Once upon a time, if you wanted professional-looking graphics, you either had to pay a designer or battle with the complicated world of Adobe. Enter Canva, the platform that flipped the industry on its head. What started as a simple idea from Melanie Perkins in 2000 has grown into a global design powerhouse with 190 million users across 190 countries. And the craziest part? It was rejected by 100 investors before finally taking off.

But behind the sleek templates and drag-and-drop ease, there’s a bigger conversation to be had. Canva’s AI integration, including Leonardo AI for image generation, has stirred up controversy, especially with concerns over AI-generated racist imagery and non-consensual deepfake porn. Add to that a steep price increase and growing frustration from long-time users, and the once-beloved design tool is starting to feel a little less like the hero of the underdog and more like just another corporate giant.

So, is Canva still the go-to for small businesses and non-designers? Or has it outgrown its original mission in pursuit of profit? We’re breaking down the rise, the hype, the AI drama, and whether Canva still deserves its spot as the king of accessible design.

About Simon and Danielle:

Simon and Danielle are both business owners, based in the East Midlands, who met through mutual business contacts and who share a love of all things business.

Simon runs Skylight Media – Award-winning experts in Website Design, E-commerce & Marketing running since 2003.

Danielle runs Goldspun Support – a multi-faceted support service for fractional directors and small business owners across the globe, running since 2009.

Since they first met Simon and Danielle have spent a ridiculous amount of time talking about the subjects that interest them – usually over a drink in the pub – and they decided that now was the time to bring these conversations to a wider audience and invite them to join the chat.

Both Simon and Danielle are successful business owners in their own rights with big plans for the future but will never lose their love of talking all things business… and the pub.