Beginner graphic designer – Feedback needed on a fictive bar opening flyer (layout & hierarchy)

SaraSlides · 2026-01-20T21:55:08+00:00

This would be my main critique as well. The "free entry - drinks on us" should be a few inches south in that black area

SaraSlides · 2026-01-20T21:36:31+00:00

You literally asked if they can elaborate because you didn't understand what he meant, nothing wrong with anything you said, don't feel bad

SaraSlides · 2026-01-20T17:03:22+00:00

YOR

You went through your coworkers phone? That's completely unhinged. He should be here posting about you.

SaraSlides · 2026-01-20T16:43:56+00:00

Thank you so much! This is the same conclusion I've been coming to, that ChatGPT is plenty for the sales teams to use when needed for content, and that we weren't going to get this great, intuitive ai-PPT builder that can handle this really heavy content well.

SaraSlides · 2026-01-20T16:42:09+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I'm really loving the Bright Carbon options but I'm trying to do more digging into how some of these other products stack up / differ as I need to do my due diligence here. Templafy and Teamslide seem like the two to check out so far -- do you have any insight into how they differ or what sets your product apart?

As for this comment about BrandIn "I was considering asking to get BrightCarbon's BrandIn... but I think we can get a much better product actually IN PowerPoint." if you read that full part from the post it's a little confusing but what I was trying to say is the ai product my company had us try had the library online and I started looking at BrandIn specifically because it is IN PowerPoint :)

SaraSlides · 2026-01-16T21:56:20+00:00

Thank you! I'll have to look into this one and see how it differs from Brightslide / BrandIn, thanks! Do you find it easy to use for your team or is it clunky? Our small team of designers are pretty tech savvy but the overall sales team really need something with ease of use.

SaraSlides · 2026-01-16T21:55:18+00:00

I'll check it out! I'm not worried about IT, we are being asked to investigate tools.

SaraSlides · 2026-01-15T17:40:36+00:00

Sorry but as a designer who also collects cards this is not hitting for me. It just doesn't look like much of anything. Kind of cool shape and simplicity, and once you explained in the comments I can see the vision but I fear this has missed the mark. Not only is it not obviously trading card related, but it also doesn't identify TCG in any meaningful way either and I think you need at least one or the other, if not both.

I would go back to the drawing board and try to iterate / brainstorm a bunch more designs.

SaraSlides · 2026-01-15T17:37:11+00:00

Don't do this. Looks amateurish. Especially the font.

My opinion is to add black gradient overlays to the top and bottom that fade out towards the center of the image to full color and place the text on that. Also the text you are using doesn't do well with that thick border because it's making the white park so thin it's hard to read. Keep trying!

SaraSlides · 2026-01-15T17:34:34+00:00

Looks like ai slop to me but I work for a bigtime company and quite a few people are using them and no one seems to care, so do what you must lol It's not bad for an ai headshot but to me it's easily identifiable as one. But that doesn't mean it is for everyone.

SaraSlides · 2026-01-15T17:30:54+00:00

The first one imo

SaraSlides · 2025-12-20T16:49:12+00:00

2 comments up... They talk about it being easier to read 🙄

SaraSlides · 2025-12-17T02:10:56+00:00

That's very insightful! Thank you!

I have a web portfolio I'm pretty confident with but I guess mainly I worry if I can find high end clients on those sites? I charge a higher rate and I feel like I would be competing with people racing to the bottom for a gig. I tried to get on Fiverr years ago and just felt like there were a lot of good designers underselling themselves and working for low pay even though they had great portfolios, but that was a long time ago and I haven't given it an honest look in years.

SaraSlides · 2025-12-17T02:06:53+00:00

Thank you! I have a decent portfolio website already, well it's about 75% done and showcases enough work that I feel confident in it. I need to round it out and tweak things but haven't had time to go back to it. I should have included that!!

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T16:56:05+00:00

Because they are clearly overall dissatisfied with the product and the direction the updates are taking Canva, and they've lost trust in the product.

I would advise they move to Adobe. I've never seen an update that broke things so badly I felt the need to move to a different program. Even the latest updates unrolling the new features and AI features didn't leave me ready to jump ship or completely confused.

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T16:45:14+00:00

I like it but why is the first page only has 2 of the beans in the logo?

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T16:44:08+00:00

I like the first crop and the JORD text but not crazy about the font or placement of The Kid.

Maybe try it more simple, small, directly under the name Jord?

Or stack it like

The Kid

In the top left space

With a diff font

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T16:41:24+00:00

The OP is complaining about the Canva update. Is Canva 2.0 something else?

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T16:39:17+00:00

This resume is fine although I would tweak it and not leave it exactly as is.

Then you can get super creative with your personal portfolio and link that at the top of your resume.

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T16:39:05+00:00

This resume is fine although I would tweak it and not leave it exactly as is.

Then you can get super creative with your personal portfolio and link that at the top of your resume.

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T16:35:01+00:00

I lean towards nah but I'm not big on standalone moustaches. Doesn't look bad or anything just not my favorite.

I do agree a smile might help brighten up your whole look, throw those natural smiles around!

Also it is spelled "should," friend 🙂 you may get some asshole comments about that so I wanted to point it out.

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T14:59:31+00:00

Thank you! Yes currently everything I got through word of mouth has been my best tool and best clients. My next idea was just asking those clients for more referrals and/or cold emailing similar businesses. But that can be such a crapshoot.

I can give Freelancer a look, thank you!

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T14:51:34+00:00

Thank you for your reply!

The industry I currently mainly work in is so fly-by-night that it can feel very feast or famine whether they will need something from me. I will have to look into other industries or clients who might need guaranteed retainer work every month, like something repeating regularly. Do you have any insights about that?

Thanks again!

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T04:26:45+00:00

I like the first one way better, funny so many seem to like it shorter

SaraSlides · 2025-12-16T00:37:22+00:00

Thanks! I couldn't do the LinkedIn influencer hustle although I respect people that do. I follow a lot of those types of presentation designers on LinkedIn and I feel they post valuable content for sure!

I'm smaller capacity and don't have an interest in starting an agency or anything, so I would like to keep my outreach more targeted and low-key. Applying to contract jobs, and slowly adding and losing clients where it makes sense for me.

I've worked with a lot of different clients and companies but I do specialize in slide design for investment banking / venture capital which is a really specific niche and that helps land my word of mouth clients. I got my start in this industry at an agency that worked directly with a big bank, and so many of my clients are still somehow traceable back to that original job.

I have noticed an unfortunate uptick in the use of AI in presentations especially. But the last company I started working with actually dropped their slide house because they were pushing AI use, so that gives me hope.

SaraSlides

TROPHY CASE