Canva: From Sketch to Success

Canva is an online graphic design platform that’s changed the game for anyone needing to create visuals, from social media posts to business presentations. Founded in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams, the company’s mission was clear: make design accessible to everyone. Whether you’re a small business owner, a student, or a marketer, Canva lets you create designs without needing advanced skills.

Today, Canva is a global leader in the design space, with a valuation over $40 billion. The platform has become synonymous with simplicity by giving its users the ability to create graphics in minutes. With over 170 million users worldwide, Canva has transformed the way many think about design. The story of how Canva went from a simple idea to a tech giant is a story about persistence. It’s a testament to how a single idea, when paired with dedication, can change an entire industry.

While at the University of Western Australia, Melanie Perkins was teaching her classmates how to use design software. It was during this time that she saw the frustration students had with complex design programs, and noticed that creating yearbooks in schools was cumbersome because it required students to spend hours learning how to properly use design software. This realization led Perkins to think, What if designing yearbooks could be easy? She envisioned a platform where students and schools could design yearbooks effortlessly, with no design experience needed.

So in 2007, Perkins and her partner Cliff Obrecht launched Fusion Books to help students design their own yearbooks online. This was the perfect starting point, as yearbooks were traditionally a cumbersome process for schools to design. Fusion Books quickly became the largest yearbook publisher in Australia and expanded to other countries like New Zealand and France. But Perkins had bigger dreams. She saw that the same principles of simplicity and accessibility could apply to the broader world of design.

In 2011, Perkins and Obrecht decided to take their idea global and created Canva. But this dream would soon require Melanie to be the epitome of persistence. Funding this massive initiative became a major hurdle. Perkins faced rejection from over 100 investors, but every “no” she received was only one step closer to her goal. It wasn’t until she met Bill Tai, a Silicon Valley investor, that things began to change. However, in order to secure the investment she needed, building a strong tech team was crucial. Tai believed in her idea but made it clear that in order to move forward, she needed a world-class technical team. Tai connected her with Cameron Adams, a former Google engineer, who joined the team as Canva’s technical co-founder, and brought the expertise needed to turn the vision into a working platform.

After securing $3 million in seed funding in 2013, the team moved to Sydney where they officially launched the platform. Right from the start the goal was to simplify design and make it accessible to everyone. Canva’s drag-and-drop interface made it easy for users to create graphics without needing to learn complex software.

By August 2013, Canva launched with a waiting list of 50,000 eager users ready to get started. The platform’s freemium model allowed people to use basic design features for free, while offering paid premium options for businesses and pro users. This approach helped Canva grow quickly and build a loyal user base. Within the first year, users had created millions of designs, validating the demand for a tool like Canva.

The company grew alongside its user base. In 2014, Guy Kawasaki, a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, joined Canva as its Chief Evangelist. This was a big move for the brand and helped increase visibility and credibility in the U.S. market. At the same time, Canva expanded its product offering with Canva for Work, which targeted businesses and teams that needed collaborative design tools. This was a game-changer because it allowed Canva to transition from a tool for individuals to a tool used by companies for their branding and marketing needs.

The team’s focus on simplicity and ease of use became Canva’s competitive edge. The platform wasn’t just for designers—it was for everyone. This broad appeal was key to Canva’s viral growth. The company continued to improve its offerings with additional features, including more design templates, marketing tools, and Canva Pro options for businesses, all while maintaining the core value of accessibility.

As the company grew, so did its reputation. 2016 marked a major milestone when Canva reached profitability. The company continued to expand, adding more users, launching Canva for Education, and expanding internationally. By 2017, Canva had reached unicorn status with a valuation of over $1 billion, and its growth only continued from there.

By 2020, Canva had grown to over 60 million active users. The shift to digital-first communication, experienced during the global pandemic of 2020, caused more users to turn to platforms like Canva for their graphic design needs. In 2021, Canva reached a $40 billion valuation, solidifying its place as global online design leader.

Today, Canva isn’t just a design tool—it’s a visual communication platform that aligns perfectly with Melanie Perkins' original vision of making design accessible to everyone. From the beginning, she set out to create a solution that simplified the process of design, allowing anyone—regardless of experience—to create professional-quality visuals. Fast forward to today, with over 170 million active users, Canva has expanded far beyond its initial focus on yearbooks. It now offers a wide range of tools, from video editing to website creation and even AI-powered design features. Each new feature brings the platform closer to Melanie's goal. What began as an idea to simplify yearbook design has grown into a global hub for all types of creative expression, truly reflecting the visionary nature of its founder’s dream.