Sydney based start-up Canva is launching an online graphic design platform allowing users to design their own professional designs including flyers, birthday cards, business cards, posters, info graphics and more, with a library of more than one million photographs, graphics, fonts.
The new platform will be rolled out to limited users in the US and Australia starting from today. Users can join the waiting list to gain exclusive early access.
Melanie Perkins, CEO, Canva said, “Canva has re-imagined a world where design is simple, and every idea can be beautifully presented in print or online. Unlike traditional desktop design software, Canva is web-based and brings all the tools together in one place.”
- Melanie Perkins, CEO, Canva
A free drag and drop design it consists of media sourced from some of the world’s most talented photographers, illustrators and designers. Users can upload their own content or pay $1 per premium element when they publish their design.
It also provides professional designers with a faster way to create layouts and collaborate with clients, removing the need for back and forth email exchanges. Designers can earn money by contributing their own graphic elements and layouts.
Canva raised $3m in funding from different investors including Commercialisation Australia, Matrix Partners, InterWest Partners, Blackbird Ventures, Seek co-founder Paul Bassat's Square Peg Capital, Yahoo chief financial officer Ken Goldman and former CVC Asia-Pacific chief Adrian MacKenzie.
Facebook director of Engineering and co-founder of Google Maps Lars Rasmussen has also backed the technology, he said “Facebook and Twitter have created a world where anyone can instantly share experiences with friends, yet an online design tool suitable for us all to use is entirely lacking. The design market is ripe for disruption and I believe Canva has the answer.”