What Canva’s layoffs reveal about its AI challenges | Explained
While the popular graphic design platform is preparing to lay off almost a quarter of its company, dedicated Canva users and customers had shared their concerns much earlier
Canva, the Australian graphic design platform, has announced it is reducing its workforce by 1,271 employees, comprising roughly 22% of its total staff. Co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins described the company's recent layoffs as "the hardest moment in our thirteen-year history" in a letter dated November 4, 2026.
Perkins attributed the decision to a slowdown in Canva's growth for the first time in a decade. The platform, launched in 2013, boasts over 220 million monthly active users across 190 countries. Canva's easy-to-use interface and free subscription models made it a popular choice over professional software like Adobe, attracting self-taught designers, independent creators, and even early professionals. Despite its widespread appeal, Canva is now grappling with AI challenges that have necessitated this workforce reduction.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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