(and What You Need to Know About Legal Use of Elements)

Creating a logo for your brand doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Thanks to user-friendly platforms like Canva, you can design a professional-looking logo in just a few steps—even with no prior graphic design experience.

But before you dive into designing, it’s crucial to understand not just how to make a logo, but also the legal rights around using Canva’s elements in a logo, especially if you plan to trademark it or use it commercially.

Let’s walk through the steps to make a logo in Canva, and then cover the legal considerations you need to keep in mind.

Step 1: Sign In or Create a Canva Account

Go to Canva.com and either log in or sign up for a free account. You can also upgrade to Canva Pro for access to premium elements, fonts, and features— but also to remove the background of your logo and save it in .SVG format — even though the free version offers a lot

Step 2: Search for “Logo” Templates

Create a new Canva project (best square high resolution ex. 5000px x 5000px) and Start designing your logo.

💡 Tip: Choose a clean, simple design that’s easily scalable and works well in black and white as well as color.

Step 3: Customize Your Logo

You can now edit every aspect of your logo.

Text: Add your business name, tagline, or initials.

Fonts: Choose fonts that reflect your brand’s personality. Canva has many stylish options. (! Use free Canva fonts !)

Colors: Adjust to match your brand color palette.

Icons & Graphics: Add shapes, lines, or symbols from Canva’s library. Don’t use elements free or pro designed by other people.

Use the toolbar to drag, resize, rotate, and position everything exactly how you want.

Step 4: Download Your Logo

Once you’re happy with your design:

Click “Share” > “Download.”

Choose PNG for best quality (or SVG if you’re a Pro user and need scalability).

Transparent background option (Pro feature) is helpful for versatile logo use.

⚖️ Legal Rights: Can You Use Canva Elements in a Logo?

Now here’s where it gets important: just because Canva gives you access to a lot of design elements doesn’t mean you can legally use all of them in a logo—especially if you’re planning to trademark it.

Here’s a breakdown:

✅ What You Can Do
Use Free Canva fonts and your own text to create a logo.

Create original designs from scratch using basic shapes, lines, and your own uploaded images.

🚫 What You Can’t Do
You cannot trademark a logo that includes Canva’s stock content (like icons, illustrations, or photos), because those elements are licensed for non-exclusive use.

That means other people can use the same icons or illustrations, and you don’t own exclusive rights to them.

If your logo uses Canva-provided elements, you don’t have full ownership—and you cannot register the design as a trademark.

🔒 How to Make Your Logo Legally Safe
Avoid using Canva’s pre-made illustrations or icons in your logo.

Use only basic geometric shapes and your own text, or upload your own graphics.

For a trademark-safe logo, consider:

-Hiring a designer to create custom elements.

-Using Canva for layout and typography only.

-Creating your logo elsewhere and using Canva for brand assets (like mockups or social templates).

📜 Source: Canva Content License Agreement

🧠 Final Thoughts
Canva is an excellent tool for getting started with logo design. It allows small business owners, freelancers, and creators to build a brand image quickly and beautifully.

However, if you’re serious about owning your logo legally and using it as a trademark, be cautious with the elements you include. A fully original design—either self-made or created by a professional—is always the safest route.