Canva Unveils Brand Refresh Designed With The Help Of, Well, Canva
Image courtesy of Canva
Canva—the design platform that, in the digital world, has become as ubiquitous as the humble pencil—has just given its look a makeover to keep pace with the ever-evolving world of work.
Image courtesy of Canva
For a decade, Canva has been there to assist individuals looking to add a touch of design magic to their projects. Now, it’s setting its sights on businesses big and small. As workforces scatter across the globe, the need for clear, compelling visual communication has skyrocketed. The brand wants to be the glue holding those visuals together.
Image courtesy of Canva
From its iconic gradient to the handcrafted logo and custom typeface, Canva’s global brand identity was already firmly established. But the goal of this overhaul was to simplify and amplify the elements that make it so recognizable, while carving out more space for the diverse visual content reflecting its community.
Image courtesy of Canva
“Design isn’t just about aesthetics,” notes Cat van der Werff, Canva’s executive creative director. “Design is the vehicle that enables people to achieve their goals. Doubling down on this idea became the anchor for the entire brand refresh.”
To match this ambition, Canva has given its brand a refresh. The iconic gradient stays, but everything else has been given a once-over to make the brand more flexible, more human, and more accessible.
With a simplified color scheme, more readable fonts, more accessible UI elements, and a playful tone of voice, Canva’s revamped identity is poised to empower workplaces worldwide while feeling less corporate. It’s a clever comeback for a platform that’s always aimed to be anything but square. Canva has also developed new tools and resources to help businesses implement the brand refresh. This includes custom templates, AI-powered writing assistants, and a central hub for all brand assets.
Image courtesy of Canva
The company also recognized that design is a global language with local dialects. “Creativity looks different around the world,” says van der Werff. "What’s relevant to a human resources leader in Paris may not work for a digital marketer in São Paulo. Our refreshed brand system is designed to be hyper-localized and culturally relevant, allowing for greater connection with communities around the world than ever before.”
To better achieve this, Canva partnered with creative agencies Vucko and Buck. Vucko helped define an updated motion system, exploring how the brand can inject more personality and human connection into its visual identity. Meanwhile, Buck created a custom emoji style that draws inspiration from Canva's signature gradients, updated color palette, and playful spirit.
Image courtesy of Canva
This refresh isn’t just about a fresh coat of paint, either. Canva’s in-house team used the platform’s own design tools to roll out the brand update across its global workforce of over 4,000 people in 40 countries.
“From ideation to implementation, timelines to templates, we used our own tools at every stage of the process,” shares Van der Werff. “The entire refresh was designed to put our product through its paces, proving ways organizations can scale a global brand using Canva.”
Image courtesy of Canva
Image courtesy of Canva
[via Canva, images courtesy]
