20Product: How Canva Builds Products: Lessons Learned, What Works? What Flopped? The Top 5 Product Lessons in Scaling to 185M Monthly Active Users with Canva Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Cameron Adams
Jul 19, 2024
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Cameron Adams, Canva's CPO, reveals Canva's journey to 185M users, lessons from Canva's failure as a social network, tips for creating user delight, and insights on scaling into enterprise. Delve into the significance of quick product launches, democratizing design, AI innovation, and sustainable practices globally.
Launching a product quickly is crucial for growth and success, but creating products that excite users is equally vital for sustained growth and engagement.
Attention to small details that bring delight, like interactive landing pages and unique design features, can cultivate fanatical users and drive user love and engagement at Canva.
While speed in product development is important, focusing on quality that excites users and prompts them to share positive experiences is key for sustainable growth and success at Canva.
Deep dives
Importance of Launching Exciting Products
Launching a product quickly is crucial, but ensuring it excites people is equally important. At Canva, creating products that generate excitement has been a key driver of growth. This approach led to Canva becoming valued at $40 billion and gaining a global community of over 185 million users.
Creating Fanatical Users Through Delight
Creating fanatical users involves paying attention to small details that bring delight, like interactive landing pages and discovering new design capabilities. At Canva, these details, such as Easter eggs and fun onboarding experiences, have driven user love and engagement. The goal is to provide a 'wow' moment early in the user journey, making them feel empowered and excited.
Balancing Speed and Quality in Product Development
While speed is crucial in product development, ensuring a certain level of quality that excites users is equally essential. Rushing a product that merely fulfills basic functions without sparking enthusiasm may not lead to sustainable growth. At Canva, focusing on creating products that excite users and prompt them to share their positive experiences has been a significant driver of success.
Deepening Product Engagement Through AI and Innovation
Incorporating AI capabilities, such as generative images and innovative features, can significantly enhance product engagement and user satisfaction. Canva's introduction of 'Text to Image' showcased the power of integrating AI technologies into the platform, leading to further innovation and product development strategies.
Addressing Nature and Environmental Concerns Through Corporate Impact
Beyond product development, considering the environmental impact and fostering sustainability initiatives have emerged as critical concerns. Canva's co-founder highlights the importance of addressing the nature crisis and prioritizing sustainable practices in business operations, emphasizing the role companies play in shaping a more environmentally conscious future.
Cameron Adams is Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Canva where he is responsible for heading up the design and product teams. Since launching in 2013, Canva’s global community has grown to over 185 million monthly users in over 190 countries. In 2021, Canva was valued at $40 billion, following a $200m funding round. This saw it become one of the most valuable private software companies in the world. Prior to joining Canva, Cameron found himself working closely with Lars and Jens Rasmussen (co-founders of Google Maps) to realise the design vision for Google Wave.
In Today's Episode with Cameron Adams:
1. From Accidental Joining to Most Valuable Private Company:
How did Cameron go from working on Google wave with Lars Rasmussen to co-founding Canva with Mel and Cliff?
What was the single closest near-death experience in the life of Canva?
Why did Canva fail as a social network? What did Cameron learn from that?
2. How to Create Users that Truly Love Your Products:
What have been Canva's biggest lessons on what it takes to do world class onboarding?
What is Cameron biggest advice to founders on how to create moments of delight in your product?
Is simplicity always best in product? What, when made more complex, is better for the user?
3. Scaling Canva into the Enterprise:
What are the biggest product changes that are required to move into enterprise?
What does Cam know about moving up market that he wishes he had known when he started?
What are the biggest product and design mistakes founders make when making the transition from PLG to enterprise sales?
4. AI Changes Everything: More Money or Better Products Only
Who will win the foundation model layer landscape? What will it be in 10 years?
Will companies actually make more revenue from having AI in products or will it just create better products?
How does Canva's implementation of AI in their products impact the margins of their products?
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