Best Practices

# Canva

Create efficiently in Canva while preserving the approved NASPA system, shared templates, and accessible output.

01

## Begin with the right template

Choose the template family that matches the communication goal before you begin editing.

-   Start from a Brand Portal link instead of a blank Canva file.
-   Choose the correct family: Announcement, Quote, Data, Webinar, Membership, or another approved format.
-   Published Brand Templates are managed by NASPA admins and brand designers. Use the template action and leave Brand Kit settings and permissions unchanged.
-   Use the supplied layout before requesting or creating a new variation.

Visual example

### Choose by message

| Message | Template family |
| --- | --- |
| Deadline or launch | Announcement |
| Member perspective | Quote / Membership |
| Three findings | Data |
| Live or recorded event | Webinar |

02

## Edit within the system

The Brand Kit and locked template elements keep work consistent across teams.

-   Use the approved color palette and Open Sans styles supplied in the template.
-   Insert logos from the Brand Kit; do not upload a recreated or downloaded screenshot.
-   Keep important text inside the safe area and shorten copy before shrinking the type.
-   Use approved solid colors, gradients, backgrounds, diamonds, and triangles only as documented.

Visual example

### Design guardrails

Do

-   Brand Kit colors
-   Open Sans hierarchy
-   Approved logo asset
-   Template safe area

Avoid

-   New color shades
-   Font substitutions
-   Redrawn logo
-   Edge-to-edge key text

03

## Resize, review, and export

A resized design is a new layout that needs review, not an automatic finished product.

-   Use Resize or Magic Switch as a starting point, then recompose each format intentionally.
-   Preview mobile crops, reading order, contrast, alternative text, and spelling.
-   Export PNG for text-led graphics, JPG for photographic content, and MP4 for motion.
-   Open the exported file and check it at actual publishing size.

Visual example

### Adapt with care

1.  1Duplicate
2.  2Resize
3.  3Recompose
4.  4Accessibility check
5.  5Export + inspect

## References and influences

These external resources informed the draft’s structure and practices. They do not replace NASPA policy or [MarComm approval](https://form.asana.com/?k=k1BnCnePXlzQij2ev89Ecw&d=40073271502809).

[

Canva

### Brand Controls

Guidance for keeping brand assets, templates, and permissions consistent in Canva.

](https://www.canva.com/help/brand-control/?query=brand+hub)[

Canva

### Resize and Magic Switch

Canva guidance for adapting a design to another output size.

](https://www.canva.com/help/resize/)[

Canva

### Create accessible PDFs with Canva

Canva guidance for contrast, alternative text, headings, reading order, and accessible PDF export.

](https://www.canva.com/help/create-accessible-pdfs/)

Last updated: 2026-10-08

Live page: https://brand.naspa.org/canva-best-practices