Course Content
Module 1: Getting Started with Canva Mobile App
Hii ndio mwanzo! In this module, we get to know the Canva app. We'll download it, create your free account, and get comfortable with the basics. Tuko sawa? You'll also learn the difference between the free and Pro versions, so you know exactly which tools you have to create beautiful designs without spending a coin.
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Lesson 1.1: The Why and How
06:27
Lesson 1.2: Your First Steps
00:00
Lesson 1.3: Free vs. Pro
Module 2: The Core Skills of a Canva Creator
Sawa, you’ve got the basics down! This module is where we get our hands dirty. You'll learn the essential skills you need to become a pro at using the free Canva app. We’ll cover everything from using templates (that's the easiest shortcut!) to working with different elements, text, and photos. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to create your own unique designs from scratch.
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Lesson 2.1: The Power of Templates
Lesson 2.2: Working with Elements
Lesson 2.3: Mastering Text and Fonts
Lesson 2.4: Photos and Mockups
Module 3: Creating and Selling Your First Products
Sasa, it's time to build! In this module, you'll apply all the core skills you learned in Module 2 to create actual digital products that you can sell. We'll focus on products that are easy to design and have a high demand in the local market, like invitations, planners, labels, and even coloring books. By the end of this module, you'll have a small portfolio of completed designs that you can start selling to your friends, family, and online.
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Lesson 3.1: Birthday & Wedding Invitations
Lesson 3.2: Printable Calendars & Planners
Lesson 3.3: Product Labels & Bottle Wrappers
Lesson 3.4: Logo & Business Card Design
Module 4: Marketing & Selling Your Designs
You've learned all the skills you need to create beautiful products. Now, it's time to learn how to find customers and make sales. In this module, you'll learn simple, effective ways to market your designs using the tools you already have on your phone. We'll focus on selling to your network first and then finding new customers.
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Lesson 4.1: The Power of Your Phone
Lesson 4.2: Pricing & Professionalism
Using Canva Mobile App To Make Money (with Mwalimu Mkuu)

Let’s continue! In the last lesson, you learned how to use templates. Now, we’ll dive deeper into creating custom designs by working with individual graphics and icons, also known as elements.

Lesson 2.2: Working with Elements

Elements are the building blocks of a design. They include things like shapes, lines, icons, and illustrations. You can use these to add a bit of style and personality to your creations. The best part? Canva has a huge library of free elements for you to use.

How to Find Free Elements

  1. Open a Design: Start a new design or open a template you’re working on.

  2. Tap the Plus (+) Button: Look for the big, colorful plus button at the bottom of your screen and tap it.

  3. Find the “Elements” Tab: A menu will pop up from the bottom. Find the “Elements” tab (it looks like a circle and a square) and tap on it.

  4. Search for What You Need: A search bar will appear at the top. You can search for anything you want to add to your design. For example:

    • flowers

    • arrow

    • circle

    • star

    • Kenya map

As you scroll through the results, remember to avoid anything with a crown icon. There are so many free options that you’ll always find something that works.

Adjusting Elements for a Professional Look

Once you add an element to your design, you can change it to fit your style. Here are the most important things to know:

  • Change the Color: Tap on the element you just added. A color square will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap it and choose a new color.

  • Adjust Transparency (or “See-Through” Level): Tap on the element, then look for the Transparency icon (it looks like a checkerboard). Tap it and slide the bar to make the element more or less see-through. This is great for making an element look like a watermark or a subtle background design.

  • Resize and Rotate: To change the size, just drag the corners of the element in or out. To rotate it, tap and hold the little rotate icon (a circle with two arrows) and move your finger around.

By simply adding and adjusting a few free elements, you can make your designs look much more professional and unique.

Ready for Lesson 2.3, where we’ll focus on mastering text and fonts?

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