Why Canva users aren’t Graphic Designers

Let me get this out of the way: Using Canva doesn’t make you a designer.

This isn’t a dig at Canva itself it’s a decent platform that serves a purpose. But my biggest concern is what people believe it enables them to do.

Design is a skill. A craft. A discipline. And tools, no matter how powerful or user-friendly, don’t replace experience, learning, and the professional design process.

If I handed you a pair of scissors, you wouldn’t suddenly become a hairdresser. Give you a scalpel? Still not a surgeon. A calculator? That doesn’t make you an accountant.

So why do so many people believe that downloading Canva makes them a graphic designer?

The rise of the “Fast design” era

We live in a world obsessed with speed.

Instant coffee. Same-day delivery. 60-second logos. Everyone wants things now. And when it comes to design, Canva is the poster child of this fast-design culture.

I understand the appeal. It’s free or low-cost, drag-and-drop, packed with templates, and makes you feel like you’ve achieved something in minutes.

But here’s the truth: Ease of use doesn’t equal expertise. Just because you can make something quickly, doesn’t mean you should.

There’s a podcast I really enjoy called The Angry Designer. In one episode, they said, “Fast design is killing good design.” They’re right. They told a great story about Steve Jobs. When he launched NeXT, he hired legendary designer Paul Rand (the mind behind logos like IBM and UPS) to design the brand identity. Rand agreed – on two conditions: full creative control and no edits. Oh, and his fee? $100,000.

That’s confidence. That’s respect for the craft. Jobs understood that great design requires time, experience, and vision – not just software.

The misunderstanding of what design actually is

Design isn’t just about “looking nice.” It’s about communication, function, and consistency. It’s a problem-solving discipline.

Real design considers:

• Typography – spacing, pairing, legibility

• Grid systems – layout balance and structure

• Colour theory – emotion, clarity, accessibility

• Brand psychology – trust, familiarity, recognition

• Usability – navigation, hierarchy, flow

• Print production – trim, bleed, CMYK setup

Then there’s the deeper layer: cultural context, audience behaviour, tone of voice, brand positioning. These aren’t things you get from choosing a trendy pre-made template.

They’re things you learn over years – and often by making mistakes along the way.

Real story: The trim marks incident

This really happened. A “designer” submitted some artwork to a printer. The printer asked,

“Where are the trim marks?”

The designer replied,

“What are trim marks?”

It’s funny – but also terrifying.

It’s the perfect example of the difference between someone using a tool and someone trained in the trade. Graphic design isn’t just what happens on the screen. It’s what happens after– how something prints, reads, aligns with the brief, and functions in the real world.

Using Canva is like learning to cook by microwaving a ready meal.

It fills a gap. But don’t kid yourself – you’re not a chef.

“It’ll do” is not a brand strategy

One of the most dangerous phrases I hear?

“It’ll do for now.”

I’ve seen Canva-created designs placed onto packaging, proposals, even logos – usually with those same words attached. But “it’ll do” is short-term thinking. Worse, it’s often brand suicide.

Design is the first impression your business makes.

Your logo, your typography, your colours – all of these tell a story before you even speak.

So if your brand identity says “good enough,” what else are you compromising on? Too many logos now follow the same Canva-style formula: Circle, broken border, icon in the middle. They scream: I made this myself – and not in a good way.

The case for professional designers

Graphic design is a profession. It’s not just about being creative – it’s about learning, refining, critiquing, and obsessing over the details most people never see.

I once told a client I zoomed into their logo at 6,400% to make sure every curve and line was perfect. That’s the level of care professionals bring.

Designers don’t just make things look better – they make them work better.

And great design saves time and money:

• It prevents print errors.

• It improves communication.

• It builds trust faster.

• It helps sell your product more effectively.

A Canva template might look okay in a thumbnail. But it won’t hold up in print, across multiple platforms, or under scrutiny.

So, what is Canva good for?

Let’s be honest – Canva does have a place.

It’s great for:

• Social media graphics

• Event flyers

• Quick mock-ups

• Internal documents

• Personal projects

And when paired with proper brand guidelines, Canva can be a helpful tool – especially for non-designers in large teams who need to create on-brand layouts consistently.

But if you’re creating:

• Logo

• Brand identity

• Packaging

• Website

• Pitch deck for investors

• Campaign that reflects your values

…then you need a designer. Not just software.

Respect the Craft

We all want things quickly. But some things deserve time. Design is one of them. It’s okay to use Canva. It’s okay to start simple. But know the difference between using a tool and working with a professional.

If your business matters, if your brand means something to you – then invest in proper design.

Because looking “good enough” might mean people never find out how good you really are.