Gray Matters Graphic Design & Photography

Graphic Design and Photography

A Guide to Building an Original Brand Kit in Canva That Stands Out

Sarah Vogl

🦉 Whooo’s Ready to Level Up Your Canva Game?

Let’s be honest: one of the biggest knocks against Canva is that everything kinda… looks like it was made in Canva. You know the vibe—pastel blobs, recycled fonts, and that one Instagram carousel layout we’ve all seen a hundred times. But here’s the truth: Canva is an incredibly powerful design tool if you use it wisely. And the secret to wise design? A well-built brand kit.

So if you’re tired of blending in with the Canva flock, this post is for you. Let’s talk about how to set up Canva’s built-in branding tools to make your graphics original, recognizable, and unapologetically you—all while staying true to your visual identity and not the latest Canva trend.

What Is the Canva Brand Kit?

Canva’s Brand Kit lets you upload and organize your logos, fonts, colors, and custom graphics all in one place. Think of it as your design nest—everything you need to build consistent, on-brand materials is just a click away.

The Brand Kit is available for Canva Pro users (starting at $14.99/month or $119.99/year). If you’re on the free plan, you’ll have access to limited features, but the full Brand Kit functionality is where the real magic happens.

How to Set Up Your Brand Kit Like a Wise Old Owl

1. Add Your Brand Colors

You can add up to 100 colors in a palette on Canva Pro—ideal if you have primary, secondary, and accent tones. However, just 5-8 is the sweet spot in my experience. To do this:

  • Click on Brand Hub in the sidebar.

  • Choose Brand Kit.

  • Under Brand Colors, click Add New and enter your HEX codes or pick colors using the color wheel.

🦉 Hoot Tips:

  • Keep your color palette simple and intentional. A few key shades used consistently will create instant recognition across all your designs.

  • Shuffle your brand colors for a fresh look! Feeling stuck with your design’s color layout? Try Canva’s Brand Colors Shuffle. Just click on the design background, then head to the Styles tab in the left sidebar. Under Brand Kit, click your color palette—then hit the Shuffle button. Canva will automatically remix your brand colors across the design, giving you fresh combinations in seconds without ever straying off-brand. (This will also apply to your custom SVGs; see below.)

2. Upload Your Logos

Have different logo variations (full color, white, black, icon only)? Upload them all!

  • Go to Logos in your Brand Kit.

  • Click Upload and add PNGs or SVGs for crisp, scalable use.

SVGs are especially useful if you want your logo to scale without losing quality—perfect for print materials or high-resolution mockups.

🦉 Owl Advice: Name your files clearly (e.g., “Main Logo White,” “Icon Black SVG”) so you can grab the right one without ruffling your feathers.

3. Add Your Brand Fonts

Canva Pro allows you to upload custom fonts in addition to using their native font library. Just drag and drop your licensed font files (.ttf or .otf) into the Brand Fonts section.

Set your go-to headings, subheadings, and body text. This ensures consistency and cuts down on design time.

🦉 Nocturnal Note: Using brand fonts makes your designs feel intentional—even when built from a template.

4. Upload Custom SVG Graphics for Unique Flair

SVGs (Scalable Vector Graphics) are like secret sauce for not-looking-like-Canva. You can upload original icons, hand-drawn elements, patterns, or even textures in SVG format and reuse them across designs without distortion.

To upload SVGs:

  • Go to Brand Hub > Brand Files, or just drag and drop SVGs into any project and then “add to folder” from there.

  • You can also organize these into Folders for specific projects, products, or clients.

🦉 Feathered Fact: Recolor SVGs in a Flash! Did you know you can instantly change the color of most SVG graphics in Canva—no external editor needed? Just upload your SVG, drop it into your design, then click on it. If the file was created with editable color layers (most are), you’ll see color tiles appear in the top toolbar. Click a tile, choose any color from your brand palette or color picker, and watch your SVG magically match your vibe.

Avoiding the Canva Clone Look

Here’s where the owl eyes need to stay sharp. Canva’s templates are tempting—but trendy. Relying too much on them can strip your designs of uniqueness.

Instead:

  • Use templates as layout starting points only.

  • Swap in your colors, fonts, logos, and custom SVG elements immediately.

  • Replace stock imagery with your own or with lesser-used assets from Canva’s vast image/video library.

  • Keep a few “signature” design elements you reuse (like a certain corner shape, texture, or divider style) to reinforce your look.

🦉 Perch Perspective: Consistency is what turns pretty into professional.

Wise Words to Remember

Using Canva without a brand kit is like trying to fly blind—it’ll work for a while, but eventually, your visual identity will crash into the wall of sameness. With a solid Brand Kit and a few custom assets, you can swoop above the rest and create designs that reflect your unique business, not Canva’s trend-of-the-week.

So go forth and design like the majestic marketing owl you are. Trust your brand. Use your tools. And remember: just because it’s made in Canva doesn’t mean it has to look like it.