Podcast Summary

Down to Business English – "The Canva Story – Part 1" (Episode 230)

Date: November 12, 2022
Hosts: Skip Montreux (Tokyo, Japan) & Samantha Vega (New Plymouth, New Zealand)

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off a two-part series exploring the origin and success of Canva, the Australian graphic design unicorn. The hosts, Skip and Samantha, discuss what makes Canva unique, its massive appeal to non-designers, and the story behind its creation. They also delve into the vocabulary and idioms connected to the case study, both to inform and support listeners’ business English development.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

What is Canva and why is it significant?

• Samantha’s Workshop Experience

  • Samantha recently attended three workshops introducing small business owners to social media tools. She highlights Canva as especially impressive for its ease of use and integration with platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
    • "I was especially impressed with the image creation tips and tricks with Canva... It seems like a fantastic tool. Very user friendly." (01:07)

• Definition & Purpose

  • Canva is a web-based graphic design tool made for non-designers, offering a drag-and-drop interface and a library of templates.
    • "Canva is a web based graphic design tool for non designers." – Samantha (04:48)
    • "It's just very simple to use. ...If I was a graphic designer who ran a company, I would be worried." – Samantha (05:14)

• Versatility

  • Canva supports design work for presentations, business cards, infographics, flyers, menus, videos, social media posts, and more.
    • "Oh, the sky's the limit really. Presentation, slides, business cards, postcards, infographics, flyers, menus, videos, photo collages, posts for Instagram, TikTok posts..." – Samantha (05:48)

• Ease of Use

  • User interface is described as “very intuitive,” “simple, no nonsense photo and video editor.” (06:13-06:15)

What Makes a “Unicorn”?

• Definition
  • A unicorn is a private company (usually a startup) valued at $1 billion or more.
    • “A unicorn is a private company, usually a startup of some kind, that has been valued at $1 billion or more.” – Samantha (03:20)
• Examples
  • Google and Facebook as early unicorns; others include Airbnb, Reddit, and Buzzfeed. (03:52)

The Canva Origin Story

• The Spark: Melanie Perkins’ Frustration

  • At 18, Melanie Perkins taught graphic design at university and found the standard software (Photoshop, Illustrator) overwhelmingly complex and hard for students to learn.
    • "The idea for Canva came to an 18 year old Australian university student by the name of Melanie Perkins in 2006 and it was an idea born out of sheer frustration." – Skip (06:43)
    • “Students would end up spending an entire semester just learning how to click buttons and not actually design anything.” – Skip quoting Melanie Perkins (07:39)

• Vision

  • Perkins wanted to “take the whole design ecosystem, integrate it into one website, make it collaborative, and offer that service to the whole world.” (07:54)

• The Founders

  • Perkins’ boyfriend (now husband) Cliff Obrecht eagerly joined her mission. Later, Cameron Adams became the third co-founder.
    • “The idea was hers. But she quickly partnered with someone who completely supported her dream.” – Skip (08:09)

• Path to Success

  • The journey from idea to unicorn was not straight and will be covered in Part 2.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Canva’s Disruptive Potential:

  • “If I was a graphic designer who ran a company, I would be worried.” – Samantha (05:14)

• On Unicorns:

  • “A startup being valued at a billion dollars is rare.” – Samantha (03:32)
  • “Although it isn’t as rare today as it was 30 years ago.” – Skip (03:41)

• On User-Friendly Design:

  • “All a user has to do is start from a template, upload their own photos and customize the design as they see fit. By the time you are finished, you have a great design on your hands.” – Samantha (05:24)

• On Initial Frustration:

  • “The idea for Canva came to... Melanie Perkins in 2006 and it was an idea born out of sheer frustration.” – Skip (06:43)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:36 | Samantha describes her social media workshops, mentions Canva | | 02:02 | Canva described as a “hot unicorn” | | 03:04 | Definitions: “unicorn” (business term) | | 04:48 | What is Canva? Samantha explains its core function and advantages | | 05:48 | Versatility of Canva; types of designs possible | | 06:13 | Simplicity and user-friendliness of Canva | | 06:43 | Origin of Canva: Melanie Perkins’ background and inspiration | | 07:54 | Vision for Canva as an integrated design platform | | 08:23 | Introduction of Canva’s founding team |

Vocabulary Highlights: D2V (“Down to Vocabulary”)

Each term is defined and exemplified in context of business English. Key item timestamps in parentheses.

• Tick a few boxes (11:06)
  • To fulfill requirements or complete tasks.
• Compelling (12:25)
  • Strongly interesting or convincing; “a compelling story.”
• The sky’s the limit (13:59)
  • No limits to possibility.
• Sheer (frustration/delight/etc.) (15:28)
  • To stress the intensity or purity of an emotion or attribute.
• Come into the picture (16:54)
  • To become involved or relevant to a situation.

Tone & Style

Informative and conversational, the episode is both educational and approachable, with both hosts sharing personal reflections and examples. Samantha and Skip balance business reporting with language education for non-native English speakers.

Episode Conclusion

The episode leaves listeners anticipating Part 2, in which Canva's path from a simple idea to a billion-dollar company will be explored in detail. Both hosts express newfound respect for Canva and look forward to trying it themselves.

For listeners wanting to improve business English, this episode offers a real-world case study, practical vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions, all woven into a compelling account of technological innovation and startup culture.