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If you find Adobe Photoshop and other professional photo-editing apps challenging to learn, you can thank Canva for its beginner-friendly interface that will set you up for more advanced photoshopping skills. But this very graphic design platform also began the way most artists like you start with their graphic design skills—through learning.

Idea for Canva

Melanie Perkins, a university student in Australia, is the reason why we can easily create visuals. And it started when he noticed that students often struggle to use design software. While she did teach students to learn how to use these platforms, she was able to recognize that people need a more user-friendly solution.

According to Thriday, there was an initial prototype for Canva that Perkins showcased at startup events and pitch competitions. However, these attempts were met with doubts. But Melanie persisted until finally, they caught the attention of investors and secured funding to further develop Canva.

Canva Through the Years

In 2013, Perkins officially launched Canva.

At first, it offered users with a simple drag-and-drop interface. There were already templates to take inspiration from, images to use, and design elements. Overall, just enough tools to allow beginners to create professional-quality designs.

This easy-to-use UI eventually became popular for beginners and professionals seeking a simple interface. Before Perkins knew it, Canva already attracted millions of users worldwide and has since become a go-to tool for individuals and businesses.

Over time, Canva continued to grow with the team introducing new features and enhancements to make it easier and more modern for professionals. There is also a range of offerings, which include design resources, educational content, and other tutorials.

Recently, Forbes announced that Canva is already valued at $26 billion. The edge for the graphic design platform, besides its UI and UX, is the consistent updates 185 million users receive, like AI assistance for photos and texts, and other third-party apps that can further improve designs.