Canva layoffs: Top manager feels ‘deja vu’, urges colleagues to ‘to be kind’ after 1,271 job cuts

Canva’s decision to cut 1,271 jobs has prompted an employee to reflect on the uncertainty that mass layoffs bring. Artemi Ollin, who works at the Sydney-based design platform, as Senior Prodoct Manager says the announcement feels like “déjà vu” after he experienced a similar period at Google. In a LinkedIn post, Ollin shared a message for colleagues who have lost their jobs and those who remain at the company. He urged affected employees to prioritise their wellbeing, while asking others to offer practical support where possible through referrals, recommendations or simply a kind word.

Canva employee recalls difficult layoff experience

“About 6 months after I joined Google, the layoffs started there too,” Ollin wrote. He was also elected as an employee representative during that period, which he described as “one of the hardest stretches” of his career. “But we ground through it,” he recalled, adding that most of the colleagues who were affected and whom he remains in touch with are “doing really well today”.

Seven months into his time at Canva, Ollin said, “it feels like a repeat”. While he is still employed at the company, he acknowledged that “many great people I've worked with are not”.


He had a message for those affected by the latest cuts, urging them to put their “health and wellbeing” first. “Take a moment today to stop and look after yourself. There will be a better day to deal with everything else,” he wrote.

Ollin also asked employees who remain at Canva to be considerate towards their former colleagues. “Take a minute to reach out to someone who's been affected,” he said, pointing out that “a referral, a recommendation or just a kind word goes a long way”. He added that layoffs affect those who remain at the company, too, and encouraged them to “give yourself time to be kind to yourself and recover”.

Reflecting on the wider job market, Ollin wrote, “Unfortunately, this isn't the first layoff out there and it won't be the last.” He advised professionals to keep their skills and knowledge updated, continue networking and “don't let news like this undermine your self-esteem”.

Why is Canva cutting 1,271 jobs?

Canva Group, the Australian graphic design platform, announced on Wednesday that it would eliminate 1,271 roles, representing around 22% of its workforce. The restructuring follows a slowdown in growth, marking the first time in a decade that the company has experienced such a change.

Co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins said the move would reshape the company's organisational structure, team locations and staffing requirements.

As part of the changes, Canva is bringing its product, growth and platform teams together under a single product organisation. The company also plans to reduce management layers and consolidate roles to improve accountability and decision-making.

Canva intends to make Sydney the main base for more of its product teams and may ask some employees to relocate. From January, most hybrid employees will be expected to work from the office two to three days a week. The company has also announced $10,000 grants for departing employees to support their future endeavours.