Canva restructures and cuts 22 percent of workforce as growth slows

Graphic design software company Canva is making structural changes affecting 22 percent of its workforce, according to The Verge, Bloomberg, and Dealroom. The restructuring impacts 1,271 roles through layoffs, job adjustments, and forced relocations to centralized hubs. Co-founder and chief executive Melanie Perkins made the announcement on November 3, 2026. [1][2][3][4][5][6]

The changes follow a slowdown in growth for the Sydney-based technology firm for the first time in a decade, Bloomberg and Dealroom reported. Perkins stated that small changes would not be enough to set the company up for the next decade. Departing employees will receive at least six months of salary, according to The Verge. [1][2][3][4][5]

Canva is an Australian multinational graphic design platform launched in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams. The platform allows users to create digital products including presentations, posters, websites, and social media content using templates and editing tools. By the end of 2025, the platform served over 265 million monthly active users across 190 countries. [7][8]

The workplace adjustments require some remaining staff to change roles or relocate to centralized company hubs as part of the internal reorganization. [1]