Quickstart Video Guide

Software used:

  • Camtasia
  • Canva

Skills used:

  • User design
  • Content creation
  • Organizing and editing information

This project highlights my skills with:

  • Content creation, from beginning to end.
  • Post-production video and audio editing.
  • Seeing the big-picture process and figuring out what fits—and what doesn’t!

Background

I was tasked with creating a quickstart guide that would help brand-new Canva users get started with the software. I used the video editing software Camtasia to create a short video that enables new users to immediately engage with Canva and get started on their new creations.

This project was completed in November 2024.

Task

This project was planned from a new user’s perspective—what information needs to be communicated so that a prospective Canva user can learn the most important aspects of the software and start creating after two and a half minutes?

While planning this video, I focused on distilling information down to the most relevant and needed parts. I used a storyboard design process to help me plan the creation of the guide and focus on the most important information.

Creating the Video

To determine the best way to tackle this project, I started with a complete storyboard of the video. This storyboard helped plan out what functions of Canva were most important and the easiest way to get users familiar with these functions. 

This sample of my storyboard shows how I collated the direction, imagery, and script of my video together.

Once I finished the storyboard, I began editing my script and honing the direction I wanted to take the video in. Some sections required a re-organization of the content, while other sections fit right where I wanted them to — all part of the process! Once the content was edited and ready to go, I began the video and audio recording process for the guide.

The Final Project

After the raw content for the video was recorded, I began the editing process. Alongside small edits for pauses and extra words, I also trimmed the video itself and re-recorded any sections of audio that needed it. 

I also added visual aids to the video, such as boxes to indicate where the user should click, editing and smoothing the cursor path, and adding cursor highlights to help show the user where specific buttons are.

Each post-production edit was made with the user in mind, considering where they might need extra help and where they might appreciate some extra visual aid.

My final video can be viewed below: