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How Canva Became the Design Tool We Can’t Live Without
Hey,
At Ecomswap, we’re always inspired by stories of businesses that didn’t just grow big but completely changed the game. This week, we’re taking a closer look at Canva—a tool so simple yet so powerful that it made design accessible to millions of people who don’t call themselves “designers.”
Let’s unpack their journey 👇
🚀 It All Started with a Big Problem to Solve
In 2013, Melanie Perkins, a university student in Australia, noticed something odd: People were struggling to use design tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. They were clunky, expensive, and intimidating for the average person. So, Melanie, along with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams, set out to create Canva—a tool that made designing as simple as dragging and dropping.
They didn’t have a huge budget or fancy equipment, but they had one big advantage: they deeply understood the problem their audience faced.
💡 Lesson: You don’t need a revolutionary idea—just solve a common problem in a way that makes people’s lives easier.
🎯 Starting Small but Thinking Big
The first version of Canva wasn’t perfect. It had a basic interface, a few templates, and some design elements. But that simplicity is what made it work. From day one, Canva stood out because it was easy for anyone to use—students, small business owners, even non-tech-savvy folks.
And the best part? Canva offered a freemium model: you could use it for free, but the premium features were worth every penny.
💡 Lesson: Don’t overcomplicate your product at the start. Simplicity can be your biggest selling point.
🔥 How Canva Built a Community That Sells for Them
Here’s the genius part: Canva didn’t spend millions on ads to grow their user base. Instead, they leaned on their users to spread the word.
Encouraging Shares: They made it super easy for users to share their designs, giving Canva organic exposure.
Referral Program: Canva gave users credits for inviting friends—simple but so effective.
Education: They launched free tutorials and resources, teaching users how to design better, which kept them coming back.
Canva didn’t just build a user base—they built a community.
💡 Lesson: People are more likely to stick with your product if they feel like they’re part of something bigger.
🌍 The Growth That Came With a Strategy
By 2019, Canva was already valued at over $3 billion. Fast forward to today, and it’s worth a whopping $40 billion. Here’s how they pulled it off:
Smart Partnerships: Canva integrated with platforms like Dropbox and HubSpot, making their tools available where their users already were.
Listening to Users: They added features like team collaboration, branding kits, and even AI tools based on user feedback.
Going Global: With support for multiple languages and a cloud-based platform, Canva became accessible anywhere, anytime.
💡 Lesson: Always listen to your users—they’ll tell you exactly what you need to grow.
📈 The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Canva’s impact is massive:
100M+ monthly active users across 190 countries.
Over $1B in annual revenue.
Thousands of ready-to-use templates for everything from Instagram posts to resumes.
They didn’t stop at being a design tool—they became a default for anyone who needed something visual, from small businesses to enterprises.
💡 Lesson: Growth isn’t just about gaining users; it’s about becoming indispensable to them.
💼 What You Can Take Away From Canva’s Journey
Keep It Simple: Don’t try to wow people with complexity—solve their problems in the easiest way possible.
Build a Community: Canva made its users feel like part of a movement, not just customers.
Always Innovate: Even after reaching success, they kept adding features to stay ahead of the curve.
Canva’s story is proof that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel—you just need to make it spin smoother.
So, what’s your favorite part of Canva’s journey? Are there strategies here you think could work for your business? Reply to this email—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
P.S. If this story inspired you, share it with a fellow entrepreneur who could use a little Canva magic 🌟
Best regards,
Ecomswap Team