Canva launches global brand system to boost workplace design

Canva, a prominent visual communication platform, has introduced a refreshed brand system aimed at workplaces globally. This move is part of Canva's ongoing mission to empower organisations with enhanced design and productivity tools, addressing the increasing visual communication needs present in modern workplaces.

The new system is designed to be flexible, enabling it to scale globally while maintaining local relevance. "Canva stands for empowerment—it's a founding principle of our brand and one that's been true to our mission since day one," stated Cat van der Werff, Executive Creative Director at Canva. "Because design isn't just about aesthetics. Design is the vehicle that enables people to achieve their goals. Doubling down on this idea became the anchor for the entire brand refresh."

Among the updates is a refreshed identity that integrates seamlessly with Canva's existing product layout. The company explains that the design now more closely mirrors user interactions within the platform, allowing for a more cohesive user experience. This includes inspiring content scrolls, drag-and-drop pages, and immersive full-screen moments.

Additionally, Canva has spotlighted the design process itself, focusing on work in progress rather than the finished product. The updated brand also humanises the user interface with interactive cursors, comments, and bespoke emojis that encourage connection and collaboration among users.

Van der Werff also highlighted the need for localisation in a globally scaling platform: "Creativity looks different around the world—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-localised and culturally relevant, allowing for greater connection with communities around the world than ever before."

In revamping its brand, Canva aimed to retain its iconic elements such as its gradient, handcrafted logo, and custom typeface while creating more space for user-generated content. Van der Werff noted, "The goal of this refresh was to simplify and amplify what makes it iconic and then create more space for inspiring visual content that reflects Canvas diverse community."

Environmentally, the updated brand system features a simplified colour palette in line with Canva's accessibility initiatives, ensuring that designs meet AA standards for colour accessibility. This alignment reflects the company's belief that empowerment and accessibility are interlinked.

In demonstrating the capabilities of its own tools, Canva's in-house creative team utilised Canva's design platform to roll out the brand refresh across more than 4,000 employees in over 40 countries. This approach highlighted the scalability of the platform's features, including custom brand templates, AI-powered writing tools, and a central Brand Kit for consistency.

"From ideation to implementation, timelines to templates, we used our own tools at every stage of the process" remarked van der Werff. "The entire refresh was designed to put our product through its paces, proving ways organisations can scale a global brand using Canva." The team collaborated with creative agencies Vucko and Buck to develop an updated motion system and custom emoji style, adding depth and personality to the refreshed brand.

Since its inception in 2013, Canva has championed the democratisation of design, assisting millions in realising their creative visions, regardless of their design expertise. With more than 190 million monthly active users and annualised revenue exceeding USD $2.3 billion, Canva continues to demonstrate its considerable global impact on visual communication and design.