Canva, the Australian start‑up known for its graphic‑design platform, will cut 22% of its workforce, affecting 1,271 employees who will either lose their jobs, be asked to relocate or change roles.
Co‑founder and CEO Melanie Perkins called the move “without doubt the hardest moment in our thirteen‑year history,” noting that growth has slowed for the first time in a decade and that the company’s value has dropped amid concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on its business.
Perkins said the decision would mean significant changes, including asking some staff to relocate to centralised hubs in Sydney, which will become the primary home for more product teams. Hybrid workers will be expected to spend two to three days in the office next year.
Earlier this year, investors Blackbird Ventures and Airtree downgraded Canva’s valuation from A$60 bn to about A$49 bn, and the company has also cut its own internal valuation as AI‑related expenses rise.
Canva, which operates in 37 countries, offers templates and tools that let users without technical skills create professional‑looking graphics and presentations. The company’s founder, who left university at 19, launched the platform in 2013.
Perkins closed her note by acknowledging that the layoffs would mean saying goodbye to teammates and friends who helped build Canva into what it is today.
Stakeholders will watch how Canva navigates AI integration and cost management in the coming months as it seeks to stabilize its financial position.
