Design guides
MyCanvasDesign design guides are free, step-by-step how-tos for real things: posters, club flyers, business cards, CVs, invitations, Instagram posts and stories, and YouTube thumbnails. Each guide ends with a button that opens the editor at the right size.
Search the guides for a size, a tool or a problem, or browse them below. The editor they use is free in your browser, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Try
Guides for print
Posters and cards that look right on paper.
- How to design an academic poster A0 size, a three-column layout, type sizes that read from two metres, and printing. 2 to 4 hours, once your results are ready
- How to design a business card Card sizes, safe margins, type that reads when printed, a QR code and a PDF for the printer. 30 to 60 minutes
- How to design a club flyer What to put on it, A4 and A5 sizes, a layout that reads in seconds, QR codes and printing. 30 minutes to an hour
Guides for social media and screens
Posts, stories, invitations and thumbnails, made to be seen on a phone.
- How to make a digital invitation The right size for WhatsApp and email, what to write, RSVPs and sending without blur. 30 to 45 minutes
- How to design a YouTube thumbnail The 1280 × 720 size, one strong subject, three or four big words and bold contrast. 15 to 30 minutes
- How to design an Instagram story The 1080 × 1920 size, safe zones, text that reads in seconds, story series and highlight covers. 15 to 30 minutes
- How to create an Instagram feed that looks planned Post sizes, the grid crop, a palette, reusable layouts and a posting rhythm. 1 to 2 hours to set up, then minutes a post
Guides for work and careers
A CV, a LinkedIn banner and an email signature that look the part.
- How to design a professional CV What to include, a layout recruiters can scan, fonts and sizes, and a version for online forms. 1 to 2 hours
- How to create a LinkedIn banner The 1584 × 396 size, where your photo covers it, what to say and how to upload it. 20 to 40 minutes
- How to design an email signature What to include, a logo image sized for Gmail, text that stays readable and adding it to your email app. 20 to 30 minutes
Guides for school and study
Pages that help you learn and revise.
Questions about the design guides
Are the design guides free?
Yes. The guides are free to read, and the editor they use is free in your browser, with no sign-up and no watermark.
Do I need design experience to follow a guide?
No. Each guide starts from a blank page at the right size and explains every choice: sizes, fonts, colours and how to download the file you need.
Can I suggest a guide?
Yes, please. Email support@mycanvasdesign.com with what you are trying to make, and we will add the most requested guides first.