The Trail: Activity #5
Finding Your People-First Power in Canva’s AI Suite
Hey there! Jon Cline here. Welcome to the fifth stop on The Trail! After exploring AI transcription tools, Notebook LM, the GPT Store, and creative AI assistants in our previous modules, I’m excited to walk you through Canva’s AI-powered features, particularly its Magic Studio suite, while keeping your people-first power intact.
What We’re Doing Here
Look, AI design tools are everywhere now, right? Canva’s Magic Studio promises to transform how we create visual content with just a few prompts. And that’s great! I use these tools myself and have found them incredibly helpful for streamlining creative workflows.
But here’s the thing—and this is crucial—there’s a massive difference between what AI-generated designs deliver and what you bring to the table as a human being. While these AI tools offer impressive efficiency, their real value emerges when you direct them with your uniquely human creativity, brand understanding, and audience empathy.
In this project, we’re going to get hands-on with Canva’s AI features, but with our people-first twist. I’ll show you how to use these powerful creative tools while protecting and strengthening your human superpowers. As I like to say, “AI should be a cape on your back, not an escape from your life.”
What's in it for you? You'll walk away knowing:
How to navigate Canva's AI-powered features without sacrificing your authentic voice
The art of transforming generic AI outputs into relationship-building visual content
A framework for evaluating AI-generated designs from a people-first perspective
A system for using AI design tools without losing your creative voice
Techniques for getting better initial designs through smarter prompts
How to become the person everyone wants designing their communications
What You’ll Need
Nothing fancy required here:
Tools
A free Canva account (sign up at canva.com if you don’t have one)
Materials:
Ideas for 2-3 design projects you want to create (presentation, social post, flyer, etc.)
Optional:
Your brand colors, fonts, or image assets if you have them
Time:
About 45-60 minutes to explore and experiment
That’s it! No design experience needed, just your brain and some ideas for how Canva’s AI tools might help you communicate more effectively.
Can do Canva …
Step 1: Understanding What’s At Stake
First, let me tell you a story that illustrates why this matters so much.
A few months back, I was consulting with a small business owner named Alex who runs a…