Canva is a great program for easily creating graphics and other design projects, which may have you wondering if it is a good platform for UX designers. It is important to have a clear understanding of what UX design consists of and what it takes to execute it successfully.

Although Canva has a lot to offer when it comes to basic graphic design projects, it is not the best option for those who are in the field of providing top-notch UX designs. Generally, UX designers are best suited to professional design software such as Adobe or something comparable.

For more details about using Canva for UX design and other helpful information continue reading.

UX Design – What You Should Know 

Before deciding if a UX designer should use Canva as a platform for creating top-notch, unique user experiences it is helpful to have a better understanding of exactly what UX design entails.

UX design is much more than simply creating a website or a specific design for a product; it pertains to how the “product” is perceived by the viewer/user.

UX design refers to how an interface looks, how easy it is for users to interact with features and navigate the settings. It has to do with how the user feels while using the product and what they think after they have completed the experience.

Oftentimes people confuse marketing with UX design; UX design is a part of marketing, but that is where the similarities end.

Those who work in marketing are focused on increasing sales for a particular business, brand, or product whereas UX design focuses solely on making things easy to use and visually pleasing for the customers/viewers.

A lot of planning and research goes into developing a premium user experience; for UX design to be successful a designer should be knowledgeable and skilled in graphic design and web design and development.

Continue reading to learn why Canva is not the best design platform for designers who are focused on user experiences.

Why UX Designers Should Not Use Canva

Canva is a design program generated to help those who are not professional designers or perhaps cannot afford to hire a graphic artist for their marketing and/or web design needs.

Students and social media fanatics can also benefit from the simple drag-and-drop style of designing but what about professional designers who are trying to create an entire user experience?

We briefly mentioned that Canva is not the best design tool for professional designers who are looking to create an out-of-this-world user experience and the section below explains why.

It’s Your Design, But It’s Not – Limitations Apply

Let’s start with the most significant reason why a UX designer or any other serious graphic designer should use Canva for their designs.

When you create something using the Canva design platform you do not truly own that image, graphic, or video. This is where it is important to have a clear understanding of the different types of software you are using.

As an example, if you happen to create an awesome-looking design using the Canva platform and wish to use it as your business logo, Canva actually owns the rights to that image.

Using anything for commercial use that was created in Canva can lead to copyright infringement issues and other possible legal action.

It is super important that you understand the perimeters in which you are allowed to use the designs that you create in the Canva platform.

Must Rely On Internet Connection And Canva Server

If you are a professional UX designer working on a tight schedule or perhaps keeping odd hours it is important that you have access to your designs and the programs you use to create them whenever you want.

If you are using Canva as a primary design program you are at the mercy of their server as well as your internet connection. Since Canva is a web-based platform the internet must be working correctly and the Canva server must be up and running.

There are times when Canva may experience issues that require maintenance which means they have to restrict access to the site until the issues have been resolved. If you are unable to connect to the internet you will not be able to access or work on your designs either.

Additionally, since Canva is a web-based platform there is no local file storage. All of your designs and all files associated with them are saved into the Canva server which can be restricting if you wish to work offline.

Don’t Put Your Creativity In A Box

And lastly, but certainly not least, UX designers should not use Canva as a design software because it is a drag-and-drop software where you select images, graphics, and layouts that you like and basically fill in the blanks.

There is not a whole lot of thinking or actual design that goes into the process. They have made it so simple to use that it can hinder your creativity.

The Canva design platform is great for basic designs but if you wish to create a truly professional-looking user experience you need to use a professional design software such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

Canva is limited when it comes to advanced tools such as creating smooth gradients that blend without showing banding, photo editing options, drawing, or illustrating.

Another issue that designers encounter when using the Canva platform is that after a while everyone’s designs start to resemble one another because they were all created using the same drag-and-drop method from the same template options etc.

So although the actual content may vary, more websites are beginning to have a generic look that blends in with the millions of others instead of standing out.

For Professional Results Avoid Canva For UX Design

As you have learned from the information above, Canva is great for basic designs and non-commercial use but if you are wanting to create a truly unique user experience it is best to stick to professional design software that won’t limit your creativity.