Do You Believe in Magic?
In recent years, the creative industry has been transformed by the emergence of tools like Canva and Adobe Express, platforms that put high-quality design capabilities within reach of virtually anyone. These tools have leveled the playing field, allowing those with little or no formal training to produce visually compelling work that once required years of skill and experience. It’s an exciting development that broadens access to design for entrepreneurs, students, and hobbyists alike. Yet, this shift raises essential questions for educators in design schools who are tasked with preparing students for careers in a landscape that now includes both traditional design principles and fast-evolving AI-powered tools.
For educators, the challenge is balancing the teaching of fundamental design skills with an understanding of how to integrate these new technologies thoughtfully. While Canva’s Magic tools and Adobe Express make design accessible, educators must help students understand the “why” behind their creative choices, not just the “how.” This means fostering a mindset where students see these tools as complements to their core design training—not replacements. In doing so, educators can cultivate a new generation of designers who are adept at leveraging the power of AI-driven tools without sacrificing the creativity, intention, and expertise that lie at the heart of good design.
Canva’s Magic tools exemplify this new era of accessible design technology. The suite includes tools like Magic Write, which generates text based on user prompts—perfect for crafting everything from social media captions to blog post ideas. It’s a tool that saves time and opens doors for anyone struggling to put their thoughts into words, offering an easy way to brainstorm or even draft content. Adobe Express, Canva’s closest competitor, has made strides with text assistance as well, though Canva’s integration of prompt-based, AI-driven writing feels uniquely suited to its core audience.
Magic Design takes things a step further by allowing users to create layouts from scratch simply by entering a prompt or uploading an image for reference. Canva’s AI quickly generates multiple design suggestions that meet the brief, which is ideal for users in a hurry or those still finding their design voice. Adobe Express offers an impressive library of customizable templates, but Canva’s Magic Design feature adds an element of personalization and AI-driven adaptation that eliminates the usual time spent searching for a fitting template.
Magic Edit and Magic Eraser help users manipulate images with ease. With Magic Edit, you can adjust specific elements within a photo by brushing over the desired area and describing the change you want. The AI makes the modification blend seamlessly into the original design. Magic Eraser, on the other hand, allows you to remove unwanted objects with a simple brushstroke, and Canva fills in the background intelligently. Adobe Express has comparable tools, but Canva’s handling of these edits feels intuitive, even for beginners, making it accessible to those without a background in photo editing.
Magic Grab and Magic Expand are tools that give users control over the composition of their images. With Magic Grab, you can reposition or resize the main subject within a photo without impacting the background, while Magic Expand allows users to extend the edges of an image, expanding the visual scene in any direction. These features are particularly valuable for social media creators needing quick adjustments to fit different aspect ratios, and while Adobe Express provides resizing options, Canva’s Magic Expand adds a new level of flexibility.
One of the most practical tools Canva has introduced is Magic Switch. This feature allows users to transform designs across formats—converting a single graphic into multiple layouts, such as blog posts, social media captions, and even multilingual campaigns. Adobe Express has translation and format adaptability, but Magic Switch’s automated approach simplifies content repurposing across languages and platforms, which is a tremendous asset for those managing diverse channels and audiences.
Magic Media and Magic Animate bring a sense of dynamism to designs. Magic Media allows users to transform text prompts into images or videos, while Magic Animate provides an easy way to add engaging animations to design elements. With just a few clicks, users can turn static designs into dynamic ones, suitable for social media and other visually driven platforms. Adobe Express offers some animation options, but Canva’s Magic Animate, paired with Magic Media, goes further to ensure high-quality, interactive results without the need for specialized software or additional steps.
The “Magic” tools in Canva and the comparable offerings in Adobe Express signal a significant shift toward the democratization of design. They allow virtually anyone to create professional-looking content, which in turn raises the stakes for design educators. In this new environment, it’s essential to teach students not only how to use these tools but how to think critically about design choices. By helping students understand the intention behind their creations, educators ensure that even in a world full of powerful AI-driven tools, the role of a skilled designer remains indispensable.
