These days an engaging and compelling presentation is more than just slides, its is a storytelling tool. Whether you are a college student presenting your task to your lecturer or you can be a professional presenting a solution to executives, Canva is the best platform to create creative and professional presentation and this guide will help you with the entire process of and show you “How to make creative presentations on canva?” in detail.
Why make creative presentations on Canva?
Canva stands out in a crowded field of presentation tools because of its:
- User-friendly interface: Not requiring comprehensive training and walkthrough
- Extensive template library: Thousands of professionally designed templates and examples for starting points
- Collaboration features: Real-time teamwork capabilities; share and work together with friends and workmates
- Cost-effectiveness: Free tier with robust features and affordable Pro upgrades provided as per user requirements
- Cross-platform accessibility: Work seamlessly across devices and platforms such as android, windows and web browsers.
How to make creative presentations on canva?
Step 1: Open Canva and create a new account
If you’re new to Canva, begin by visiting Canva.com and signing up for a free account. You can use your email, Google, or Facebook credentials to create a new account. One you are logged in it should redirect you to the canva home page.
Step 2: Plan creative presentation design and content.
How to make creative presentations on canva?
Before we start developing presentation slides and content, it is equally essential for us to plan and draft presentation content and ask questions to yourself such as:
- What is the main topic of my presentation?
- What are the agendas I am going to discuss?
- Do I have supporting data and stories to support the narrative?
- What are the key takeaways that the audience can take?
- Who is my audience?
- What are the symbols or such images that can help you tell the story?
- What kind of colours should I use?
Once you have drafted the answers of the above questions, you are ready to move onto the next step of selecting and customising the presentation template
Step 3: Selecting and customising your template
Go to “Create” button present on the left hand side of your screen
And select presentations, this will provide you with a blank presentation design and will also suggest you the predesigned templates from the template library.
If any of the templates shown on the screen is the best suitable design that aligns with your drafted content then select the relevant template which will save you a great deal of time.
If any of the templates are not suitable for your drafted content, select the blank template and we can select the template in the editor window.
Once the blank template is selected the blank presentation will open on a new browser tab.
From the template library select the best suited one for your presentation. It is highly recommended to filter the templates based on the categories and by searching the specific niche template using the search keywords such as “ Annual Report” that suits the topic of your content. If you are doing a professional presentation for your organisation / company, it is highly recommended to use select the template that suits the branding of your company.
Customise your template
You should customize nearly everything—colors, fonts, images, and layout—to match your brand and message. Lets follow the step by step customisation steps:
- Adjust Colors: Click on any element, then use the color picker in the top toolbar. For consistency, define a palette of 3-4 colors early on.
- Change Fonts: Select text boxes and choose from Canva’s font library. Stick to two fonts max: one for headings, one for body text.
- Replace Images: Click on existing images and replace them with your own uploads or search Canva’s library using descriptive keywords.
- Rearrange Layouts: Don’t be afraid to move, add, or delete elements. Use the alignment guides (pink lines that appear) to keep things orderly.
Step 4: Build your presentation slides and creative elements
This is where your presentation comes to life. Each slide should advance your story visually and verbally.
Working with Text Effectively
Avoid overcrowding slides with text. It is recommended to follow the 6×6 rule: no more than six words per line and six lines per slide. Use text hierarchy—large, bold font for titles; smaller, readable font for body text. Canva’s text tools let you add effects like shadows, backgrounds, or curving text, but use these sparingly for emphasis only.
Add Visuals - Images and stickers
Images and graphics are your best for storytelling. With Canva’s library of elements, pick high-quality, relevant photos (avoid pixelated or generic stock photos). Use the tab for icons, shapes, stickers, and illustrations. Search the elements using the search keywords and to data, use Canva’s built-in charts and graphs available on the elements section — just double-click the chart to input your numbers. You can also upload your own logos or branded materials by using the “Upload” section on the left hand slide. Also thinking about creating a grantt chart for your projects? Read How to Create a Canva Gantt Chart
Use the design principles
It is essential to use the design principles while designing presentation slides, use these fundamentals:
Contrast: Make key text or elements stand out with color or size differences.
Alignment: Consistently align elements to create a polished, professional look.
White Space: Allow breathing room around elements to reduce clutter and improve readability.
Consistency: Use the same color scheme, font styles, and spacing throughout your presentation.
Step 5: Adding Advanced Interactive Features to your slides
Use animations and transitions on slide contents
Canva allows you to animate individual elements and set transitions between slides. To animate, select any element (text box, image, graphic) and click “Animate” in the top toolbar. Choose from options like “Fade,” “Float,” or “Block.” For slide transitions, click on a slide thumbnail on the left, then select “Transition” from the top menu. A subtle “Fade” or “Slide” often works best—avoid using too many and flashy effects that distract from your content from your audience making it less engaging.
Embed links and images to the presentation slides
Dynamic presentations with the mixture of knowledge and entertainment are often found to be most effective, so embedding videos and images that opens directly on the slide would make your presentation more interactive. You can embed videos directly from youtube or any other steaming platforms and you can also upload your audios to add background music to your presentation.
Step 6: Collaborate and receive feedback from audience and teams
Canva is the best platform for team projects and you can easily add permissions to “can view,” “can comment,” or “can edit.” as well as share your project using the “Share” button in the top-right to invite others via email or link. Your team members can easily leave comments and do adjustments which is super helpful to proof read before any major meetings. The progress is also saved in real time so there is no loss of progress made to your presentation slides.
Step 7: Prepare for presentation and presenting
Use the Presenter Tools
Canva offers a Presenter View with speaker notes and a timer. To access this view, click “Present” in the top-right, then choose “Presenter View.” Your audience will see only the slides, while you see your notes, a timer, and a preview of the next slide. Practice with this view to build confidence and pace.
Exporting and share your presentation
When you’re ready to share your presentation with the audience, click “Share” > “Download.” Choose from:
PDF: Best for printing handouts or universal sharing.
PPTX: If you need to edit in PowerPoint later.
Video: Record your presentation with narration as an MP4.
Interactive PDF: Preserves links and animations for digital distribution.
Things to avoid:
Even with a great tool, it’s easy to make mistakes. Here are some of the key ones to watch for:
Overloading Slides: Too much text or too many images overwhelms your audience. Keep it simple and focused.
Inconsistent Branding: Switching fonts, colors, or styles mid-presentation looks unprofessional. Use Canva’s Brand Kit (Pro feature) to save your brand assets.
Ignoring Mobile Viewers: If sharing digitally, preview how your slides look on mobile devices. Adjust font sizes and layouts if needed.
Forgetting the Narrative: Every slide should serve your story. If a slide doesn’t advance your message, cut it.
How to make creative presentations on canva?
Creating creative presentations on Canva is all about blending clear messages with visual appeal and representation. By starting with a solid plan, leveraging templates wisely, applying design principles, and utilizing interactive features from Canva, you can produce presentations that not only look professional but also resonate deeply with your audience.
