Strong visuals make your message clearer, more engaging, and easier to remember. Whether you're using Canva, Figma or your phone, this guide will help you design graphics that are clean, consistent, and on-brand.

Choose Your Tools

There are a plethora of free and accessible design tools available for use, with some including free premium accounts for students! Anyone can give graphic design a shot, and these are some tried and tested programs/websites we've used before:

Canva
A common user-friendly design tool that welcomes beginners. Free to use with lots of customisable templates. They have a host of tutorials to get you started, and many independent users have posted tips and how-to videos. 

Figma
A more advanced design tool suited to those who want more control and collaborative capability. Can be run in-browser or as a program. You can see their tutorials here, but since the Comms and Design team use this one for our own projects we are able to answer any questions you have about using it. 

TIP: Students and educators can get Figma for FREE. Verify your education status here.

Stock Image Use and Licensing

Not all images on the internet are free to use. Using unlicensed content can lead to legal issues — and individual students may be held responsible.

UMSU has access to Getty Images. Find the image you need here and send us the link via cme-support@union.unimelb.edu.au to obtain access.

Alternatively, there are additional free image services online. For stock photos, we recommend Unsplash, Burst, Pexels, Pixabay, and public domain archives such as the State Library of Victoria, RawPixel, Picryl or the National Gallery of Art.


If you're looking for icons and graphics, we recommend Noun Project and FontAwesome.

Always check the image licence, and never use copyrighted content without permission.



Maintain Visual Identity

UMSU has a consistent set of colours and fonts we use across all our content so that students can see our material and instantly recall who we are. It builds trust and familiarity. If they're scrolling and see the brand colours of the department that always gives out free food on campus, they might stop and see what you have to say. 

You can use UMSU's colours and fonts outlined here or take the time to create your own. 

You can also find all department logos here. However keep in mind that anything with the UMSU U logo on it must be reviewed by the Design team before posting. Learn about the artwork approval process here.

Carousels: Best Practice

Carousels are a great way to tell a story or break information into digestible chunks. 
  • Stick to one key idea/joke per slide
  • Use high-quality images and minimal text
  • Export each slide as 1350h x 1080w PNGs for ideal fit in the grid (this is flexible, so long as they're all one size you're good)
  • Feature friendly faces where possible to connect with people in a more human way

Stories: Best Practice

Instagram stories are best for timely updates or quick calls to action. Selling the last few tickets? Need to notify people your collective has moved this week? Stories are the way to go.
  • Use the vertical format and correct size (1920h x 1080w)
  • Stick to easily legible fonts and steer clear from the edges of the screen
  • Proofread for grammar, dates & times, and names
  • Avoid placing text where it might be covered by the Instagram interface
  • Don't spam the story with low quality images or without purpose.
  • Use custom colours rather than the Instagram defaults
  • Minimalist, clean designs with impactful photos or design are performing well currently.

Reels (Visual Design Only)

Although we'll go deeper into video content in another guide, here’s what to consider from a visual perspective:
  • Use strong visuals for the thumbnail preview as this is what shows up in your feed. Include smiling faces or cool stills from the video.
  • Stick to simple, readable text.
  • Carry over your visual identity into your reels. Incorporate those core colours and fonts. 
  • Avoid using GIFs or stickers without clear intention.
For information on creating video for social media, see our guide on Creating Video Content.

Easy-To-Use Figma Templates

Generic Promo Designs

We have created a design template in Figma that you can use to quickly craft your own design. When ready, export your assets and upload them to Teamwork or email them to cme-support@union.unimelb.edu.au for approval from the Design team.


Intro Carousel 
Our Design team created introduction carousels for each department using Figma, each with full customizability.

How do I use a template?

Step 1. Download your Figma template by clicking on your department name in the list above.

Step 2. Download the UMSU fonts and install them on your computer (links in the UMSU Brand Guidelines article).

Step 3. Get familiar with Figma! It'll take you 10 minutes, tops.





Step 4. Edit your text. Make sure your department, location, preferred names/s etc. are all as you'd like them.

Step 5. Proof read and double check information and spellings are correct.