Design 101 – Creative hacks from the king of Canva

Behind the Post Published: May 28, 2024
Design 101 – Creative hacks from the king of Canva

Sam Tyrrell rose to the title King of Canva at AlixPartners, and he’s joined us Behind the Post to reveal his expert hacks and quick tips to help you create masterpiece designs on Canva.

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Episode summary

With no experience in design, Sam rose to the title of King of Canva at AlixPartners and went Behind the Post to tell you everything you need to know to master Canva yourself.

Sam walks us through the process they have in place when creating content on Canva, including how he trains his wider marketing team to create their own designs, what the approval process looks like, and how he ensures all designs stay on-brand.

Being part of a company big on employee advocacy and personal branding, Sam is passionate about translating this company value through visuals as well. He walks us through how he encourages his colleagues to use design to help their employees showcase their personalities online.

Sam also entered fire-round questions to share his best practices, go-to features, design pet peeves, and the biggest lessons he’s learned along the way to taking the throne.

If you use Canva, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Hot topics:

  • Go-to features on Canva that everyone should know about
  • Design best practices that will take your final designs from mediocre to masterpiece
  • Which design tools he uses besides Canva and what for
  • How AlixPartners’ designs differ for their corporate social media pages versus their employee advocacy program

Meet Sam

Sam Tyrrell is one of the many talented Digital Marketing Specialists at AlixPartners. With 5+ years of experience and a keen eye for design, he has quickly climbed the ranks and rightfully been crowned as the “King of Canva”.

An active member of the marketing team, he’s heavily involved in the corporate social media, Digital Publishing, and Graphic Design efforts, and is always ready for a challenge.

When he’s not creating masterpieces in Canva, Sam’s on a mission to conquer the digital landscape. With the unwavering support of his family, friends, and coworkers, and design skills so sharp that even pixels tremble in fear, he’s on track to take over the corporate world.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can B2B marketing teams effectively scale design creation using platforms like Canva?

B2B marketing teams can scale design creation by implementing structured training programs and clear processes. Empowering wider marketing team members, even those without prior design experience, to create their own on-brand visuals using a tool like Canva significantly increases content output and efficiency.

What strategies ensure brand consistency across designs created by diverse teams in a corporate B2B environment?

Maintaining brand consistency in a corporate B2B setting requires a well-defined process, thorough training, and clear guidelines. This includes establishing a robust approval process and ensuring all team members are equipped with the knowledge and tools to adhere to brand standards, regardless of their design background.

What role does visual design play in successful B2B employee advocacy programs?

Visual design is crucial for successful B2B employee advocacy programs, as it helps colleagues effectively showcase their personalities and professional insights online. Encouraging employees to leverage engaging visuals allows them to amplify company messages authentically while building their personal brand, enhancing overall program impact.

How do corporate marketing teams streamline the design approval process for content created in Canva?

Streamlining the design approval process for corporate content created in Canva involves establishing clear workflows and communication channels. This includes defining roles, setting specific checkpoints for feedback and revisions, and utilizing features that facilitate collaboration to ensure designs meet brand standards and objectives efficiently.

How do B2B companies differentiate visual content for corporate social media versus employee advocacy initiatives?

B2B companies differentiate visual content by tailoring designs to specific platform goals and audiences. Corporate social media designs typically maintain a more formal, polished aesthetic aligned with brand messaging, while employee advocacy visuals can lean into more personal, authentic expressions that still reflect company values and encourage engagement.

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