Canva, a visual communications design platform, has introduced its Creative Operating System, a new platform that integrates its design, collaboration, publishing, and analytics tools into a single environment.
The new system is built on Canva’s Design Model, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate repetitive tasks while keeping human input at the center of the creative process.
“As knowledge becomes more and more accessible, we believe we’re moving from the Information Era to the Imagination Era, a time when creativity has never been more critical,” said Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO, Canva.
The Creative Operating System features a redesigned Visual Suite that allows users to create different content formats such as videos, emails, forms, and code-based projects within Canva.
The update includes several new products and improvements. Video 2.0 combines advanced editing tools and templates to help users create and edit videos more efficiently. A redesigned timeline simplifies trimming and syncing, while AI-powered features can automate cuts and visual effects.
Canva is also adding email creation to its platform through a new Email Design feature. Users can design and export branded marketing emails as HTML files without needing to switch to a separate tool.
Forms allows users to collect responses directly within Canva. Data from completed forms automatically appears in Canva Sheets, keeping feedback and analytics in one place. Canva Code can now be linked to Canva Sheets, letting users create live dashboards or calculators that update automatically as data changes.
Canva said the new system embeds AI more deeply across its tools. The Canva Design Model helps generate layouts and editable content faster, while an updated AI engine supports photo, video, and 3D graphic generation. A new feature called Ask @Canva provides real-time feedback and design suggestions directly within the workspace.
For businesses, Canva has launched Canva Grow, a marketing platform that combines campaign creation, publishing, and performance tracking. It supports ad placements on platforms like Meta and allows users to monitor results and adjust content based on performance data.
The platform also introduces a built-in brand system that stores and applies brand assets such as logos, colors, and fonts directly within the design interface. This helps ensure consistency across materials without manual checks.
To cater to small teams and individual professionals, Canva is launching Canva Business, a plan that includes advanced AI features, analytics, and expanded storage. It hopes to bridge the gap between Canva Pro and Canva Enterprise and offers additional benefits such as print discounts and brand tools.
Finally, Canva announced updates to Affinity, the suite of professional design tools it acquired earlier in 2024. The new Affinity combines vector design, image editing, and layout creation in one product that connects seamlessly with Canva’s collaborative platform. The company said the Affinity suite will now be available for free.