BY ERICA GUSTAFSON, OPINION EDITOR
Think back to a time when you were asked to learn a new tool or platform for your job or school. It seems as though I am constantly being asked to learn new online tools, platforms and aids to help with my school and work tasks.
However, no part of me is complaining about this. I love how every individual career opportunity has given me the chance to learn a new program. Most of them are programs I have never heard of and could eventually help me in a future field of work.
Through my work with the Bona Venture, I was able to learn how to use Word Press and Adobe InDesign formatting to layout newspaper pages. My Virtual Assistant internship showed me Otter, which is a transcription website. It was a tool that I learned and utilized completely throughout my summer internship as I reviewed and analyzed recorded interviews.
Alongside the variety of different tools, the king of them all has been Canva.com.
I first utilized Canva when working as an Editorial Lead intern for Jill Fredenburg Productions as I worked on the Medium.com platform A Sign on The Door. For ASOTD, I used the graphic design website to create Instagram graphics about our articles that can later be published on our social media sites.
My work on Canva just exploded from there. Since then, I have created an online photography portfolio, a cover letter, a resume, a company logo, a personal business card and bridal shower invitations for my future sister-in-law. It seems absolutely crazy that this 2012 platform can give you countless possibilities, and I am only hearing about this now. I keep asking myself where was this four years ago when I got to St. Bonaventure?
Canva is one of the best tools that can be utilized by marketing teams, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, business owners, social media marketers, website designers and even people not advanced in graphic designs.
I am not always great with creating graphics, but Canva has really helped me out a lot. It is extremely easy to use and navigate as you discover the hundreds of different possibilities.
Denny Pencheva wrote a 2021 hosting tribunal review regarding the design platform.
Pencheva wrote, “affordable and easy-to-use online graphic design tool, perfect for small businesses, NGOs, and educators. It works equally well for making quirky Instagram stories and sleek, professional reports and slides.” He also wrote that Canva is “one of the most robust, easy-to-use, and affordable graphic design tools on the internet.”
I could not agree more. Though there are many elements, templates and fonts that are only available through paying for a Canva Pro account, there are still so many different possibilities. It is well worth your time as you continue to advance your personal and professional careers.
I will start with building my resumes and cover letters looking towards eventually helping myself build up designs and materials for my own company one day. With all of the possibilities and creative abilities, Canva is the way to go. Please give it a try the next time you are looking to create something new.
