Sal Frances
Gold Coast, Australia
Sal runs one of my favourite Canva template memberships, The Template Tribe, and she has been using Canva from the very start back in 2012 and she has been a Canva Creator since the inception of the Creators Program in 2020.
Read on to learn more about her design process, her strengths as a Creator and what her favourite types of templates are to create for Canva.
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How did you get started using Canva, and what inspired you to start creating with it?
I’m too impatient for Adobe Photoshop, but have always loved creating and designing. I was the kid who loved playing with Microsoft Paint back in the day.
Can you walk us through your design process? How do you approach a new project using Canva?
I am content driven. My ideas usually start with a message, not a visual. I then shape the visual to fit the message. I often ask, what is the easiest way possible to consume this piece of information. What will grab people’s attention and make them want to digest the whole piece of content. The colours and fonts are usually the last piece of the puzzle. Layout and structure is the first key.
How do you keep up with the latest design trends and incorporate them into your work with Canva?
If you want to stand out, follow a strategy, not a trend! The best trend you can keep up with is to be uniquely fresh and original. I see the same trends doing the rounds on Instagram. Inspiration, not imitation is the name of the game.
What do you consider to be your strengths as a Canva Creator, and how do you leverage those strengths in your work?
I design knowing you have to edit it. Template and graphic designs are two different skill sets. I anticipate what you will want to do with the design. I also make my designs versatile to suit any style. Again, structure and lay out is key. Colours and fonts you can change!
What are your favourite types of templates to design for Canva?
Social media posts. Quotes quotes quotes! I prefer graphics over video.
