Download the Exercise Files for Canva Essentials here.

Signup for Canva Here

Class project 01 - Images & Shapes

Using the brief you created at www.randomprojectgenerator.com make a single square Instagram post announcing the reopening of your store.

The post must include:
- 2 Images
  - An image used as a background (cropped to suit).
  - An image cropped in a frame (circle or similar).
- The heading ‘Reopening’ or similar.
- Shapes
  - A colored box background for your heading.
  - The date of the reopening in a shape.
- The name of your business.
- Experiment with layering.
- Don’t worry about colors & fonts at the moment.
- Name the document using the naming conventions discussed in the earlier class:
  - Client Name - Campaign - Project - Version
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG of your post.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.

Class Project 02 - Reopening Quote

Create a customer reopening quote.

Use the Instagram square post size.
The post must include:
- A frame with an abstract background photo.
- Text with a customer quote* & customer name.
- Experiment with color, fonts, font sizing & line spacing.
- Option B:
  - Duplicate your page
  - Experiment with Magic Write to rephrase your quote.
  - Experiment with Design Styles: Combinations, Color Schemes & Font Sets
Deliverables:
- Take a screenshot of your 2 options.
  - Or Export a PNG of your post.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here
*Customer Examples
- Your favorite spot has been reimagined. Come see what all the buzz is about!
- A fresh take on a familiar place. Experience the transformation for yourself!
- Your go-to spot got a makeover. Come see what's new and exciting!
- The place you love just got even better. Discover the buzzworthy changes!
- Reimagined and revitalized. Come see your favorite spot in a whole new light!
- New look, same great vibes. Come see why everyone's talking about it!

Class Project 03 - Instagram Post

It’s time to finalize your reopening Instagram post. Finalize the design of the post you started in class project 1. Use all the skills you’ve learnt in the course so far.

The post must include:
- A badge for free popcorn (or similar) using curved text.
  - Grouped.
- A call to action sentence.
- Line(s)
- Graphics 2+
  - Your animal
  - Something else
- Address
- Duplicate your page and experiment with Style Color Palettes & Font Sets
Deliverables:
- Take a screenshot of your favorite option.
  - Or Export a PNG of your post.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 04 - Background Remover

You’ve been asked to make a concept for an Instagram post for a Friday Inspiration series your client wants to run next month.

The post must include:
- A photo.
  - Either from Canva or another image website like Unsplash or Pexels.
  - Remove the background.
    - Experiment with add & remove brush tools.
- A quote.
  - A quote that is relevant to your industry.
  - Get the text to overlap with some parts of the text above and some below.
Deliverables:
- Take a screenshot of your favorite option.
- Or Export a PNG of your post.
  - Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:

Class Project 05 - Ai Images

As part of the inspirational Friday quote series, you’ve been asked to make a post for Instagram.

Class Project 06 - Instagram Mockup

It’s time to use the mockup feature to pitch your Instagram concepts to your business owner.

Requirements:
- Mockup
  - Use any of your existing Instagram posts.
  - Mock it up in one or more of the Mockup App options.
- Experiment with one other App.
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG of your mockup & app experiment.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 07 - Template Logo

You want to experiment with a new logo for your client.

Using the templates in Canva, create 3 different logos.
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG or screenshot of your 3 designs.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 08 - Logo Moodboard

It’s time! Your client has asked you to design their logo.

Create a whiteboard document.
Images
- Collect no less than 12 images for your moodboard.
- Use the animal and the industry keywords to find inspiration.
- Example websites:
Color
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG or screenshot of your moodboard.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.

Class Project 09 - Competitor Analysis

It’s your turn to create a competitor analysis for your company.

Create a whiteboard document and name it.
Collect no less than 20 logo screenshots.
- Ensure you’re finding actual logos of existing competitors.
Create a ‘Simple > Radical’ axis.
- Move the logos up or down the axis depending on their Radicalness.
- Break them into groups of logo types.
  - Research logo types to build your vocabulary e.g. WordMark, LogoType Lettermark, Monogram, Mascot Logo, Combination Mark, Emblem, Letterform.
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG or screenshot of your competitor analysis.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.

Class Project 10 - Combination Logo

It’s time to make a custom logo for your client. We’re going to focus on the Logomark part of the combination logo.

Add the business name in plain text.
- Don’t experiment with fonts or colors at the moment.
Create 6+ logo concepts
- 3 using existing graphics from Canva
- 3 using the Magic Media Graphic feature.
Make sure to refer to your moodboard & competitor analysis for inspiration.
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG or screenshot of your 6 concepts.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.

Class Project 11 - Logo Fonts

Let’s experiment with some fonts for our logo.

