Klaviyo best practice for designing emails in Canva

For a long time, we steered clear of designing emails in Canva. Our approach was either stripped-back, text-based emails or Klaviyo’s built-in formatting tools, adding custom development only when necessary. The reasoning? Email clients are notoriously inconsistent when rendering designs, and relying on external design tools like Canva often meant sacrificing key functionalities like dynamic content blocks, personalised data, or responsive layouts.

Why are email clients so unpredictable?

Brands today use custom fonts, button styles, and CSS-driven design elements that simply don’t translate well to email due to the limitations of email clients. While Klaviyo’s default email builder is great for functionality, it doesn’t always offer the level of brand-specific design teams want - at least not without a developer.

It’s also worth noting that many teams prioritise agility. They want to move quickly, rolling out campaigns without needing design resources or Adobe Creative Cloud expertise, which can slow things down.

But things have changed.

While we’ve always prioritised performance and functionality, we also recognise that brand experience matters. Tools like Canva have improved, and email builders are evolving. The challenge is finding the balance - ensuring emails look great while maintaining the flexibility and functionality needed for modern email marketing.

Why Canva is gaining traction in email design

Brands today have custom fonts, button styles, and CSS-driven design elements that simply can’t be transferred over to email due to the technology limitations of email clients. While Klaviyo’s default email builder is great for functionality, it doesn’t always allow for the level of brand-specific design that teams want - without needing a developer.

This shift has led us to a hybrid approach:

• Leverage Klaviyo for logic-driven modules (e.g. abandoned cart flows, dynamic product recommendations, and personalised content blocks)
• Use Canva to bring brand aesthetics into static sections (e.g. uniquely styled CTAs, ‘Us vs. Them’ comparison tables, or editorial-style banners)

Case Studies: Freja, Mother Root

Rather than choosing Klaviyo or Canva, the best results come from blending the two. We lean on Klaviyo for dynamic content, personalisation, and automation, while Canva handles brand styling that wouldn’t translate otherwise.

Freja Foods: A balance of Klaviyo’s personalisation features with Canva’s ability to maintain their distinct brand colours and typography. Since their brand font wasn’t supported in Klaviyo, Canva ensured it was locked in as part of the visual elements, keeping emails recognisably ‘Freja’ while still being scalable.

Mother Root: The same principle applied (as Freja), but with a stronger focus on button styles and layout formats - both of which are restricted in Klaviyo. Canva allowed us to retain Mother Root’s specific button designs and structured comparison sections, while Klaviyo handled automation and logic.

Bold Bean: Here, we leaned into modular email structures, using Klaviyo for abandoned cart logic and dynamic content blocks, while Canva handled custom brand elements weren’t easily replicable in Klaviyo (certain fonts / buttons). The approach seems simple - an image-based structure for the comparison table - but its execution was far more technical. It was positioned via custom-coded dynamic blocks, ensuring flexibility in content while maintaining visual integrity. This hybrid solution gave the brand more control while keeping the email logic intact.

Mobile-first as the default

Nearly all of our clients - except for those with very high-consideration purchases - prioritise mobile-first email design. Canva’s ability to create pixel-perfect visuals for mobile screens, while keeping Klaviyo’s dynamic modules intact, has made it an increasingly attractive option.

Best practices for designing emails in Canva for Klaviyo

If you’re integrating Canva designs into your Klaviyo emails, here are a few key things to keep in mind:

1. Stick to Simple Layouts – Email clients can be unpredictable, so keep Canva designs structured and avoid overly complex elements.
2. Prioritise Mobile-Optimised Designs – Ensure text is legible and buttons are large enough for tap interactions.
3. Use Transparent Backgrounds Where Possible – This helps Canva elements blend seamlessly with Klaviyo’s native styling.
4. Keep Key Content in Klaviyo Where Needed – Dynamic elements like discount codes, first names, or personalised recommendations should stay within Klaviyo.
5. Test Before Sending – Run your designs through Klaviyo’s preview and inbox testing tools to ensure consistency across different email clients.

The future of Klaviyo + Canva

Email marketing is no longer just about deliverability and functionality – it’s an extension of brand experience. As more brands demand on-brand, no-code email templates that marketing teams can easily manage, Canva is becoming a powerful tool in the mix.

But while strong template design is a given, the real winners will be the brands that go beyond aesthetics and focus on how emails are delivered. Success lies in the mechanics—how flows are configured, how engagement signals are leveraged, and how automation is fine-tuned. Sending score optimisation, SMS integrations, cancellation flows, and hyper-personalised triggers all play a crucial role in turning good design into measurable impact.

The best results come from blending Klaviyo’s technical capabilities with Canva’s design flexibility - a strategy that allows brands to retain a strong identity while still leveraging the automation and personalisation Klaviyo excels at.