Case Study: Canva achieves optimized onboarding and boosts new-user confidence with UserTesting

Canva uses UserTesting to optimize onboarding experience

Canva, the drag-and-drop graphic design platform, worked with UserTesting to see how people used its first product release and uncover friction points. Early user research showed many newcomers felt intimidated, were afraid to explore, and often concluded “I’m not creative enough,” so the team needed to both simplify the tools and change users’ beliefs about their own abilities.

Canva redesigned onboarding with an emphasis on the emotional journey, adding a short introductory video and interactive challenges that delivered quick wins and built creative confidence. The new experience helped users understand the product within minutes, saved hundreds of thousands from struggling, and contributed to rapid growth—surpassing 10 million users in just over two years.

Canva

Melanie Perkins

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer