Meet Roger Coles – My Social Designer
Of all the Canva Verified Experts out there, Roger Coles is the one I’ve probably spent the most virtual time with—thanks to our co-working sessions on Groove. This former pastor has gone all in on Canva, and as a fellow music lover, he’s an absolute delight. I’ve devoured his content, grabbed his freebies, and eagerly read his witty, insightful newsletters.
So when I got the chance to interview him, I knew the questions had to be totally on brand—meaning a little bit Canva, a little bit music, and a whole lot of fun.
Oh, and full disclosure: I’m an affiliate for his Canva Business Accelerator course, but only because I genuinely believe it’s worth every penny!
So Roger…Who are you, where are you, what do you do and who do you help?
I’m Roger Coles—part Canva magician, part musical mischief-maker, and full-time creative nerd. I live just outside Washington D.C., and I help online entrepreneurs and course creators who are tired of wasting time on inconsistent, low-impact marketing assets. My thing? A business-first approach to Canva that helps people design with purpose so they can grow their email list, nurture their audience, and actually sell stuff. I blend design and music to make creativity feel fun again. I keep one foot in strategy and one foot in the creative arts. Because what’s life without a little razzle dazzle?
How and when did you first discover Canva?
I found Canva 10 years ago when I was still leading the music at my church (and doing the graphics, and the website, and the videos, and the social media… PHEW!). I was working my side hustle of graphic design and clients would ask for “one small change”. I was helping publishing companies launch books for their authors and working with podcasters who needed small changes like an episode title or to swap out a guest photo. I realized that I could just make Canva templates that didn’t require fancy software and they were empowered to make those changes on their own. Fast forward a few years and…well, here we are!
What’s the most underrated Canva feature that deserves way more hype?
I go through seasons of fan-boying on certain Canva features. Right now I’m really starting to use Canva Docs and the Public View Link a LOT. I use Docs for Sending Proposals and creating Lead Magnets. And the Public View Link allows me to update those Lead Magnets in real time so that my audience has the most up to date info. I also use Public View Links for my Media Kit. These may not be the sexiest features, but they deserve some LOVE!
How has your experience as a musician influenced your design style—or vice versa?
My songwriting style is very… quirky. I’ve written songs about Doritos, Krispy Kreme, Canva.. I’m all over the place. Music taught me how to tell stories. And that translates seamlessly into design.
I like being silly and not taking myself too seriously. And I think that’s how I approach design. Very “purple cow”. But ultimately, music is an expression and allows me a medium to push things out into the world from my perspective, even if it’s a little silly. I think that’s how I tackle design and creating content. Life’s too short to be boring.
If you could design an album cover for any artist (living or dead), who would it be, and what would it look like?
I’d love to design for Michael Jackson or Elvis. Designing for kings? That’s the design equivalent of getting knighted. I’d keep it super minimal. White background, no text, just one iconic item front and center. MJ’s white glove. Elvis’ cape. Clean, bold, and instantly recognizable. No need to overdo it when the icon speaks for itself!
What’s one Canva feature you’d love to see added to make your creative process even smoother?
The ability to filter by COLLECTIONS. There are some amazing sets of photos, but currently I just kinda stumble across them. It would save me so much time being able to put together designs that had a cohesive set of photos in the template pack.
What’s been your most memorable or unexpected moment as a Canva Expert so far?
Easy. Performing a Canva rap live on stage at Canva Create. We turned a conference into a concert and the crowd went wild. One minute I’m designing templates, the next I’m rapping about SSO and Compliancy for Enterprise organizations with a full production team. Wild times indeed.
If your design style was a music genre, what would it be and why?
Funk-R&B with a sprinkle of cinematic orchestration. It’s bold, smooth, unexpected, and makes people go “ohhh this slaps.”
What’s your go-to Spotify playlist when you’re cranking out Canva designs?
Depends on the day. But I need something that makes my head bounce to keep the vibes up. I’m a big fan of 90s and early 2000s hip hop. But I also love upbeat Indie Poptimism. I keep my Spotify guessing on the DAILY!
Finally, if your creative process was an album, what would it be called?
My creative process is very messy during the brainstorm process and then I clean everything up. I have to paint messy before I make things clean. Maybe something like “Juxtaposition” or “Duality” to show the contrast of my creative process.
Tell me about your latest offering and why should people care and purchase it?
Right now, I’ve got something fire for business owners who are tired of posting pretty content that gets no clicks. It’s called the Canva Business Accelerator, and it’s not your average design course. It’s a business-first approach to using Canva to create lead magnets and content that bring in leads and sales. This one’s built to help you actually grow your email list, sell your offers, and stop spinning your wheels trying to “go viral.” It’s strategy-first, design-second.
If your content’s been cute but quiet, this is your moment to turn it into a marketing mic drop. Because at the end of the day, pretty pixels are cool—but profitable pixels? That’s the real flex.
Where can people find you?
You can find me being ridiculous but helpful over at @mysocialdesigner on Instagram, or mysocialdesigner.com for the goods.
Final Words
I’ve followed Roger’s Canva journey for years, learned loads from his content, and now, at long last, I get to meet the maestro himself face to face at Canva Create in Los Angeles. To say I’m excited would be an understatement!
If you’re a content creator, entrepreneur, or small biz owner looking to save time, boost your visibility, and finally make Canva work for your business, then check out The Canva Business Accelerator (yep, that’s an affiliate link, but I only share what I truly rate! It’s the best $47 you’ll spend this month!)
And if you’re at Canva Create too, come say hi! I’ll be the one in the leather jacket, probably talking about vinyl.
xoxo from LA (for once!), T.
PS: And of course if you need some 1:1 VIP training, or a group workshop or webinar, let’s chat and make that happen.
