Connecting Canva and Notion can help you streamline your design workflow while keeping content neatly organized in one accessible hub. Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or designer, learning how to link these two tools can save you time and ensure your visual assets are always at your fingertips.

Check for Native Canva Integration

Before starting out, it’s worth noting that Canva is listed among the official Notion Integrations. This means you can embed Canva designs directly in Notion, allowing you to view and showcase your files without leaving your workspace. To verify the latest integration details, check Notion’s official Integrations page or Canva’s help center.

How to Set Up the Native Canva Integration

Setting up the native integration is quick and straightforward, especially if you already have both a Notion and a Canva account. Here’s how you can start:

 
• Sign in to your Canva account. Make sure you have your design files ready.
 
• Open Notion in a new tab or window, and decide where you want to embed your Canva design (e.g., a project page or a dedicated design database).
 
• Click the space in your Notion page where you want the design to appear, and type “/embed.”
 
• Paste the URL of your Canva design into the embed prompt. Notion will automatically load a preview of your design.
 
• Click “Embed” to confirm. Your Canva design is now integrated into Notion.

Keep in mind that any updates you make to your Canva design may also reflect in the Notion embed, ensuring you always have an up-to-date version at your disposal.

Using Zapier for Deeper Automation

If you want to automate tasks beyond simple embedding—such as triggering new design requests from Notion into Canva—Zapier is a powerful option. Below is a general overview of how you might use Zapier to link Canva and Notion for custom workflows.

 
• Create Your Zapier Account: If you haven’t already, sign up for Zapier. The free plan allows you to experiment with basic zaps.
 
• Start a New Zap: Log in to Zapier, click “Create Zap,” and choose Canva as your trigger app if you want Notion to respond to new or updated items in Canva.
 
• Configure the Trigger: Select the specific trigger event (for example, “New Design Completed”). Zapier may ask you to authenticate your Canva account.
 
• Add Notion as the Action: Once the trigger is set, choose Notion as the action app. You can configure your Zap to create a new page, add a new database item, or update an existing record.
 
• Map Your Fields: Zapier will walk you through connecting details from Canva (e.g., design name or link) to the appropriate fields in your Notion database.
 
• Test and Activate: Run a test to confirm everything is working. If the test is successful, turn on your Zap, and your automation is ready to go.

You can also reverse this process by making Notion your trigger and Canva your action app, depending on how you want to manage designs.

Common Use Cases and Examples

While embedding Canva designs in Notion is a handy solution by itself, there are several other ways you can streamline your tasks. Here are just a few ideas:

 
• Design Review Tracking: Automatically create a new Notion task in your “Design Reviews” database every time you finalize a Canva design, keeping your team on the same page.
 
• Creative Briefs in One Place: Generate a new Notion page whenever someone submits a design request through Canva, ensuring you have all project details at your fingertips.
 
• Centralized Portfolio: Embed Canva links into a Notion portfolio database. This gives you a single hub for prospective clients or stakeholders to view all design work.

Helpful Tips and Best Practices

 
• Name Your Databases Clearly: Establish standard naming conventions (e.g., “Design Projects,” “Final Assets”) to quickly differentiate between multiple design databases.
 
• Use Multi-Step Zaps: If you’re automating with Zapier, experiment with multi-step zaps that handle tasks like sending notifications to Slack or emailing stakeholders when a design is approved.
 
• Set Permissions Carefully: Ensure your team has the right access to both Notion pages and Canva designs for a smooth workflow.
 
• Regularly Clean and Archive: Keep your workspace streamlined by archiving old designs in Notion so you only see active projects.

Troubleshooting

 
• Permission Errors: If you can’t embed Canva into Notion, double-check that your Canva design link is set to “Anyone with the link” or correct sharing settings.
 
• Outdated Links: Make sure the Canva link you’ve embedded is active. If you move or rename your design in Canva, you may need to re-embed the new URL into Notion.
 
• Missing Fields in Zapier: When customizing automations, ensure each field you’re mapping in Zapier is present and spelled correctly in Notion. Typos or missing fields can cause errors.

For more complex setup issues, consult Notion’s documentation or the Canva help center. Zapier’s support articles are also an excellent resource for diagnosing any advanced automation errors.

Conclusion

Connecting Canva and Notion can help you merge your design workflow with your organizational tasks in one convenient place. By using the native integration, you can quickly embed your designs, and if you’d like extra functionality, automations via Zapier can give you full control over how designs are created, stored, and tracked. Feel free to experiment, adjust to your team’s needs, and create the workflows that save you the most time.

If you’re ready for even more advanced customization, explore additional integrations in Notion or look into multi-step zaps in Zapier. Good luck, and have fun crafting a system that works perfectly for your team!