Software enterprise · Australia · 1987–
Melanie Perkins Life & Career Timeline
A browser-based design idea scaled from a Perth living room to a global platform.
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19871993199920052011201720232026
MPMelanie PerkinsSoftware enterprise · Australia
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About this timeline
About Melanie Perkins
Melanie Perkins co-founded Fusion Books and Canva, pursuing accessible collaborative design alongside an ambitious social-impact programme.
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Melanie Perkins biography
Melanie Perkins timeline: key events
Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in Perth
Melanie Perkins was born in Western Australia.
Source: www.canva.comStudies at University of Western Australia
Perkins studied communications, psychology and commerce while tutoring design software.
Source: www.canva.comFusion Books founded
Perkins and Cliff Obrecht launched an online collaborative school-yearbook platform.
Source: www.canva.comOperates from family living room
The bootstrapped company printed yearbooks and hired early contractors from a home office.
Source: www.canva.comPitches a broader design platform
Perkins pursued a vision that would make complex design tools accessible in a browser.
Source: www.canva.comMeets investor Bill Tai
An introduction opened access to Silicon Valley networks after many rejections.
Source: www.canva.comCameron Adams joins
The former Google designer became Canva’s third co-founder and product leader.
Source: www.canva.comRaises $3 million seed round
Australian and US investors backed the collaborative design platform.
Source: www.canva.comCanva launches
Canva opened publicly after building a waiting list of more than 50,000 people.
Source: www.canva.comReaches one million users
Rapid adoption validated the demand for simple online visual design.
Source: www.canva.comManila campus opens
Canva established its first office outside Australia.
Source: www.canva.comCanva becomes profitable
Recurring product growth supported a sustainable global software business.
Source: www.canva.comCanva reaches unicorn valuation
A funding round valued the business at US$1 billion.
Source: www.canva.comAcquires Pexels and Pixabay
The acquisitions added a large library of free photography and expanded European operations.
Source: www.canva.comCanva for Education launches
Teachers and students gained free access to visual communication tools.
Source: www.canva.comTwo Step Plan announced
Perkins and Obrecht committed company wealth and resources toward reducing extreme poverty.
Source: www.canva.comCanva marks ten years
The platform reported more than 135 million users and over 15 billion designs created.
Source: www.canva.comNext era of Canva announced
Perkins prepared Canva’s largest product launch, bringing creation workflows and AI into a unified platform.
Source: www.canva.comExplore related timelines
This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Melanie Perkins or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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Quick answers
About the Melanie Perkins timeline
Who is Melanie Perkins?
Melanie Perkins co-founded Fusion Books and Canva, pursuing accessible collaborative design alongside an ambitious social-impact programme.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1987–.
Who maintains this timeline?
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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