Canva, a prominent Australian technology company, announced a significant restructuring affecting roughly one-fifth of its global workforce. Co-founder and Chief Executive Melanie Perkins disclosed in a message to staff that 1,271 employees would experience changes ranging from role modifications and relocations to job terminations.
Perkins characterized the reorganization as a difficult but necessary response to challenging business conditions. She noted that the company faced its most difficult year in its thirteen-year operating history, with growth slowing for the first time in a decade. The restructuring initiative includes centralization of certain operations, with Sydney designated as the primary location for more of the company’s product development teams. The organization also plans to adjust workplace policies for hybrid employees, with expectations that they spend two to three days per week in office settings starting next year.
The announcement comes amid broader industry concerns about the financial impact of artificial intelligence technology on the design software sector. Canva’s valuation has declined substantially, with major investors Blackbird Ventures and Airtree reportedly reducing the company’s valuation earlier in the year from A$60 billion to approximately A$49 billion. Additionally, the company conducted its own internal valuation downgrade as expenses related to developing and implementing AI-powered features increased significantly.
Canva provides design and template tools that enable users without specialized technical or design expertise to create professional visual content, including invitations, marketing materials, and business presentations. The company operates with employees across 37 countries. Founder Perkins established the platform in 2013 after leaving university at age 19 to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
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