This is an intro course on how to make a graphic design for a customer or for yourself using Canva.

Step 1: Make a Canva Account or Sign In

If you don't have a Canva account already, make one using the free service. In the future, you can upgrade to a Canva Premium account, but for now, a free account will do fine.

Step 2: Discuss With Your Client About Their Needs

If you are making a poster for a client, make sure to discuss with them about their needs. For example, ask about certain colors they want to use or a certain look they are going for. In my example, I will be designing a poster for Instructables. Obviously if you are making a poster for yourself, you can skip this step.

Step 3: Choose the Format of Your Design

Canva provides several formats for you to create a design with. The layout you use totally depends on what you or your customer will be using the design for. In my example, I will be using the standard poster size.

Step 4: Choose a Background for Your Design

Canva has a background tab on the left side of the editor page. Click on this tab, and then choose either a basic color or one of the many background designs they have. For my example. I will be using an yellow background because one of Instructables main colors is yellow.

Step 5: Add the Main Title Text

If your customer wants some text, the best place to start is your title text. Canva has a custom text feature, or they have some text layouts that are premade. Depending on what your customer wants, choose a font and layout option that best fits the poster.

Step 6: Add Any Pictures or Shape Elements

If your customer wants some visual aspects like shapes and images, this would be a great time to add them. To use the shapes and images that Canva provides, go to the elements tab on the left and browse from there. If you want to upload your own images, go the uploads tab on the left and upload from there.

Step 7: Make Any Final Adjustments

If there are any final adjustments you need to make on your project (any smaller text, overlays, etc.), it would be good to do it now. After you are finished with these adjustments, you can click the download button in the top right corner and choose what file type you want to save the design as.

Step 8: You Are Done!

After you complete all of these steps, you are finished making your design! Now, send it to your customer. My example is the poster shown above. Go out into the world now and begin your graphic design career!