How to Create Branded Emojis to Add to Your Designs in Canva
Ever tried adding emojis to your Canva designs by copying and pasting them from your phone or keyboard? If so, you've probably noticed a BIG problem... when you download your design, those emojis show up as gray X's instead of the colorful icons you expected!
This happens because the standard emojis you use on your iPhone or Android devices are actually copyrighted by Apple and Android. So when you try to use them in your downloadable Canva designs, they get blocked.
There's a super simple solution that not only gives you access to emojis in Canva but also lets you customize them to match your brand. Let me show you how!
Step One - Find the Emoji App
Instead of copying and pasting emojis, we'll use Canva's built-in emoji app:
Open your Canva design
Click on "Apps" in the left sidebar
Search for "emoji" in the search bar
Step Two - Browse Available Emojis
Once you open the emoji app, you'll see a collection of emojis very similar to the ones you're familiar with on your devices. You can:
Browse through the categories
Use the search function (try typing "smile" or "heart")
Click on any emoji to add it to your design
Step Three - Customize Your Emoji
Here's where Canva's emoji feature really shines! Unlike standard emojis, you can customize these to match your brand. This customization feature lets you create branded emojis that feel much more integrated with your overall design aesthetic:
Select the emoji you just added to your design
Click on it to reveal the editing options
Start changing the colors of different parts of the emoji
Match the colors to your brand palette or current design
Pro Tips for Using Emojis in Design
Custom emojis are just one more way to add that extra bit of personality and brand consistency to your Canva designs. This simple trick helps you avoid copyright issues while creating more professional, custom content, but keep these few things in mind:
Don't overdo it! One or two strategically placed emojis usually work better than filling your design with them
Consider using emojis that reinforce your message rather than just decorative ones
Consistent emoji styles help maintain a professional look
Save your branded emojis as elements for quick reuse in future designs
And if you need a bit more help designing without having to worry about creating canva designs all on your own, check out our Canva template membership, Your Template Club!
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Manu Muraro is the founder of Your Social Team, an Instagram training membership and template shop that help social media managers and Instagram-savvy small business owners to grow engagement and sales using Instagram and content marketing, without the overwhelm. Born and raised in Brazil, Manu moved to the U.S. in 2000 right out of college to work for Cartoon Network, where she made an award winning career in creative and strategy. In 2021, Manu started Your Template Club, a Canva template subscription service to help social media professionals and Canva-savvy business owners to create content that performs on Instagram, add more Instagram features into their strategy, such as Instagram Lives and Reels, and save time.