From Generic to Kickass: Why It’s Time to Ditch the off-the-shelf Templates
Templates are great - until they aren’t
We get it, free Canva templates and the like are tempting. They’re quick, easy, and let you feel like you’re “doing the thing” without starting from scratch every time… But here’s the thing: free templates aren’t a brand strategy. And relying on them too heavily, is one of the fastest ways to make your business look like every other one out there.
The sea of sameness is real
Have you been noticing that with the over use of AI everything online is beginning to look the same? This is I guess our point - you’re saying to the world “look at us!” in exactly the same voice, layout and style as thousands of other brands. So how will your customer see or hear you in the sea of clones?
If your business is growing, then blending in isn’t the goal, you need to stand out and have a strong point of difference. Your branding design should be reflecting what makes you special; not design that flattens you into the same format as everyone else.
You want your templates to actually feel like you—bold, brilliant, and unmistakably original. Slapping your logo, font, and brand colours onto a premade Canva design might tick the branding box, but it doesn’t bring that kickass essence you’re known for. You need something with your vibe baked in from the first pixel—a design that speaks in your voice, moves like your brand, and looks like no one else’s. Because let’s be honest: you're not building a brand to play it safe—you’re here to make waves.
Without strategy, design is just decoration
See here is the thing - using an off-the-shelf template can’t teach you how to design with purpose and if your visual identity isn’t built around a clear strategy, it can’t support your business goals.
It might look decent and save you time but in the long run… is it actually moving the needle? Is it helping people understand who you are, what you do and why they should choose you? Because in 2025 it’s absolutely necessary to give people those answers clearly from the get go.
Automation is easy. But is it effective?
Sure, automation has its perks - we use it here in the TDO office all the time to streamline our workflow and cut timing down but we know that easy doesn’t always equal effective.
When your content is on autopilot, your audience can feel it. Branded documents that look like generic downloads, social posts that all blur into one; none of that helps you stand out, build trust, or drive real connection.
To be honest, we’ve stopped reading a lot of content lately that feels automated. You know the kind; lots of long em dashes, copy-and-paste tone, zero substance. No thanks!
Your brand deserves better than beige. DIY can help you launch, but it won’t help you scale. Because real design doesn’t just look good, it:
Strategically attracts the right people
Solves problems
Creates consistency
Gives people a feeling they want to buy into
Has genuine (not AI) depth
Templates and automation can be handy when used effectively. We design templates all the time for our clients to use but there’s a real difference between intentionally designing an original template and the cookie cutter Canva templates out there. At the end of the day you want your business built or judged on. Real design has depth, intention and that unmistakable human touch.
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