Australian visual communications platform Canva announces a major operational restructuring affecting 1,271 employees—22% of its workforce—through layoffs, role modifications, and hub relocations. Chief Executive Officer Melanie Perkins highlights that revenue growth slowed for the first time in a decade amid soaring AI expenses and shifting technology expectations. Venture backers Blackbird and Airtree reduced Canva's valuation to A$49 billion, as the company centralizes product teams in Sydney.
Canva announces major workforce overhaul and layoffs
- ▪Canva co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Melanie Perkins stated that Canva's restructuring affecting 1,271 employees represents the hardest moment in Canva's 13-year history
- ▪Canva Inc. announced a structural overhaul affecting 1,271 employees, or 22% of its workforce, through layoffs, role changes, or relocations
Global operations and updated workplace mandates
- ▪Canva designated Sydney, Australia, as the primary home base for a larger portion of its global product development teams
- ▪CEO Melanie Perkins said Canva will require hybrid workers across its global operations in 37 countries to work in-person two to three days per week starting in January
Slowdown in revenue growth and rising AI expenses
- ▪Canva's revenue growth slowed during 2026 for the first time in a decade, according to a note to staff from Chief Executive Officer Melanie Perkins
- ▪Canva reportedly lowered its internal company valuation during 2026 due to soaring expenses tied to rolling out new artificial intelligence products
- ▪Canva faced increased operating costs in 2026 associated with incorporating artificial intelligence technology into its online design platform
Impact of AI technology on user expectations and software design
- ▪Artificial intelligence tools allow software users to create design products independently while enabling tech companies to operate with smaller workforces
- ▪Canva Chief Executive Officer Melanie Perkins stated that new AI-related technology is transforming what users create, how they create, and their product expectations
Melanie Perkins and Canva founding
- ▪Canva Chief Executive Officer Melanie Perkins left university at age 19 to start her first business venture
- ▪Melanie Perkins co-founded Canva in 2013 alongside Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams to provide template-based graphic design tools for non-technical users
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