Design software company Canva has introduced its own foundational AI model, engineered to generate complex, editable designs rather than static images. The announcement came alongside a suite of major product updates, including a comprehensive marketing platform called Canva Grow and significant changes to its professional design tool, Affinity.
Key Takeaways
- Canva has developed a proprietary AI model that creates designs with distinct, editable layers and objects.
- The company launched Canva Grow, an integrated marketing platform for asset creation, analytics, and ad publishing.
- New tools like Canva Forms and Email Design have been added to the platform.
- The professional design software Affinity, acquired by Canva, will now be available for free.
A New Foundational Model for Design
Canva has shifted its AI strategy by developing an in-house foundational model. This new system is designed to overcome a common limitation of existing image generation tools, which typically produce flat, single-layer images.
The new model generates designs where individual elements, such as text, shapes, and images, remain as separate, editable layers. This allows users to modify components of an AI-generated design directly, offering greater flexibility. The model is built to function across various formats, including social media posts, presentations, and websites.
"The tools have made you prompt your way to the final result, which, for a visual medium, is challenging," said Robert Kawalsky, Canva’s global head of product. "What we’ve found is that where people want to be is the ability to really marry this idea of starting with a prompt and getting far, but also being able to iterate directly themselves."
AI Features Integrated Deeper into Workflow
Alongside the new model, Canva has expanded the presence of its AI assistant throughout its platform. Previously confined to a specific interface, the assistant is now accessible directly within the main design and elements tabs.
Collaborative AI
A notable update is the ability for users to mention the AI bot in comments during collaborative projects. This feature allows teams to request text or media suggestions directly within the workflow, streamlining the creative process without leaving the project canvas.
The AI's capabilities have also been enhanced. Users can now leverage it to perform new tasks, including:
- Generating 3D objects from text prompts.
- Analyzing an existing design to copy its artistic style and apply it to new elements.
- Connecting data from Canva's spreadsheet tool to create dynamic widgets for reports and presentations.
Canva Grow Aims for Full-Stack Marketing
Leveraging its acquisition of ad analytics firm MagicBrief, Canva has launched a new, all-in-one marketing suite named Canva Grow. This platform is designed to manage the entire marketing campaign lifecycle, from creation to analysis.
Canva Grow uses AI to assist with both asset creation and performance analytics. The platform enables marketers to design their advertising materials and then publish them directly to social media platforms like Meta without leaving Canva. This integration aims to provide a seamless workflow for marketing teams, combining creative tools with measurement and distribution.
Platform Expansion
Canva is also introducing several new product features to broaden its utility. A new form-building tool allows users to create and customize forms, presenting an alternative to services like Google Forms. Additionally, an email design feature has been added, enabling the creation of branded email templates for marketing campaigns and notifications.
Major Changes for the Affinity Suite
Following its acquisition of the professional design software suite Affinity, Canva announced a significant change to its business model. The company confirmed that the Affinity suite of tools will now be free for all users.
Redesign and Integration
Canva is also overhauling the Affinity interface to create a unified workspace that combines vector, pixel, and layout design capabilities. This redesign is part of a larger strategy to tightly integrate Affinity with the core Canva platform.
The integration will allow professional designers to create complex assets in Affinity and seamlessly transfer them into Canva projects. Furthermore, Canva's new AI tools for image and design generation will be made available directly within the Affinity software, bridging the gap between professional-grade tools and AI-powered assistance.