Canva is graphic design made easy that anybody can use. One design trend for some clearance that is markedly on the rise is the simply sketched look. It is described as a hand-drawn style that is clean but also brings a bit of personality to the piece. This trend can be used in a variety of media: social media graphics, invitations, logos. Let’s say you want to take it further and add a little character to your designs, adding simply sketched elements can help. This is a complete step by step guide to making great looking simply sketched pieces in Canva even if you are a beginner.
Why Simply sketched Pieces Are Appealing
Let us consider the question posed in the previous paragraph, the ‘why’ of simply sketched designs. Why are we so obsessed with this fascinating drawing style? Let us get into it.
- A Human Element: Simply sketched elements are particularly handy for incorporating a sense of deep warmth and personality. Especially in this modern world where perfect lines and immaculate graphics are the order. The uniqueness of hand-crafted elements certainly stands out.
- Distinctiveness: Every simple sketched design has the personal touch of the designer, allowing for such distinctiveness, which means that your designs can be different, eye-catching, and memorable.
Beginning Simply sketched: Basic Tools and Methods
It is quite straight forward to make simply sketched designs on Canva as it has an intuitive interface and many tools. Here’s what you would want to have:
- Free Canva Account: If you have not done so, you need to create a free Canva account.
- The Right Elements: From Canva, one can grab a multitude of design elements — I.e. icons, illustrations, and frames. Source for elements labeled “hand-drawn,” “doodle,” or “sketch.”
- Drawing Tools: While Canva does an excellent job of providing an exhaustive list of pre-made elements, it is important not to avoid the platform’s basic drawing tools. The pen, marker and brush tools are simple to note because they allow users to do basic designs to personalize the elements.
Simple Sketched Designs Creation Guide: Step By Step A Step-By-Step Process
Let us shift into action now and create simple sketched designs for ourselves. For our use-case I will take a social media graphic design as an example but the said principles can be used in any design.
Step 1: Canvas Selection
First, pick the right Canva template or custom size for your design, if applicable. For the social media graphic, an illustrated square 1080 x 1080 px or a vertical rectangle of the following dimension 1080 x 1920px is appropriate.
Step 2: Select a Background
Choose a background that is able to suit the simply sketched look. A neutral solid color like white, cream, or light grey gives a neutral ground where your sketched pieces can strongly come out.
Step 3: Add Your Simply sketched
Here is the fun part! Explore Canva’s element’s section and use the search bar to type in words such as hand drawn, doodle or even sketch. You will unearth numerous icons, illustrations and frames among other things. Choose elements that fit your design and place them in the canvas.
Step 4: Customize Your Elements
Same as adding your brand touch, elements are called as they are for a reason, so add your spin on them. Try out various colors and sizes and even rotations to get what you want in the end.
Step 5: Incorporate Text
Text is vital in any design including yours, it helps sell your message across in the design. Select fonts that would not look out of place in your simply sketched creation like handwritten fonts or scripts. Less is more here, in other words make it easy on the eye.
Step 6: Experiment with Layers
Stack your elements and or texts in layers to add texture and some form of interest in the design. Rearranging the stacking order of the elements is easy with Canva, all you have to do is drag and drop.
Step 7: Spice It Up With Your Own Sketch
If looking for a more realistic end product, try using the drawing features in Canva to create some simple sketch. Even very untidy Helps achieve hand-drawn effect.
Step 8: Download And Share
Now that your work has been finished with the simply sketched creation you desired, you can easily save it in the format you require. Now you can showcase your work done via social media platforms, via print or in the project you have.
Creating Unbelievably Stunning Simple Sketched Designs
Below are the tips that can help you take your simply sketched designs to the next level:
- Avoid Over Molding: There should be no constraint towards trying to perfect each aspect. The entire point of the simply sketch designs is their oddities, to which in turn aids in beautifying and adding uniqueness to the design.
- Stick To Simple Colors: Try to use no more than two to three colors while working on your new design so that it remains aesthetically pleasing.
- Use Wider Lines And Thin Lines: Their is always room for improvement with the use of wider lines and thin lines so don’t hesitate to be adventurous.
- Avoid Cluttering Your Design: Whitespace should be utilized at all costs. When inserting elements in the design don’t overfill, as it may lead to the design looking messy and deformed.
- Use Grids And Alignment Tools: Even if using freehand sketches, maintaining focus and balance throughout the design using grid and alignments tools in Canva can help you foster the design that you had in mind.
- Let Inspiration Take Over: Use Pinterest or Behance as a starting point. Look for simply sketched designs that appeal to you and deconstruct their composition and techniques.
Simply Sketched Design Inspiration to Kickstart Your Imagination.
Are you looking for some inspiration to start your projects with? Here are several suggestions about how to make sketches part of your designs and projects:
- Social Media Graphics: Simply sketched illustrations, icons and text used to embellish Instagram stories, Facebook posts and Pinterest pins stand out immensely.
- Invitations and Greeting Cards: Simply sketched frame decorations and illustrations or even simply sketched lettering make ordinary invitations and greeting cards or thank you notes to feel more personalized.
- Logos and Branding Elements: A simply sketched logo does not only makes your brand stand out, but gives it an identity that is distinctly memorable.
- Website Design: Simply sketched elements can make a great addition nor only in the header and footer, use them as accents in the content spread across the website.
- Presentations: Simply sketched icons, diagrams or illustrations make your presentations pardon the pun, a ‘doodle’ less engaging and memorable.
Conclusion
It is rather interesting and fun for one to create sketches in Canva as it helps add some creativity and style to your work. Thanks to its very simple usage and an abundance of design options, the canvas allows all of us to adopt this cute and practical design approach. So, do not hold back your imagination, try different compositions and methods, and see how your sketches get animated!