Beginner’s Guide to Cricut Design Space – 2023

Cricut Design Space is a companion software to communicate with the Cricut machine. Investing in a Cricut machine is pointless if you don’t master the Design Space app. Although it’s a free tool, it’s one of the best beginner-friendly tools. It’s a digital design application that may look overwhelming initially, but it is very easy to use. If you want to gain insight into Design Space and what it can do, this will be helpful. We will start this blog with a quick overview of the Design Space.

What is Design Space Used For?

Design Space is a graphic designing tool owned by Cricut. The tool is compatible with the Maker series, Explore series and Joy. The older Cricut machines, such as Cricut Expression and Explore One, do not support Design Space. Design Space was launched as a replacement for Cricut Craft Room. The app is compatible with Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android devices. If you want to get the best results, it is advisable to use a computer. The app is free, so you can download and install the app for free.

You can rest assured that no hidden charges are incurred. Design Space has an extensive library of images, fonts, and pre-designed templates. Most of them are free, but you can opt for Cricut Access if you want something more sophisticated. You can access various images, fonts, and ready-made project templates with a monthly subscription. With the new Cricut machine, you get a free trial to check if you should go for a monthly subscription.

How to Get Started With the Design Space?

Download the Design Space app from Cricut’s official website and install it on your device. If you have not previously installed the app on your device, you will be prompted to create a Cricut ID when you open the app for the first time. You will be asked to sign in if you already have an ID. Next, you’ll need to pair the Design Space software with the Cricut machine. The app will walk you through the setup process.

Once you’ve completed the process and want to start your first project, you’ll see a workspace called the “canvas.” It’s where all the layout takes place, and you’ll be able to layout designs online and offline. Many buttons and options will appear before you, which might intimidate you. To simplify it, we have divided the canvas into four areas and four colors: Top Panel is the Editing Area, Left Panel is the Insert Area, Right Panel is the Layers Area, and Green is the Canvas Area.

Top Panel

This area contains options for editing and arranging the elements on the canvas. Here, you can align designs, change sizes, and choose the font type you want to use. The panel is divided into two sub-panels: Name Your Project and Cut It and Editing Menu.

Left Panel

The designs you edit with the top panel come from the left panel. You can insert images, shapes, and ready-made templates in this panel. The left panel boasts seven options: New, Projects, Shapes, Images, Text, Phrases, Editable Images, Uploads, and Monogram.

Right Panel

The right panel is all about layers. For those who have not heard this term let us explain. Layers constitute every element or design present on the canvas area. Depending on the project’s complexity, you’ll have different types of layers.

Canvas Area

It’s the area where you can monitor all your designs and elements.

Basic Functions That Will Help You Get Started

Now that you have gained some knowledge about Canvas and its layout, you need to know some basic functions that will be helpful for every project. In the Design Space interface, you will see many buttons and options, but we have listed five essential functions.

Locating Images in the Cricut Library

When you tap the ‘image’ option on the left panel, the Cricut Image Library will appear. The library contains thousands of images that you can use for your projects. If you are searching for anything specific, you can use the keyboard or image ID number. If you find something you like, tap on it and follow it by tapping on the button at the lower right of the screen to add it to your canvas.

Editing Image

With a few tools, you can easily adjust images and designs. The anchors are the most important. A box around the shape will appear when you tap on any image. Each box corner has a distinct function.

Using Fonts

You can create some amazing projects by simply using the fonts. For such projects, you can use your own system fonts or Cricut-specific fonts, but you will need a Cricut Access membership. You can draw, cut and print any of the fonts. However, Depending on the material you wish to use and the size of the letters, some fonts will work better than the rest.

Sending Projects to the Cutting Mat

You’ll want to send the project to the mat when you are satisfied with your design. Tap the ‘make it’ button, and based on the color of your project pieces, they will be arranged on virtual mats. The size and placement of each element can then be adjusted.

Saving Your Project

It’s the last piece of the puzzle. You can save your project to the cloud or your computer. However, to save the project to the cloud, you will need internet access.