Canva layoffs: design giant to cut or relocate more than 1,200 jobs in major restructure

Canva is cutting or relocating more than 1,200 roles, about 22% of its global workforce, in a major restructuring. CEO Melanie Perkins called it "the hardest moment" in the Australian-founded company's 13-year history. The changes affect some employees who helped build the design platform, though the reported total combines layoffs with roles being moved to other locations. For AI builders, the restructuring is another sign that established software companies are reassessing costs and team structures as cheaper AI-native competitors enter their markets. Canva has been adding AI features to its design suite, but embedding generative tools is only part of the challenge: incumbents must also adjust pricing, product development and staffing around software that can automate more creative work. Canva's scale makes the 22% figure notable, and suggests the transition to AI-first products is reshaping the companies adopting the technology, not just the jobs of their customers.