The Angry Designer Podcast
Episode: The REAL Reason Canva Made Affinity Free For Designers
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Massimo (A) and Sean (B) break down the seismic shift of Canva making Affinity Designer free and what it truly means for the design industry. The hosts explore deeper motivations behind Canva’s bold move, question the idea of “creative freedom,” and reflect on Adobe’s status as the industry leader. With their signature blend of humor and hard truths, they challenge designers to think critically about the future of creative tools, ownership, brand perception, and the next generation of design professionals.

Main Discussion Points & Key Insights

1. Affinity Goes Free: Too Good To Be True?

• [00:00] Massimo sets the stage: Affinity Designer—once seen as the only credible alternative to Adobe—has gone free after its acquisition by Canva, sparking massive industry discussion and suspicion.
• “When a billion dollar company starts giving things away, there's always a catch.” (A, 00:27)
• Skepticism abounds: Is this move truly about creative freedom, or part of a bigger strategy?

2. Canva’s Motivation: Redemption or Takeover?

• [02:19] Canva, now a billion-dollar company with a huge free user base, is positioned to challenge Adobe.
• The hosts highlight contrasting perspectives: Canva's public position is “no catch” and a mission to “preserve creative freedom” (A, 03:21), but many designers are doubtful.
• “In democratizing design, they devalued design.” (A, 05:22)
• History matters: Canva’s past impact on “professional” design and its reputation as a tool for “decorators” rather than designers.
• Emotional sore points about design being commoditized by Canva’s “template” philosophy.
• [08:05] “They called it design. … They didn’t democratize design, they commoditized design.” (A, 08:05)

3. Free... But At What Cost?

• [08:34] The difference between buying and owning versus “free to use”—users no longer receive a perpetual license; the terms can change at any time.
• “Free to use means free until we change the rule.” (A, 10:06)
• Practical model: Full access to pro tools, but AI features cost extra ($15/month via Canva Pro)—affordable relative to competitors, but still a long play to drive users into the Canva ecosystem.

4. Comparing Adobe and Canva

• [11:35] Discussion on Adobe’s costly subscription model, poor handling of AI training/data usage, and increasingly restrictive access for students and institutions.
• Adobe’s cult-like status persists, despite resentment over expense and lack of generosity.
• Emotional attachment: “Adobe is akin to Mac … we’ve been using them for like 30 years now. How do you not?” (A, 13:52)

5. Strategic Plays & Long-Term Implications

• [16:07] Canva’s real play is about shaping the next generation of designers:
  • By offering elite tools for free to students/schools (non-commercial use), Canva aims to create lifelong users.
  • “They’re shaping the whole next generation of designers.” (A, 21:04)
• Critique of Adobe’s failure to make their software accessible for educational use.
• Massimo’s personal example: His daughter can now learn actual design, not just “decorating” with templates.

6. Brand Perception and Professional Credibility

• Despite Affinity’s “street cred,” Canva’s brand is still seen as amateur or “uncool” in professional circles.
• “Nobody wants to have a Canva tattoo on their arm. But how many of us … would have … an Apple on my arm because I’m an Apple guy for life?” (A, 24:26)
• Rebranding misstep: Upgrading to “Canva Pro” rather than “Affinity Pro” undermines the professional appeal.

7. Hands-On Review and Transition Concerns

• [22:28] Massimo tries Affinity himself for internal agency works—positive first impressions, quick learning curve, near-complete tool parity with Adobe for daily tasks.
• “Within like 10 minutes, I was already up and just like, okay, yeah, this is fine, I can do this.” (A, 27:35)
• Uncertainty around legacy, file handling, and overall professional migration.

8. Designers’ Choice & Industry Impact

• [32:44] Regardless of Canva’s intent, the move creates meaningful choice for designers who have felt locked-in for years.
• “In the short term, designers now have a choice. And I think that’s pretty fucking cool.” (A, 32:48)
• The door opens for real change, with price and accessibility as major motivators for potential mass migration away from Adobe.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Massimo on skeptical optimism:
  “Are these the people who should be in charge? Like, what the fuck do they know about design? Because again, it’s like they’re the ones who actually gave design a shit-kicking for quite a while.” (A, 06:41)

• Sean on designer identity:
  “The people that work at Adobe … are pro and have been designers and know what they’re doing.” (B, 06:59)

• Massimo on the business model:
  “Free to use means free until we change the rule.” (A, 10:06)

• On Adobe nostalgia:
  “I loved it when I could buy it and own it.” (A, 13:46)

• Strategic vision:
  “Canva is trying to grow the next set of designers. … Adobe really fucked up. … Adobe basically made design inaccessible for students.” (A, 18:34)

• Massimo, about the learning curve:
  “Any designer who wants to make that jump and is willing to work at it for a couple days, I guarantee you that’s all it’s going to take … we’re not getting paid for this.” (A, 28:48)

• Sean on pro credibility:
  “Would you want to tell another designer, yeah … I’m using Canva now?” (B, 25:52)

• Massimo’s endorsement:
  “Go for it, is my opinion. … I’d recommend using it and say you guys be crazy not to at least try it.” (A, 35:42, 36:16)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – 03:05: Setting up the Affinity/Canva news and initial skepticism
• 05:22 – 06:59: Devaluing vs. democratizing design, Canva’s legacy
• 08:34 – 11:16: Ownership vs. free-to-use, licensing caveats
• 16:07 – 21:04: Canva’s long-term play—shaping future designers, education access
• 22:26 – 28:43: Massimo’s practical review and real-world transition
• 31:36 – 32:48: On saving/exporting quirks and feature parity
• 32:44 – 33:45: The importance of choice and challenge to Adobe’s dominance

Tone & Takeaway

The episode blends blunt industry criticism with cautious hope. The hosts maintain their “no-bull” style—direct, irreverent, occasionally profane, but grounded in years of professional experience.

Key takeaways:

• Canva’s move is less about pure generosity and more about long-term strategic domination, particularly targeting young designers and education.
• Caution around “free-to-use” versus actual ownership is warranted, but the value is real—especially compared to Adobe’s costly, restrictive practices.
• Brand perception remains a significant hurdle, with Canva’s legacy as a “non-pro” platform persisting even as its toolset matures.
• The door has opened to genuine choice, which is worth celebrating and exploring.

Final Advice:
Try Affinity now that it’s free—at least for personal and non-client work. Stay alert, don’t buy the marketing spin, and always look for who’s really defining your “creative freedom.”

Hosts:

• Massimo [A]
• Sean [B]

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