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AI Apps in Canva: Revolutionising Creative Engagement

  • Writer: Simon Watkin
    Simon Watkin
  • Dec 20, 2023
  • 5 min read

In the fast-paced world of education, technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing learning experiences. One powerful tool that has gained immense popularity in recent years is Canva, a graphic design platform that empowers users to create visually stunning content effortlessly. While Canva itself is a game-changer for educators, the integration of AI apps takes it to a whole new level.


These are just a few of the AI Apps avilable within Canva:




SecretInk in Canva allows designers to embed hidden messages or surprise elements within their designs. Whether you're creating invitations, presentations, or educational materials, adding a touch of mystery can captivate your audience. For educators, this means the ability to create interactive lesson plans where students unveil information progressively, making the learning experience more engaging and memorable.


In the world of social media, grabbing attention is the key to success. SecretInk enables designers to create posts that encourage users to interact with the content actively. Whether it's a hidden discount code, a reveal of upcoming events, or a teaser for a product launch, this app adds an element of excitement to social media campaigns. Businesses, educators, and content creators can leverage SecretInk to increase user engagement and generate curiosity among their audience.


ai generated image of London train station

My Grade 5 students will be having a go at creating such images for their upcoming PYP Exhibition in 2024. In the meantime, SecretInk in Canva provides an opportunity to create interactive quizzes, puzzles, or challenges within educational content. By hiding answers or additional information, educators can turn traditional materials into interactive experiences, fostering a sense of curiosity and active participation among students.


HeyGen employs generative AI to simplify the video creation process. It provides over 120 AI avatars, more than 300 voices, and a diverse selection of 300+ templates tailored for different purposes. HeyGen provides a complimentary version of their AI tool to allow users to experience the platform. While the free version may not deliver the highest quality videos, it offers a glimpse of the platform's capabilities and introduces promotions for accessing extended features.



The above video was created using the HeyGen AI app within Canva. This was quick and easy to use, with the final video becoming part of a promotion for a workshop for teachers. The workshop was one of a series hosted by some of the Grade 5 Techsperts.



Canva's commitment to accessibility and simplicity is evident in the user-friendly design interface of EmojiArtist. Whether you're a seasoned designer or a beginner exploring creative avenues, the intuitive tools make it easy to seamlessly integrate emojis into your designs with just a few clicks.


a futuristic car generated using EmojiArtist

Emojis are not just symbols; they are a language of their own. Incorporating EmojiArt into your designs can inspire digital storytelling. Use emojis to convey narratives, evoke emotions, and create a visual journey that resonates with your audience. Such opportunities would give students the chance to make their visual presentations stand out from the crowd.


Hello QArt allows users to infuse their QR codes with artistic elements, turning them into visually appealing and engaging assets. Whether you want to embed your company logo, add vibrant colors, or include unique patterns, Hello QArt empowers you to express your brand identity creatively.


qr code link to teachoatcake.com

Simply specify the elements you want to incorporate into the QR code, and Hello QArt will generate it for you. Hello QArt allows users to describe the desired aesthetic and content to be merged with the QR code. This level of customisation enables teachers and students to tailor the user experience, ensuring that the QR code seamlessly aligns with the overall look and feel of the project that they wish to share. I can imagine this to be beneficial during the upcoming PYP Exhibition in 2024. Giving students the opportunity to generate QR codes that resemble their issue and/or action.


Cartoonify is a digital art form that takes inspiration from the world of cartoons and animation. By applying advanced algorithms and artistic filters, this technique converts regular photographs into stylised, cartoon-like images. The result is a playful and visually striking representation that adds a touch of nostalgia and fantasy to the original picture. Below is a far from flattering image that was generated from a photo that I uploaded.


cartoonify image from an uploaded photograph

One of the primary appeals of Cartoonify is its ability to transform the mundane into the fantastical. Everyday scenes, portraits, and landscapes take on a new life, resembling the vibrant and exaggerated elements characteristic of cartoons. This transformation injects a sense of whimsy and lightheartedness into the visuals, providing a delightful escape from reality. This makes it idea for the classroom and adding images to students creative writing.



Social Bellow is a text generating app that sits neatly in Canva and can generate anything from a discussion to instructructions to make for example a cup of tea. The instructions below were generated using Social Bellow:

a detailed description of how to make a cup of tea

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, one of the most exciting and transformative developments is the rise of AI image generation. This innovative capability, driven by artificial intelligence algorithms, is reshaping the way we create and interact with visual content. Below is an AI generated image using 'AI Image Gen', with the prompt 'pub on the moon'.


AI generated English Pub on the Moon


Sketch to Life heralds a new era in artistic creation by seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence into the sketching process. This app leverages advanced algorithms to interpret and animate hand-drawn sketches, transforming static images into dynamic and captivating visual narratives. With user-friendly tools and features, the app makes it easy for creators to bring their sketches to life with just a few taps, offering a bridge between the traditional and digital realms of art.

a cat by the fire generated using sketch to life


Imagen offers a diverse range of creative filters and styles that go beyond conventional photo filters. These AI-infused filters can transform images into artistic masterpieces, mimicking the styles of famous painters, creating surreal landscapes, or even turning photographs into vibrant, stylised compositions. The image below was generated with very few prompts in just a few minutes.


summer woods image created by Imagen


In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, DALL-E emerges as a groundbreaking marvel that transcends conventional boundaries. Created by OpenAI, DALL-E is an AI-powered image generation model that has revolutionised the way we conceptualise and create visuals. To have such a tool integrated into Canva is a real plus. One of the most enchanting features of DALL-E is its ability to generate images based on textual prompts. Students can input descriptions, concepts, or even whimsical ideas, and DALL-E transforms these words into visually stunning and often unexpected images. This creative prompting turns the AI model into a collaborator in the creative process.


dj teacher in the classroom cartoon image created by DALL-E


The integration of AI apps in Canva has ushered in a new era of creative empowerment, offering users an array of benefits that significantly enhance the design and content creation experience. From streamlining workflows to unleashing innovative possibilities, AI has become a valuable ally in the hands of designers, marketers, and content creators. In essence, the benefits of AI apps in Canva extend far beyond mere convenience. They empower users to unlock their creative potential, providing intelligent support, and opening up new possibilities in design. As technology continues to evolve, the synergy between human creativity and AI innovation within Canva paints a vibrant picture of the future of visual content creation.

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