Create a new page.
Pick one of your logomark concepts.
Duplicate it 8 times.
Experiment with fonts using some of the techniques we learnt in the previous video.
Using the markup tool, circle your current favorite font experiment.
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG or screenshot of your 8 font experiments.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.

Class Project 12 - Picking Your Logo

Links:

It’s time to pick logo colors!

Color Experiments
- Pick one of your font combinations.
- Create a new page.
- Duplicate it 9’ish times.
- Use each of the color tricks to find colors:
  - Image Inspiration
  - Styles > Color Palettes
  - Competitor Colors

Color Array
- Make a new page.
- Pick your favorite color combination and create a 5 square color swatch array.

3-6 Versions
- Create a new Page.
- Line up 3-6 versions of your logo.
  - Make sure to number them.
  - This can be any combination of Font & Colors.

Deliverables:
- Export a PNG or screenshot of your 3 pages.
- Be sure to give at least 2 comments of constructive feedback to others.
- Upload all 3 to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share the 3 version image on socials and ask for feedback.
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 13 - Branding

It’s time to create your branding elements.

Logo x6
- Horizontal (Light & Dark)
- Stacked (Light & Dark)
- LogoMark (Light & Dark)
Pro members only
- Add all your logos, colors & fonts to your Brand Kit.
Deliverables:
- Export a PNG of your 6 logo variations.
- Pro members only
  - Share a screenshot of your Brand Kit.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 14 - Proposal

You’re pitching your client on a marketing strategy for Black Friday.

Requirements
- Use the Doc format in Canva.
- Research template layouts for ideas.
- Pick a font pairing for Heading, Subheading & Body copy.
- Include the following elements
  - * Use either Ai or Lorem Ipsum placeholder text.
  - Design Header Banner
  - Titles: Overview & Details.
  - Table
    - 4 rows & 2 columns.
    - Styled to match your company's brand.
  - Highlight Block or Quote Block
Deliverables:
- Take a screenshot of your first page.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 15 - Presentation

You’ve been asked to create a presentation for the business owner. The presentation is to persuade stakeholders & potential investors about the benefits of a website upgrade.

Requirements
- Use the Presentation format in Canva.
- Start with a blank document rather than a template.
- Content:
  - Create your own content, placeholder content (Lorem ipsum) or AI content for the titles and bullets.
- Have a minimum of 5 pages.
- Use 2+ images.
- Make sure the presentation uses your brand logo, color & fonts.
- Each page is to have a different layout
  - Experiment with the layout feature in Canva.
- Experiment with Page Transitions.
Deliverables:
- Take a screenshot of your 5+ pages using grid view.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 16 - Presentation Polishing

Using the presentation you made in the last class project, add the following features.

Requirements
- Experiment
  - with a page animation (not transition).
  - with individual (text & images) animations.
- 2 Charts.
  - Use brand colors.
Deliverables:
- Take a screenshot of your 2 charts.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 17 - Magic Edit

Using the Magic Edit tool, find an image related to your business's industry and add/adjust something.

Experiment with 1 or more images.
Deliverables:
- Share a before and after of your best result.
  - You get extra points for humor & contrast/contradictions.
  - Nothing that could be seen as offensive or controversial please.
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 18 - Poster

You’ve been asked to make a poster for the business. The poster is for a workshop they are running.

Requirements
- Poster dimensions are up to you.
- Experiment with:
  - Magic Studio Tools: Magic Edit, Magic Eraser, Magic Expand.
- Adjust one image. E.g. Brightness & Contrast.
- Create a darkened image with a text overlay.
- Include
  - Logo, title, workshop overview, 2+ images, web address, date, time & location.
Deliverables:
- Upload it to the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Class Project 19 - Video

It’s time to create a 10+ second video for your client. You can choose what the video is about. E.g. Build Brand Awareness, Educate and Inform, Engage with Followers, Promote Products or Services, Tell a Story or Inspire.

Requirements
- Use your brand elements. E.g. Colors, fonts & logo.
- Any orientation (Landscape or Portrait).
- 2 or more video clips.
  - Clips must be edited in some way.
- Experiment with:
  - Filters & Adjustments.
- 2 or more text animations.
- 1 or more Sticker.
- Animate 1 or more static graphic using animation or motion effects.
- 1 or more animated photos.
Deliverables:
- Export your MP4 and upload to any of the following hosts. Then share a link to your video.
  - Youtube
  - Vimeo
  - GIF
  - Your own social media account.
- Share the LINK in the Class Project/Assignments section of this website.
- Share on social media as well:
  - Instagram: @bringyourownlaptop
  - Twitter: @danlovesadobe
  - Facebook group here
  - LinkedIn group here

Free Stock Video

Mustakim Shaikh

Graphic Designer and Video Editor

--

1