Designing a 1-Pager (with Canva)

In this section, learn how to design a 1-pager.

  • How to get started
  • Dimensions
  • What to include
  • What makes a good design

A 1-pager is usually a vertical letter or A4 design that communicates information about a topic, company, or idea on one page.

Different from a word document, this page will teach you how to design a visually engaging document that uses type, color, and visuals to bring the information to life.

This can be done on many platforms such as Adobe Illustrator, Figma, or Canva.

This section will teach you how to design a 1-pager using Canva which is a beginner-friendly tool for producing visually aesthetic designs.

Getting Started:

  1. Open and log into canva.com
  2. Create a new design, click on print or custom size
  1. Select flyer (A4) or search letter in the search bar
  1. This is your poster canvas. Begin by selecting a template that feels similar to the design you want to create, or start from scratch, populating your design with text, shapes, and visuals using the left-hand bar
  1. Once you choose a template for your design, begin replacing text and images with what is relevant for your design, as well as changing colors to fit your brand/topic/aesthetic.
  1. If you want to create your own design, make sure to include visual hierarchy and utilize grids/blocking to organize the information in a dynamic way. As opposed to simply putting information in horizontal rows going down. Here are some templates/layouts you can refer to:
  1. Once you are completed with your design, click on the share and download button to export your design.
  1. In the download settings, you can choose the file type that you want to export as.

PDF print is recommended for flyers and 1-pagers

  1. Once you’ve confirmed your download settings, click download to export your design.

Dimensions:

  • Letter or A4
  • Create this file in Canva, Illustrator, Photoshop, or Canva

What to Include on 1-Pager:

  • Title/Brand/Company Name
  • Hook
  • Description
  • Images/Graphics/Illustrations
  • Additional Details/Groups of Information

What Makes a Good Design:

  • Visual Hierarchy
    • Make sure the Title or Hook is the largest and clearest. It should be the first thing people look at.
  • Consistency
    • Use consistent text sizing for your headers and body text
  • Color Palette
    • Stick to 2-4 colors in your design, keeping the use of color consistent
  • Visuals
    • Include visuals such as images, graphics, icons, or illustrations

Examples:

Resources to find other reference images: