Let’s get one thing straight: Canva is brilliant. It’s a gift to small business owners, side hustlers, and anyone who’s ever needed to whip up a half-decent Instagram post at 11:52pm. With its drag-and-drop magic, it’s turned regular humans into semi-capable designers overnight. And honestly? That’s a win.
But (you knew there was a “but” coming)… Canva isn’t a magic wand. Just because you can design with it, doesn’t mean you should do it all yourself.
Let’s unpack the Canva conundrum. When DIY makes sense, when it’s hurting more than helping and how to find your sweet spot between solo and pro.
Canva is brilliant but it’s not a magic wand.
Canva has absolutely levelled the playing field. It’s affordable, it’s intuitive, and there’s a template for practically everything, birthday invites, LinkedIn banners, and even your dog’s birthday party!
But here’s the kicker: Canva is just a tool. It doesn’t come preloaded with your brand voice, your strategy, or your audience’s preferences. That’s still up to you.
We’ve seen Canva used beautifully by business owners who know their brand, and… not-so-beautifully by those winging it with neon Comic Sans on pastel backgrounds. (Please. Don’t.)
The pros of DIY: When Canva absolutely works
There are times when you should 100% lean into the DIY life. If you’re just starting out, working with a shoestring budget, or simply whipping up something quick, Canva is your best friend.
You’ve got clear brand guidelines? Even better. If you already have a logo, know your fonts and colours, and have a few solid templates, Canva can help you show up consistently and look somewhat polished, without needing to fork out for a designer.
Plus, let’s not ignore the satisfaction of saying, “Yeah, I made that.” Go on, take the credit.
The Cons of DIY: When you are just winging it
Here’s where the Canva dream can turn into a bit of a design disaster.
If you’re spending hours rearranging text boxes, second-guessing every shade of pink, or ending up with graphics that look oddly familiar because you “borrowed” them from someone else’s feed it might be time to pause.
When DIY becomes a time-suck or confidence killer, it’s no longer helping your business, it’s draining it. Canva is supposed to be a tool, not a torment.
Signs it’s time to outsource your design
Still clinging to the dream that you can do all the things? That’s a nice idea but sometimes, the smartest move is knowing when to pass the baton.
If you’re launching something new, levelling up your business, or just want to look a little less “templatey” and a little more you, outsourcing can make a massive difference.
Designers (hello, LWH Marketing 👋) don’t just make things look pretty. We think strategically, about your audience, your goals and how to make you stand out in a sea of Canva clones. That’s where the magic really happens.
And no, outsourcing doesn’t mean giving up all control. It just means getting help where it counts.
How to blend the best of both worlds
Here’s our favourite approach (and what we recommend to clients all the time): do both.
Start with a professionally designed brand identity including a logo, colour palette, fonts, the whole shebang. Then get a set of bespoke Canva templates you can use for day-to-day content. This way, you can DIY without looking like you DIY’d.
Need a campaign graphic? Outsource it. Need a quick Instagram quote post? Use your trusty template. This hybrid setup gives you the freedom to create and the consistency of a polished brand.
Smart and budget-friendly. Look at you go.
You’re not failing if you need help.
Repeat after us: Doing it all yourself is not a badge of honour.
If Canva has become your nemesis or you’re stuck in design purgatory, it’s ok to ask for help. In fact, it’s often the turning point between “meh” visuals and a brand that actually connects.
So whether you want fully done-for-you design or just a few custom Canva kits to make life easier, we’re here for it.
Need help creating Canva templates that don’t look like Canva templates? Let’s talk.
Or…
Want us to take a look at your current visuals? Book a free mini-brand review. We promise to be kind, but honest.