Design used to be gatekept—premium tools, expensive subscriptions, limited access, etc. But with Canva’s acquisition of Affinity, and Affinity’s shift to a free professional suite, that wall just cracked. The race to decentralise creativity is officially on.

Canva remains the undisputed champion of scalable systems. Affininity adds pro-grade precision, e.g., vector, photo, and layout tools that rival legacy software. Together, they form a new creative ecosystem that is powerful, accessible, and unbound by paywalls.

And no, we’re not picking sides. We’re designing for the ecosystem, building toolkits and brand systems that empower global teams, protect creative integrity, and make great design possible at every level. Because the brands that adapt today are the ones that will win tomorrow.