How Do I Create a Brand Board in Canva?

October 2, 2023 canva

In today's digital age, creating a strong and visually appealing brand is essential for businesses to stand out from the competition. A brand board is a powerful tool that helps you establish a cohesive and consistent brand identity. In this tutorial, we will explore how to create a brand board using the popular graphic design tool Canva.

Step 1: Sign up or log in to Canva

If you haven't already, head over to the Canva website and sign up for an account. Alternatively, you can log in if you already have an existing account. Canva offers a free version with plenty of features, but they also have premium plans for more advanced options.

Step 2: Create a new design

Once you're logged in, click on the "Create a design" button on the Canva homepage. This will open up a new window with various design options to choose from. To create your brand board, we recommend selecting the custom dimensions option.

Create custom dimensions: After clicking on the "Custom dimensions" option, enter your preferred width and height for your brand board. Typically, a size of 800 pixels by 1200 pixels works well.

Step 3: Choose your color palette

A strong color palette is crucial for creating visual consistency in your brand materials. To select colors for your brand board:

Add color swatches: On the left-hand side of the screen, click on the "Elements" tab and then select "Shapes". Choose a square shape and resize it to fit within your brand board canvas.
Select colors: Click on the square shape and then click on the "Fill" option on the top toolbar. A color picker will appear, allowing you to choose a specific color. Repeat this step for each color in your desired palette.
Name your colors: To keep your brand board organized, rename each color by clicking on it and entering a descriptive name.

Step 4: Add typography

Selecting appropriate fonts is crucial for conveying your brand's personality and style. To add typography to your brand board:

Add text elements: Click on the "Text" tab on the left-hand side and select a text element that matches your brand's aesthetic. Drag and drop it onto your brand board.
Choose fonts: Click on the text element and then click on the font dropdown menu in the top toolbar. Canva offers a wide range of fonts to choose from. Select fonts that complement each other and reflect your brand's identity.
Adjust font sizes: Resize the text elements as needed, ensuring they are legible and visually appealing within your brand board layout.

Step 5: Incorporate visual elements

In addition to colors and typography, visual elements such as logos, icons, patterns, or imagery can contribute to a strong brand identity. To incorporate visual elements into your brand board:

Add logo: Click on the "Uploads" tab on the left-hand side and upload your logo file. Drag and drop it onto your brand board canvas.
Add icons or illustrations: Canva provides an extensive library of icons and illustrations that you can search for and add to your brand board. Simply click on the "Elements" tab on the left-hand side, search for relevant icons or illustrations, and drag them onto your brand board.
Include patterns or imagery: If you have specific patterns or imagery that represent your brand, you can upload them as well and position them within your brand board.

Step 6: Arrange and organize

Now that you have added all the necessary elements to your brand board, it's time to arrange and organize them in a visually appealing way. Experiment with different layouts, alignments, and spacing to create a cohesive design.

Step 7: Save and share

Once you are satisfied with your brand board, click on the "Download" button in the top right corner of the Canva interface. Choose a file format (typically PNG or PDF) and save it to your desired location on your computer.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a stunning brand board using Canva. Use this powerful visual tool as a reference when designing various marketing materials or collaborating with designers to ensure consistent branding across all platforms.

Note: Remember to update your brand board whenever necessary to reflect any changes in your brand identity or design preferences.

In Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored how to create a brand board in Canva. By following these steps, you can establish a cohesive and visually appealing brand identity for your business. Remember that consistency is key when it comes to branding, so make sure to use your brand board as a guide for all future design endeavors.