First of all: What the heck is Canva?
It is a not-so-new tool but has been growing gradually after the pandemic due to its easy access and free version. Launched in 2013, Canva is an online design and publishing tool with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere.
Canva operates an online design platform and media licensing service that empowers members, artists, designers, and photographers to design and collaborate, providing ready-made media and content that is licensable for use following various licenses.
Is it free?
The digital ecosystem of the platform was initially based on having a graphic resource to develop attractive presentations in an agile and easy way through predetermined templates; nowadays, they offer a wide range that goes from templates for social media, videos, and printables.
The free version limits us with the number of templates and space to have its cloud, basically up to 5 GB. It is not that it falls short with this, but if you are looking to make designs characterized by their uniqueness, we will not obtain that added value for our projects with this option.
The pro version presents us with two quite logical options; one in which after a 30-day free trial, they would charge you $199.99 for one year of the service using the application or the platform through the web for up to 5 people, with more than 600,000 templates and millions of stock photos with a storage limit of up to 100 GB.
As a last option, among the most attractive: total control of what your team uploads to the platform as well as access to the application of each one of them, graphics, color, etc.; unlimited storage and 24/7 enterprise-level support. Sure, this magic for as little as $30.00 per month.
Is it helpful?
Today's world is advancing by leaps and bounds; the use of Canva as a graphic resource on a day-to-day basis or even in a planned project is a beneficial tool due to its simple nature and its free version, which can support a short term project. However, it is not the most versatile on the market.
Canva is not a portable designer.
Many discussions about the cold war between designers and this type of platform usually draw a critical panorama for the guild as if they were feeling replaced by machines, in the best style of "the matrix."
In my opinion, a designer must always have an open mind to the advancement of technology and its variables and adapt to them by expanding knowledge, leaving the comfort zone, and exploring perspectives that can always serve as a personal and professional future.
Saying that Canva is against designers is wrong and counterproductive since the platform provides more than half a million templates and assets designed by professionals in the field.
Even though the platform gives you the resources, it couldn't replace the job of a graphic designer in a company or project since there is a preparation and exploration of content also the gift of creativity that is applied in each of these moments in which it is necessary to call a designer.
Alternatives to put out the fire
Just like a fire extinguisher, Canva can be used in an emergency to provide support at certain times that require the use of graphic and creative applications. Still, we also have other options that can be the same or more recursive. that this platform
- Z suite: An ecosystem of more than six different applications that specialize in the requirement of each of the needs
- Adobe Express: Graphic Design as an application or platform is the beginning of a silent war between free apps and Adobe services that are not cheap.
- Visme: A web platform and an app to Create visual brand experiences for your business, whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.
