Social Media Design Sprint

This week were asked to design a few social media elements through the website Canva, a unique tool that helps to create simple yet effective digital designs. We had to design a Facebook cover photo, a Twitter cover photo, an Intagram post and a Twitter post. I decided to design for my travel blog, Destination Blank. I was excited to use my designs and see what interactions I got from my followers with them.

Canva is a great tool because it simplifies the design process, making it not only easier to use, but also a lot faster. Sometimes intense applications such as InDesign and Photoshop can be so overwhelming and detailed that the design can lose its simplicity. I noticed that throughout its tutorial videos and advertisements, Canva used very simplified themes and designs. This is what makes is such a great tool when trying to get a simple yet still creative message to the audience, which is how Canva can really help a public relations practitioner. Having easily accessible and quick tools are a must, especially since we are so constantly “on the go.” In the case of my travel blog, for example, if I’m on the road and I need to post some media, I will need an easy way to create quality content, which Canva offers.

However, because Canva has so few details in its ability, it is fairly limited in what it can help to create. I think it is possible to get detailed with the designs, but it would take a lot of practice as well as some money to buy those prime pictures and layouts. While this may be worth it in some cases (and certainly less expensive than InDesign or Photoshop), the designs are still less unique and original, which are very critical elements of design in the PR industry.

I decided to follow a common theme of website promotion through my designs. I took simple catch phrases that had to do with traveling because I wanted create a simple yet effect call to action and included the website on all of the images. Since the website and mailing list is the most important aspect of a blog and quotes are fairly common now, I just wanted to have the images do most of the talking. That is, after all, why we travel. Overall, I was very happy with my designs and I’m excited to use them to promote Destination Blank. I will definitely be using Canva more in the future!