Canva
Author: Kalicia Bateman
Founded in 2012 and based in New South Wales, design software company Canva has attracted over 15 million users over the years. Its unique design asset marketplace has over 8,000 free graphic templates and a collection of both free and paid stock photography images.
Canva is different from logo design agencies and graphic design crowdsourcing platforms in that users are on their own to make a logo using the elements available.
The Good
- Free Logo Maker
- Versatile Design Elements
- No Software Necessary
Free Logo Maker
Canva’s free logo maker options make it possible for even non-creative users to design a good logo. You can choose from professionally designed logo templates or design it from scratch. You simply drag and drop the elements you want to incorporate including images, icons, illustrations, and fonts.
Even when it’s time to download your image, you don’t have to pay.
To help design rookies in this process, Canva provides resources like a palette generator, font combo tool, design size guide, and color wheel.
Versatile Design Elements
You can utilize Canva’s design elements to create your logo and produce a number of other professional or personal design assets including the following:
- Graphs
- Posters
- Business cards
- Flyers
- Resumes
- Infographics
- Presentations
- Social media icons and templates
- Website design
No Software Necessary
The program is all online so you don’t need to download or install software on your computer. As long as you have an internet connection and access to a web browser, you’re good to go. Just create an account you work on your project from your computer or from your phone by downloading the Canva app.
The Bad
- No Professional Help
- Free Version Limited
No Professional Help
With Canva logo design, you’re on your own. There isn’t a designer or other consultant to walk you through the process of using the program or ensuring the design you make is scalable, visually appealing, and on track with your overall brand direction.
Free Version Limited
While Canva has some amazing free resources, there are important things you can’t do with a free Canva account, including the following:
- Resize documents
- Save with a transparent background
- Save a brand kit with your logo, colors, and fonts
- Animate designs
- Collaborate with others on projects
- Access premium photos and graphics
To access those features, you’ll need a paid account. Canva Pro costs $10 per month when billed annually and Canva Enterprise is $30 per month billed annually.
The Bottom Line
Canva is a great option to explore for the artistically inclined logo seeker. As long as you have an eye for design, chances are you can put together a great logo using Canva’s design elements. And even if you feel like you’re clueless, you can still have success making a logo with Canva as long as you stick to the ready-made templates.
