that has a simple and modern aesthetic. Create visual uniformity by applying one typeface or font family to text. Use a typeface or font family that has a selection of variants, such as italic, bold, condensed, to keep options open. This image combines Libre Baskerville Bold, Light and Italic.

Scale Your Fonts

Increasing your titles font size and decreasing other fonts can be tricky. The tip here is to make your font size proportionate to the level of importance of your information. Titles are obviously large and links are smaller. The eye will gravitate towards larger font first and slowly read more if interested. The trick is to not overwhelm the idea by making everything the same size.

Watch Your Borders

DO NOT CRAM INFORMATION. Give your information space between the borders. Use letter spacing to fill dead space, aligning text, or condense words that take up too much space.

Use A Small Color Scheme

Choose a color scheme that has 1-3 primary colors and an additional 1-3 secondary colors that contrast and complement each other. Use different tones of the same color for consistency by adjusting brightness for contrast. Finer typefaces will need stronger distinction against a colored background. Here, bright aqua is offset against forest green background for clarity and readability.

Displaying Link

Links can sometimes be an eye sore. Consider using a dedicated website to display your events, but if this is not an option use a link shortener like Bitly.com. Also QR codes can be generated directly within Canva if you have the paid version. QR codes are only necessary in print marketing, where digital versions should use a direct link. The reason here is most people will be using their phone to view the digital version which makes it a challenge to scan the QR code.

Relax Your Eyes

Recharge your creative batteries by taking a break. Relaxation boosts energy and productivity so take a walk, grab a bit to eat, sit in the park to refresh the brain and revitalize the vision.

Steal From Others

We aren't talking about plagiarism. Though there is room to take ideas from other people's designs. Try searching "camp flyer design" and you will find all kinds of examples to work from and then try to recreate it yourself. Also, Pinterest is another good option to search.

Don't Be Afraid To Fail

It doesn't matter how creative anyone claims to be they all have failed, and I would argue that only the successful ones learned from their mistakes. Everyone will eventually look back at their past work and cringe, but great thing is when you compare to where you are now you can see improvement. Good luck out there! Reach out if you need any help.