I Tried to Rebrand a Catering Company in 2 Hours Using AI (And Canva)
I Did a 2-Hour Rebrand Challenge With AI + Canva—Here’s How It Went
Would I do this with a real client? Absolutely not. But for the sake of a challenge—and a little design chaos—I decided to try a two-hour rebrand using a brief generated by AI.
This quick-fire branding session is part reflection, part roast of Canva template culture, and part serious reminder that strategy matters.
If you want to join in and try this yourself, check out my post about the challenge below.
You can check out this post (and lots more!) over on my Instagram Page @hannah.bacon.design
The ‘existing’ logo from Canva and Ai colour palette
The Rebrand - Which do you prefer?
Let’s see how it went…
Step 1: Generate a Fake Brief Using AI
The AI gave me:
A catering business concept
A tagline
A list of keywords
A colour palette
So far, not bad. It was functional and gave me a clear (if basic) direction. The vibe? Welcoming, traditional, but fun.
Step 2: Enter Canva (a.k.a. Client Mode)
I headed straight into Canva like many small business owners do:
Chose a template
Plugged in the provided colours
Dropped in the tagline
And… ouch.
“As the colours started to come to life, I was hurting.”
The result wasn’t terrible, but it was cookie cutter. The colour palette lacked contrast, the typography didn’t match the brief, and none of the personality or story came through.
Step 3: Redesign With Strategy
Time to fix it.
I reworked the brand using the same brief—but with a designer’s approach:
Refreshed the colour palette for contrast and warmth
Incorporated the elements the brief outlined (think: stained glass, boldness, fun)
Created a logo with a traditional feel but modern personality
Built supporting brand elements based on country house stained-glass motifs
Key Takeaway: Templates Don’t Translate Strategy
This challenge highlighted what I see all the time:
Clients start in Canva because it’s easy, fast, and accessible. But that ease comes at a cost:
You get style over substance
The visuals rarely align with the actual business goals
There’s little-to-no flexibility for brand storytelling
And the result is something that feels… generic
Want More Time-Saving Tools and Freebies?
This process is just one of the techniques I share across my design templates and digital assets, made especially for designers who want professional results—without starting from scratch every time.
