If you’re not a designer, you have a few basic options:
Hire one. It can be expensive; the average freelance designer rate is about $75-$150/hour now.1
Use tools like Photoshop or InDesign yourself. It’s often complicated and can take many steps to achieve something relatively basic.
In both situations, time, effort, money are expanded.
What if there was a simpler way?
11 comments:
While I could imagine this software would allow someone to make a reasonable looking powerpoint, I think that saying it is as good as hiring a professional designer is both overselling the software and somewhat insulting to actual designers. Yes, this probably doesn’t keep you within a range of templates that will tend to look good, but hiring a professional designer would likely produce something more customize to what you want since they have an understanding of how to communicate information in a visual way. That isn’t to say this software wouldn’t work for certain situations, but I think acting as if anyone can be as good as a professional designer if they use this software is silly. It doesn’t seem like that is really the claim the article is making, the article just goes over the features, but I think a deceptive title is still a problem even if the rest of the article is not as overstated.
I recently just used canva for a homework assignment where we had to try out three different resume templates and integrate our information onto them. And I was impressed with the depth of available options and the berth of different ways to present the information of a resume. Since I only needed them for the resumes I didn’t take time to look at their other features, but this article is showing so many options for other useful services. Sure, you can photo edit easily on Photoshop, but it does take some degree of foreknowledge of the program in order to do exactly what you want. But what canva is showing looks so simple and goes beyond simple photo editing and into design grids that can showcase many photos in a way that looks aesthetically pleasing and isn't just a line of photos. They also have poster design, presentation design, and graph design, all of which could be accomplished with photoshop or excel, but most of the leg work is done and all you have to do is plug in the information you want. All since all the images are in the public domain you don’t have to worry about copyright, giving you more options right at your fingertips. I would like to check out more of these features and see how easy it is to use.
The main headline makes a very serious claim, that anyone can become a professional designer with little work. Thats not true, so they really should advertise as something that they actually do. It seems to me that this is just like any other platform used for editing. Microsoft office now has a lot of template for different things, which seems to be the main point of Canva. I think their main selling point really should be how it is user friendly. As their are so many programs that let you really design anything, but take some learning to use. If this program is very simple, then I can see them wanting to advertise to those experienced in computer programs. This is a very competitive field because of the cornering on the market Apple and Microsoft has. If this was an app I could see that also being appealing, that someone can create something decent looking from their phone or tablet quick and easy. Overall, I really don't think this is anything new and ground breaking, but I do find it amused that an article from life hack.com is on the green page.
I agree with what Julian and Annie have said: the title of this article makes a massive claim, and just being able to use this program is not going to make you a professional designer, becoming that takes much hard work and practice. However, like Annie said, it does seem incredibly user friendly. I am a huge novice when it comes to computer-y things and in a world where so many aspects of design are going from being done by hand on paper to being formatted and created online, my biggest concern is always whether or not I will be able to learn how to use the program I am expected to use to create the result I want or need. Based on what Monica has described, and what the article advertises, it looks like this program would be fantastic for a designer like me who likes programs with understandable, simple set ups, and still get the complexity of a design I envision. I am definitely going to write down this website and keep it in mind for the future.
I use Canva whenever I need to make a header for a show and I think it is a great program. I know how to use photoshop, but I think it is much easier and quicker to use Canva. It is especially easy because you can choose the exact size you want and put in any picture as the background. Putting in text is extremely easy and you can just drag it around to the exact spot you want. Text in photoshop can be very difficult to use and confusing especially if you do not know exactly what to do. Canva makes things pretty foolproof. Canva is also free with the basic tools, which is all I have ever needed to use. I bet it is very helpful for people who do not know how to use photoshop and it is easy to access online. I would highly recommend Canva for basic editing and creating headers and other small graphic projects.
This is a really good program to learn about for people who are tech-illiterate like I am. The layout seems very clear and concise and easy to use. The colors they use are also inviting and engaging. However, the article's claim that this program could make someone a professional designer is an enormous and untruthful claim. Even with customization the products of this program are clearly templates. The artistry and nuance that a true graphic designer would have is not present, nor is the business expertise of a true designer. Also it seems to imply that this simpler version of powerpoint when used by a novice is a replacement for a professional using photoshop which can achieve a myriad of functions not even minimally present in Canva. This of course is not true and could cause major problems that could hamstring the design as a whole as it closes off so many options for the design to grow in.
I also use Canva a fair amount and find it to be very useful. I don't really have a design background, and photoshop is not something I have ever really had the chance to learn. Canva is very easy to use-you can create an image based on size and pursue a bunch of free backgrounds and layouts that you can modify. You can even upload your own images and, I have used it for almost every header/graphic I have had to produce. Canva also downloads as either a jpg, png, or pdf and is very easy to format and upload into word and excel documents. I've also used the software to help my mom on a project she was working on this summer, and we actually had to print specialized tickets and it worked great. I love that anyone can learn to use it, and it is free to access. Of course their are some things behind a paywall, but I've made do without it so far.
Who needs four years of education in graphic design when you could simply download our software? The average freelance designer is paid $75-$150 an hour for a reason. Nothing an untrained “designer” does will be even near the quality of the work of a paid professional. The idea that designers have skills that are easily achievable by anyone else if they just knew the software is false and it hurts designers looking for work. As Julian said, this program can probably make a nice PowerPoint presentation, but that is about it. The photo editing is most likely the equivalent of Instagram’s capabilities – and far below the skill set of a professional editor. The poster/cover designs shown where created by a professional. No software makes up for artistic ability. Time, effort, and money need to be spent in order to produce good work. Nothing is free. Art isn’t free. Design isn’t free. What is funny is that Canva probably hired a designer to create the images used on the webpage as well as design their site/program.
I believe most of the professional designers would either feel insulted by or contemptuous of this photo editing software. Anyone who finds Photoshop or InDesign too complicated to use are not “professional designers” as these two Adobe applications allow for far more nuanced and intricate adjustment and design than a quick fix filter. It’s like saying using our calculator and you’d become a mathematician.
This is definitely an overselling pitch for an amateur-level designing for the general public. If you say this is for fun, I’d absolutely try it out and explore how convenient and easy it is to make good-looking charts and graphs and slideshows etc. But if you say “use this app and you will become a pro!”, I’d be immediately suspicious and probably would lose all interest in trying. Looking at the demo photos, it really well presents the ease of use about this app and already makes a strong case that this is for us non- professionals who just want to make our photos look good.
This is fantastic. I’m thinking specifically of the infographic resumes we have to do for professional practice at the moment. That last time I really knew how to use Photoshop, there was no creative suite – it was Photoshop 6. And that was in 8th grade, maybe. I haven’t had much of a need for graphics design or editing. Until now. And beyond that, it isn’t something that I want to do nor is it something that I’m particularly good at – even if I know how to use the software. It seems like this website takes people who have a foundation of the skills and gives them the tools to do so without paying a heavy cost. I’d be interested in seeing what they have for actual resumes or website, but that doesn’t seem to be the intent of the website, at least according to the article. The article also didn’t mention cost…
Well, this is a great marketing tactic. Need to become a designer? Don't have money for tuition, or to hire someone else? Use our website, it's basically as good as a highly-skilled person!
Jokes aside, though, this is actually a pretty great program. I've started using it for my resume assignments in professional prep, and unlike any other template-based websites, this one allows for a lot more customization. I really appreciate the range of styles it provides and its ease of use. I skipped the whole tutorial and have been able to use it freely with no issue. It is great on exporting as well. I certainly don't feel like I have become a designer overnight but it definitely has made my life easier and I'm glad to know it exists.
Post a Comment