Canva’s Visual Economy is Here: Key Takeaways from the 2024 Report

With the rise of AI, we can see its popularity across all aspects of life and business. Despite the hard truth that it may replace human resources, we cannot deny its efficiency and the way it is changing how we communicate at work, which has become more visual than ever. 

Canva’s Visual Economy report 2024 has dropped and let us tell you that it’s packed with insights on how visuals and AI are transforming the way businesses operate.  

Let’s break it down. 

What is the visual economy, anyway? 

Think of it like this: the visual economy is all about how visual content is becoming a must-have, not just a nice-to-have, in today’s workplace. It’s about using images, graphics and design to communicate clearly, connect teams, and drive real results. From HR to sales, marketing to creative, everyone’s jumping on board. 

Why is visual communication the new business superpower? 

Canva surveyed over 3,700 business leaders globally, and the message was loud and clear: 

• 93% say visual communication helps them articulate ideas better 

• 91% say it boosts efficiency 

• 90% report better collaboration 

• 77% saw improved business performance 

In a world where attention spans are short and remote teams are the norm, visuals help cut through the noise. 

Design Skills: No longer just for designers 

Here’s a surprising stat: 92% of leaders expect non-design employees to have basic design know-how. Yep, even if your job isn’t technically creative. 

Design literacy is growing, big time, especially in countries like India, the UK, and the US. It’s now a core workplace skill, much like writing emails or using spreadsheets. 

Bonus: 88% of employees say the design training they receive is actually working. That’s promising! 

Employees want better tools (and they aren’t wrong) 

Here’s the thing, creativity thrives in the right environment. But outdated tools, rigid workflows, and a million different platforms can kill momentum. 

Top things business leaders are looking for in visual tools: 

• 93% want more efficient workflows 

• 93% need real-time collaboration 

• 92% want all-in-one functionality 

• 91% look for seamless app integrations 

• 90% prioritise AI features 

Bottom line? The best tools are intuitive, collaborative, and actually fun to use. 

AI + visuals = a game changer 

You knew this was coming: AI is transforming everything. From creating visual content faster to helping teams brainstorm, summarise, and draft, AI is becoming a trusted colleague in many workplaces. In fact: 82% of leaders used AI tools to create visual content last year 90% say AI improved the quality of their visuals 73% say it boosted productivity 71% say it sparked creativity Marketing teams are using AI to write social copy, brainstorm pitches, and create content outlines. Sales leaders are drafting playbooks and proposals. HR teams? They’re using it to onboard employees and personalise comms. 

The takeaway: AI isn’t replacing creativity, it’s amplifying it. 

But wait, there are (of course) concerns 

Of course, with all this rapid growth, leaders are rightly cautious. Some top worries include: 

• Plagiarism and copyright issues (70%) 

• Sharing sensitive information by mistake (70%) 

• Bias in AI-generated content (68%) 

• Confusion between human vs. AI-created materials (68%) 

These are valid concerns, and tackling them head-on is key to building a safe and sustainable AI-powered workplace. 

So, what’s next? 

As content demands grow, the need for scalable, visual-first solutions will only get bigger. And Canva? Well, the numbers speak for themselves: 

• 1.85 billion presentations created 

• 375 million docs 

• 1.2 billion videos 

• 190 million whiteboards (as of May 2024!) 

Visual communication isn’t just a trend, it’s a transformation. And it’s here to stay. 

Do you want to prepare your workplace for a future setting? 

Invest in visuals, the right tools and instead of boycotting AI, embrace it. Give your team the space and support to create, collaborate and communicate like never before. Because in 2025, good design isn’t just good business, it is business. 

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