Too Long; Dive Right In (TL;DR)?
To design a YouTube channel banner and profile picture in Canva:
- Use simple shapes like cicles, ovals, and rectangles to create your character (just like Mickey Mouse – who is made of 3 circles!).
- Customise your character’s features with eyes, nose, mouth arms, and legs.
- Add colours, backgrounds, and text to create your channel banner.
- Download and upload your design to YouTube.
Your character does not have to be perfect – start with simple stick figures or a basic shape, and your skills will improve over time. Most importantly, let your character reflect your personality! Do not be afraid to experiment and have fun with it.
Welcome Back, FrameBursters! 
In our previous blog, we walked you through the basics of using Canva to create standout design for thumbnails, social media, and more. Now, let’s level up your design game and dive into how you can create your very own YouTube channel banner and a unique character for your profile photo – all using the same free and easy-to-use tools in Canva. Whether you are just starting or want to improve your creative flow, this step-by-step guide will help you get started with fun and simple shapes, and a little imagination.
Why Should You Design Your Own Character?
You might be thinking, “I can’t draw, I’m not an artist, how can I make a character?” But here’s the thing: creating a character does not have to be complex, and you do not need to be a pro artist to start. Take the famous Mickey Mouse, for example. His entire character is made of just three simple circles! Yep, that’s right – three circles! A round head, two ears, and bam! That’s Mickey Mouse.
For my own character, I designed an upside-down avocado with beans for a nose, arms, legs, and even eyebrows. Sounds eccentric, right? But that is what makes it fun and unique! You do not need perfect lines or fancy skills to start – just use basic shapes to create something that reflects your personality.
Your character does not even have to be mankind! E.g, Katzun’s character is a cat, though she’s a human. Why? Because the character design reflects who she is and adds a bit of flair to her personal brand. Your character can be anything you want!
So, let’s jump in and start designing your character and YouTube channel banner one-step at a time.
STEP 1
Open Canva and Set Up Your Design:
- Log in to Canva (if you haven’t alreadym check out our previous blog on how to sign up).
- Create a New Design: For your YouTube channel banner, search for ‘YouTube Channel Art’ in the search bar. Canva will automatically give you the perfect size (i.e. 2560 x 1440 p).
- For Your Profile Photo: search ‘YouTube Profile Picture’ (800 x 800 p) to ensure it’s the right size.
Once you have your workspace ready, you can start adding elements to your design.
STEP 2
Designing Your Character Using Simple Shapes:
Here’s the fun part: creating your character using just basic shapes! No advanced drawing skills required.
I) Start with a Basic Shape:
- Click on the ‘Elements’ tab in Canva and select a circle to form the head.
- You can also use other shapes like ovals, rectangles or triangles. Think about what kind of character you want. If you are making an animal, maybe a cat, dog, or bear, you can start with circles or ovals for the body and head.
II) Add Features:
- Eyes: Use a smaller circles for eyes. You can adjust the size overlap them, or position them to create a unique touch.
- Nose: For a fun twist, use a small oval or circle for a nose. I use a ‘bean’ shape for my avocado character, and it gives it a quirky look.
- Mouth: You can use a curve line or a ‘U’ shape for the mouth to express emotion – happy, sad, silly, or anything in between.
- Arms, Hands, Feet, & Legs: For a simple character, lines or rectangles work well. Just drag and adjust them to create arms and legs, or even small circles for paws and hands.
III) Customise the Details:
- Eyebrows: You can add smaller lines or shapes above the eyes to show your character’s personality – do they look curious, serious, or playful?
- Clothing or Accessories: Use simple shapes like right-angle triangles or rectangles to create basic clothing, hats, or accessories.
The best part? You do not have to be perfect. Your character will get better as you practice and experiment!
STEP 3
Add Colours and Adjust the Design:
Now that you have created your basic character, it is time to give them some colour. You can do this by:
- Changing Fill Colours: Select any shape and choose a fill colour from the colour palette at the top of the screen.
- Experimenting with Patterns or Gradients: For added flair, you can use a gradient or pattern fill for certain elements like clothing or backgrounds.
- Using Fun Backgrounds: Your character might need a background to make them stand out in your profile picture or channel banner. For a YouTube profile photo, you can go for something simple like solid colour or gradient.
STEP 4
Creating Your YouTube Channel Banner:
Once your character is ready, it is time to put it all together. Here’s how you can design your YouTube channel banner in Canva:
- Background: Start with a background that complements your character. You can use solid colours, images, or even abstract designs.
- Text: Add your channel name and any other information you want to include, like a tagline. Use bold fonts to make the text stand out.
- Place Your Character: Position your character prominently in the design. Make sure it is centered and visible even on mobile devices (The center of your design is the most important).
- Additional Elements: Add any extra touches like icons, small graphics, or even a fun border around your profile picture to make it unique.
STEP 5
Download & Upload to YouTube:
Once you are happy with your design:
- Click the ‘Download‘ button in the top-right corner of Canva.
- Choose the file format (JPG or PNG works best for YouTube).
- Upload to YouTube: Go to your YouTube channel, click on the profile photo or banner, and upload your new design. The options are in YouTube Studio, under customisation.
What’s Coming Next?
In our next blog, we will be diving into the history of animation. We will explore how animation began, how it evolved, and how it became the powerful storytelling tool we know today. Whether you’re interested in traditional animation, stop motion, or digital animation, this is a must-read to understand how the magic of animation came to life.
Stay tuned, and do not forget to check back for more tips and tricks on how to build your creative skills!
Curious about the history of animation? Click here to read our next blog and discover how animation changed the world!