An Open-Source App for Creatives: Canva’s Affinity Hits Over 1M Users
The app provides professional-grade design, photo editing, and page layout tools for free.
Affinity, Canva’s UK-based professional creative suite, has surpassed one million signups after the company’s decision to make the app completely free for users. Affinity is an online app that provides professional-grade design, photo editing, and page layout tools at no cost. Canva’s World Tour keynote on October 30 confirmed that Affinity would be free to use.
This milestone follows a month-long rollout revealing Affinity’s new visual identity alongside a multi-asset brand campaign led by Tom Carey, Canva’s Europe Creative Director. The launch marks a turning point for professional design, ushering in an era of openness, accessibility, and unrestricted creativity.
The rollout began in early October, with Affinity’s team adopting a community-led approach by engaging with a global network of designers. In collaboration with the Designer Advisory Board and Pro Panel, the team captured early-stage impressions, adjusted based on immediate feedback, and cultivated buzz through genuine, real-time exchange instead of paid ads.
“Designing a brand for designers isn’t easy, but by bringing together an incredible team of creatives and working closely with the community, we set out to craft an identity that was truly for creatives, by creatives,” Carey said.
“That collaboration is what makes this launch feel so special. The reaction from the community has been incredible, calling the brand ‘bold.af’ and ‘relatable.af.’ And with over a million people signing up in less than a week, it proves that when you design with your community, for your community, it becomes something people genuinely want to be part of.”
A Campaign to Champion Creative Freedom
Produced in partnership with ManvsMachine, the campaign video stands as a call for creative freedom. It envisions a world where tools are open, collaboration thrives, and design is within everyone’s reach. It reminds creatives of a time when they were empowered–not restricted–by their tools, and created out of love for what they do and simply, for fun.
Intended to inspire designers and raise awareness of Affinity among professionals, the campaign will run globally across YouTube and Meta until December 14.
Rebranding for a New Era
Crafted in Affinity and scaled in Canva, Affinity’s refreshed brand identity steps away from its previously angular and geometric look and embraces a more expressive, human, and bold aesthetic.
Developed by Canva and Affinity’s in-house creative teams, in close collaboration with design studio Twist, and guided by Canva’s Designer Advisory Board and Pro Panel, the reimagined Affinity brand represents creative freedom. Every detail–from Rob Clarke’s handcrafted logomark to James Martin’s playful graphic assets and the distinctive “.af” file extension–embodies its ethos: for creatives, by creatives.
The new look blends craft with character: an expressive typeface by Ohno Type, playful ethos badges by James Martin, and an artist palette of neutral tones, charcoal, graphite, putty, and paper, that lets the vibrant work of Affinity’s community take centre stage. Accented with striking lime green, it pays homage to the “punk” energy driving the change. Together, these choices bring the brand’s attitude to life: serious about craft but unafraid to have fun with it.
The rebrand evolves Affinity from “looking punk” to “feeling punk.” It is a bold yet thoughtful redesign that balances heritage with modern play to celebrate collaboration, craft, and the creative process itself– often raw, joyful, and full of heart.
Reshaping the Creative Industry
The response to Affinity’s new chapter has been overwhelmingly positive. Over one million creatives worldwide, including designers, illustrators, photographers, and students—have joined the platform, redefining what access to professional tools should be.
Canva acquired Affinity in March 2024. Making Affinity free reinforces Canva’s founding belief that great design should be accessible to everyone. In addition, Canva premium plan subscribers get access to Canva AI tools directly in Affinity.
These benefits are made possible by Canva’s sustainable business model: one built on offering open-source creative tools while optional paid features like premium content, collaboration, and AI tools fund continuous innovation. The approach has fueled Canva’s growth for over a decade and now enables Affinity to remain free to use, while continuing to evolve for the world’s most ambitious creatives.
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