EP45: June 13, 2025 – Don’t Let Canva Distract You from the Real Fix
Today’s spark? Why Canva’s endless templates can’t cover up what’s missing in your brand. Let’s talk about what really matters.
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"Your brand isn't a template. It's the truth you're brave enough to show."
Full transcript
Today's spark, why Canva's endless templates can't cover up what's missing in your brand. Let's talk about what really matters today. Welcome back to Morning Cup of Brand Spark. Today is Friday, June 13th, and I'm Gina Dunn, founder and brand strategist of OG Solutions. Today's spark is a reminder that design tools can be a blessing and they can be a brand curse as well. Let's talk about how Canva can be a distraction
from the real work you need to do. So let's spark it up. Look, I love Canva. I use it. It's made design so much more accessible for everyone in the world. But let's be real. Canva's endless templates can trick you into thinking that pretty equals powerful. I can't tell you how many times I've seen founders caught in the template trap. Endless tweaking, endless...
Just one more version to try. Ultimately endless distractions. Because let's face it, it's either to choose a new color palette than to face. It's easier to choose a new color palette than to face the bigger questions. What are you actually here to say? Who were you talking to? And what's the one thing you'll stand for? Even when it's not popular. When you're stuck in Canva land.
You're not building a brand, you're just decorating it. So here's a real world statistic to back this up. Lucidpress had a report in 2024 that found the consistency and clarity in messaging increases revenue by 23%. That's not about fonts or colors or templates. That's about strategy. Because here's the deal.
Your brand isn't built in Canva. It's built in the conversations you're willing to have with yourself. It's built in the messy, raw decisions about what you stand for, what you'll say no to, and where you show up, even when it's hard. So here's the spark. Your brand isn't a template. It's the truth you're brave enough to show. So if you're stuck in the Canva spiral,
Take a deep breath, step backwards and ask yourself, does this feel like me or am I just filling the page because it's easier than getting clear? Here's your Spark check today. Spark one, where are you using Canva as a crutch instead of building your real messaging? Spark two.
What's one truth about your work that no template can capture?
And Spark 3. If you had to throw out the visuals today, would your brand still stand on its own? So that's your spark for today. Pretty can't save a brand that doesn't know what it's here to do. And if this one hits you where it hurts, send me a DM. Tell me the one thing that you're ready to stop tweaking and start owning. Because your brand, it's not a template. It's a movement.
I'll catch you tomorrow.
Key takeaways & FAQ
Five things to steal
- 01 Pretty visuals cannot replace the strategic clarity your brand actually needs.
- 02 Endless Canva tweaking is often avoidance of harder brand positioning questions.
- 03 Consistent, clear messaging drives revenue more than fonts or color palettes.
- 04 Define what you stand for before designing how your brand looks.
- 05 A strong brand survives without visuals — built on truth, not templates.
Frequently asked
According to brand strategist Gina Dunn, over-relying on Canva's templates creates a 'template trap' where founders endlessly tweak visuals instead of addressing core brand questions: what they stand for, who they're talking to, and what message they're here to deliver. Decorating a brand is not the same as building one — strategy must come before design.
A 2024 Lucidpress report cited in this episode found that consistency and clarity in messaging can increase revenue by 23%. This figure is attributed to strategic brand clarity — not design choices like fonts, colors, or templates — underscoring that messaging strategy has a measurable business impact.
Gina Dunn recommends asking three foundational questions: What are you actually here to say? Who are you talking to? And what is the one thing you will stand for, even when it's not popular? These questions must be answered before any design work, because a brand built on unclear messaging cannot be saved by visual polish.
Gina Dunn suggests a simple test: ask yourself whether your brand would still stand on its own if you threw out all the visuals today. If the answer is no, it signals that the brand's foundation — its messaging, values, and positioning — needs work before any more design effort is invested.
Consistency and clarity in messaging increases revenue by 23%
— Lucidpress, 2024
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