In a world where digital design and online graphic platforms are integral to both personal and professional lives, Canva’s recent acquisition of Affinity sends ripples through the industry, sparking curiosity and concern alike. This move not only marks Canva’s largest purchase in terms of both price and headcount but also significantly shifts the digital design landscape, particularly in its competition with Adobe, the reigning champion of digital creative tools.
Since its launch in 2013, the Australian firm Canva, which is well-known for its intuitive design platform, has seen a sharp increase in its user base. By acquiring Affinity, Canva challenges Adobe’s long-standing supremacy in the industry by expanding its toolkit to include tools for creative professionals. The reported value of the cash and equity acquisition, which is several hundred million pounds, highlights how important Canva views this growth.
While it has failed at that, Affinity has managed to cut for itself a niche as a destination for creative professionals resentful of Adobe’s subscription model. Indeed, its photo editor, professional page layout software, and a vector-based graphics software have found usage by thousands of illustrators, designers, and game developers across the world. With the resources at Canva, this creative suite from Affinity is now sure to get even better and greater in market appeal.
Probably the most comforting point for any currently active user of Affinity would be the fact that Canva has ensured the continuation of the sale of perpetual licenses. This commitment to keeping one-time purchase fees an option-in essence-pays homage to the Affinity model of affordability and accessibility to which much of its success can arguably be attributed. In the modern subscription-model-dominated digital design world, this could be a great differentiator.
The acquisition has raised questions about the future of Affinity under Canva’s ownership, particularly regarding its stance on AI. Canva has embraced generative AI technology, while Affinity has been vocal about its opposition to any tech that undermines human talent. How these differing philosophies will coexist under the same corporate umbrella remains to be seen.
The potential integration of Canva’s and Affinity’s offerings could lead to exciting developments for users of both platforms. Canva’s announcement hints at immediate plans for lightweight integration, aiming to maintain the distinct identities of each product while exploring synergies that could benefit professional designers with specific needs.
With this acquisition, Canva also aims to close the B2B gap in its portfolio and puts itself in a stronger position to take on Adobe. Canva’s timing couldn’t be more ideal, as Adobe recently canceled its $20 billion acquisition of Figma because of regulatory issues. In addition to broadening Canva’s product offerings, the inclusion of Affinity increases its attractiveness to a wider range of creators.
Going back to history, Serif being the parent company, the story itself-from its nascent days with a bunch of software engineers way back in 1987 to a seismic force in the world of digital design-is one of inspiration. Of course, it goes about developing its flagship brands, namely Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher-claimed to be good alternatives to Adobe’s Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, respectively-but this might well get to newer highs now that Canva has taken over the mantle.
The digital design community waits anxiously for the dust to settle on this historic transaction. In a market where subscription models predominate, Canva’s promise of innovation, affordability, and perpetual license provide a glimpse of optimism. Going forward, Canva and Affinity will face a defining challenge in integrating disparate ideologies and technological advancements. The upcoming months will surely show whether this audacious move was a stroke of genius or a step too far in a story full of possibilities.
