If you’re a designer who lives in Canva like I do, you’ll want to sit down for this one, because Canva quietly rolled out something very interesting: Canva Brand Guidelines.
I spotted this new feature in my Brand Hub today, and it looks like Canva is testing or gradually rolling out a new way to build and share brand identity guidelines right inside the platform.
In short, this update lets you turn your brand kit into a full visual brand guide, complete with colors, fonts, logos, and imagery, all in one, interactive space.
💡 Quick disclaimer: This feature doesn’t seem to be officially announced by Canva yet, so not everyone may see it in their account. I’ll update this post when Canva makes it official, but for now, here’s a first look at how Canva Brand Guidelines work and why it’s about to change how designers deliver brands.
What Are Canva Brand Guidelines?
Canva Brand Guidelines is a new feature that lets you transform your brand kit into a fully interactive, shareable brand guide – directly within Canva.
Think of it as your brand’s manual, visualized. Instead of juggling brand PDFs, logo folders, and text documents, Canva now creates a beautiful, consistent layout that displays your:
- Brand logo variations
- Color palette
- Typography styles
- Brand imagery
- Tone of voice and messaging examples
- Visual dos and don’ts
Essentially, Canva took the concept of a traditional brand guide and made it living, clickable, and collaborative.
How to Set Up Canva Brand Guidelines (Step-by-Step)
Ready to create your first set of Canva brand guidelines? Here’s how to get started (if the feature has rolled out to you):
Step 1: Go to the Brand Hub
From your Canva homepage, click Brand Hub in the sidebar. This is where your brand kits, logos, and design assets live.
Step 2: Select or Create a Brand Kit
If you already have a Brand Kit, open it. If not, hit “Create a Brand Kit” and upload your logos, brand colors, and fonts.
Step 3: Click “Brand Guidelines”
Once your kit is ready, Canva now gives you an option to automatically generate brand guidelines.
Step 4: Customize Your Guidelines
Add imagery, examples, and notes to make it feel like your brand. You can drag in visuals that represent your style, include logo rules, and even outline brand tone.
Step 5: Share It with Your Team or Clients
Finally, click Share, and Canva gives you a view-only link (perfect for client handoffs or internal teams).
💡 Pro tip: Designers can now deliver interactive guidelines instead of static PDFs. Clients can see colors, click fonts, and access logos all in one place.
Canva Brand Guidelines vs Brand Kit — What’s the Difference?
At first glance, Brand Guidelines might sound like just a new name for Brand Kit, but they serve different purposes.
| Feature | Canva Brand Kit | Canva Brand Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Stores your brand assets | Displays your brand identity visually |
| Includes | Colors, fonts, logos | Colors, fonts, imagery, tone, examples |
| Best for | Design creation consistency | Brand presentation and client education |
| Shareable? | Internal use | Sharable with clients & teams |
| Format | Static asset repository | Dynamic brand book |
So basically, your Brand Kit holds your brand assets. Your Canva Brand Guidelines show how to use them.
Why Canva Brand Guidelines Are a Big Deal for Designers
Let’s be honest, managing brand guidelines can be a whole thing.
Between exporting polished PDFs, designing brand decks, and explaining hex codes, there’s a lot that can get lost in translation once the client takes over.
Canva’s new Brand Guidelines feature changes that. Here’s why designers are excited:
1. It Simplifies the Handoff Process
No more juggling Google Drive folders, ZIP files, and brand decks. Clients get everything in one interactive link and you look like the most organized designer ever.
2. It Keeps Brands Consistent
Because it’s tied directly to Canva’s design tools, clients can actually use their brand assets correctly. Every color, logo, and font they use in Canva auto-syncs to their guidelines.
3. It Adds a Premium Touch to Your Deliverables
Designers can now add “Interactive Brand Guidelines” as part of their client deliverables or an add-on service. It’s a small feature upgrade that can justify a higher price point or add perceived value.
Learn how to streamline your client onboarding as a brand designer.
How to Share and Use Canva Brand Guidelines with Clients
This is where the new feature really shines.
For Designers:
You can create and brand a set of Canva Brand Guidelines as part of your client handoff package. Add their brand story, visual identity, and tone of voice examples, and then share a link they can access anytime.
No more massive PDF attachments or “where’s our logo again?” emails.
For Clients:
They can access everything in one place, click to use brand colors directly in Canva, and update their assets as they evolve — without breaking brand consistency.
Ways to Share:
- Link: Copy a share link directly from Canva.
- Team Access: Add clients to a Brand Kit and give them editing or view-only rights.
- Presentation Format: Use Canva’s presentation mode to walk clients through the brand guidelines in a meeting.
My Thoughts as a Designer
As a designer, this new feature is a huge step forward.
I genuinely think Canva Brand Guidelines will shift how we deliver brands to clients. For years, designers have relied on static brand PDFs or elaborate presentations, but those often end up buried in inboxes or outdated a few months later.
Now, we can offer something interactive, flexible, and living.
It’s not about replacing the classic PDF brand guide entirely (there’s still value in a well-designed deck for presentation), but this opens the door to a new kind of deliverable.
Imagine delivering a brand in Canva and saying:
“Your full brand guidelines live right inside Canva. Everything from fonts to tone of voice, ready to use.”
It’s a seamless client experience that makes you look professional, efficient, and future-focused.
Limitations to Note
Since this feature hasn’t been officially announced, there are a few caveats worth noting:
- The rollout might be gradual — so not everyone will have access yet.
- Some customization options (like advanced page layouts or section dividers) might be limited for now.
- The feature name or structure might shift slightly before Canva’s full launch.
Still, it’s clear Canva is moving toward making brand management and delivery more intuitive and accessible, especially for freelancers and small teams.
Even though it hasn’t officially launched, Canva Brand Guidelines is shaping up to be a major upgrade for how we manage, present, and deliver brand assets.
It turns Canva from a simple design tool into a full-fledged brand system. Whether you’re a freelancer, agency, or small business owner, this feature streamlines your entire process, from brand setup to client handoff.
In short: Canva Brand Guidelines make brand consistency easier, faster, and more accessible than ever.
If you’re a designer, this might be your cue to start thinking about how to integrate interactive Canva guidelines into your client packages, before everyone else catches on.
