CTV Branded Canvas Template
I designed a rule-based CTV Branded Canvas inside our Composer tool that embeds Ad Design expertise directly into the workflow. The CTV-only template locks layouts and pre-approved animations, guides asset uploads for video, PNGs, and QR codes, and treats QR codes as first-class, scannable elements on TV. The system makes the right decisions by default and eliminates costly mistakes.
Plug. Play. Ship.
〰️
Plug. Play. Ship. 〰️
Overview
CTV ads look simple on the surface, but behind the scenes, they're fragile. Specs are strict. Animation rules are unforgiving. One small mistake breaks the entire unit. At Kargo, that meant non-designers were blocked, and expert designers were overloaded with CTV design work. I was brought in to fix that.
Design Direction
Design a self-service system that removes the need for CTV expertise altogether. The product should handle specs, animation rules, and layout constraints by default, allowing users to focus solely on content and branding while ensuring every output is valid, performant, and production-ready.
Problem
Creating a valid CTV Ad meant understanding details most users shouldn't need to think about, such as strict 16:9 specs, safe zones, performance limits, and how animations actually behave on CTV devices versus in mocks. What looked “done” often failed QA in reality. The result was slower production, repeated rework, and constant handoffs to Ad Design to ship a single ad.
Solution
I designed a rule-based CTV Branded Canvas inside of Composer that embeds Ad Design expertise directly into the workflow. The CTV-only template locks layouts and pre-approved animations, guides asset uploads for video, PNGs, and QR codes, and treats QR codes as first-class, scannable elements on TV. The system makes the right decisions by default, eliminating costly mistakes.