In Defense of Canva and Adobe Express
- Diana Buda
- May 13
- 3 min read
It’s common in the design world to hear tools like Canva and Adobe Express dismissed as “not real design software.” I understand where that view comes from. As a Senior Designer, I rely on Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign for high-level creative work. But I also believe that good design is about outcomes, and knowing the right tool for the task.
I first started using Canva while working at Verve. We selected it as our primary tool for marketing assets because of its collaborative capabilities. Around the same time, I also explored Adobe Express, which came bundled with my Adobe subscription. It offered more creative, animated templates, particularly useful for campaign visuals and brand storytelling. Since then, I’ve worked with both tools extensively, and I now recommend them for their flexibility, speed, and ability to support both solo and team workflows.
When I mention Canva or Adobe Express to other designers, I usually get a mixed reaction. Many haven’t explored the full scope of what these platforms can do. I’ve often found myself saying, “Yes, you can do that in Canva.” Whether it's placing guides, using advanced typography settings, or building layered layouts, these platforms have come a long way.
Why I Love These Tools as a Senior Designer
1. No Heavy System Resources
Both Canva and Adobe Express run entirely in the browser, so there's no need to wait for large apps to boot up or updates to install. For quick jobs or collaborative tasks, it’s incredibly efficient. With automatic cloud storage, I never worry about losing files or managing bulky exports.
This is especially helpful in fast-paced marketing environments where turnaround time is tight and projects shift quickly.
2. Effortless Collaboration
These tools were built for teams. At Verve, collaboration was a key reason we chose Canva. With its built-in team features, I could manage access levels, set editing permissions, and even lock down elements in templates to maintain brand consistency.
This level of control allowed brand managers to give content teams freedom to create within clear boundaries. That balance of autonomy and control is hard to replicate in traditional design workflows.
3. Brand Kits and Templates That Scale
One of the biggest time-savers has been setting up a brand kit and template library. I built out Canva templates for Verve’s social posts (for blogs, events, and webinars), email banners, print products like business cards, and even email signatures.
Once the system was in place, we reduced production time by half. Repetitive tasks became plug-and-play, freeing up more time for creativity and strategy.
4. Built-In Assets and Inspiration
Both platforms include large libraries of photos, illustrations, video, and animation templates. While I still prefer designing original visuals for most projects, these resources are incredibly useful for quick concepting or when timelines are tight.
Canva, in particular, has a wide range of B2B-friendly templates suited for corporate and event branding, while Adobe Express leans into more creative and visually rich layouts. It’s easy to adapt based on the audience or format.
5. Powerful AI Features at Your Fingertips
Both platforms are pushing into AI in meaningful ways, which is a huge boost to productivity. Some of my go-to features include:
One-click background removal
Automatic resizing across formats
AI-generated images and copy for testing or placeholder content
These tools make it easy to produce quality assets quickly, especially for social content or campaigns that require multiple variations.
Canva vs. Adobe Express: Different Strengths
Canva offers more functionality for business-to-business and corporate marketing. It’s ideal for teams creating everything from pitch decks to case studies. Adobe Express, on the other hand, integrates smoothly into the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem, making it a great companion to Illustrator or After Effects. Its animated templates are particularly strong, making it a good fit for more creative or visually-driven brands.
Where These Tools Fall Short
Neither Canva nor Adobe Express can fully replace professional tools like Illustrator, InDesign or Photoshop, especially when it comes to complex layouts, detailed retouching, or bespoke creative concepts. But that’s not the point. They excel at supporting speed, collaboration, and consistency, qualities that are just as important in a design environment.
Final Thoughts
Design isn’t about proving you can use the most complex software. It’s about creating clear, effective visuals that work. And in many cases, Canva and Adobe Express help me do that better, faster, and with less friction.