Empowering Local Creatives With Canva Creative Lab
Angelo Cuyegkeng shares their mission behind the innovative Canva Creative Lab.
Words Patricia Angela Moslares
Photos Canva Philippines
May 7, 2025
Since its inception in 2012, Canva has stayed true to its mission of “empowering the world to design.” With its simple and intuitive drag-and-drop interface, professionally designed templates, and a vast library of free elements, Canva has made it possible for users with little to no design experience to create high-quality visuals. The platform has empowered students, teachers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creatives alike, reaching remarkable adoption, with 1 in 5 internet users in the Philippines using Canva as of 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to support local creators, Canva Philippines launched the “Canva Creative Lab” in 2019—a community event designed to bring creatives together, offering them a space to learn, collaborate, and grow. The most recent Creative Lab was held on February 22, 2025, where Filipino creators gathered to exchange ideas, pick up professional tips, and explore emerging design trends in the Philippines.
Beyond local initiatives, Canva also provides Filipino creators a global stage, allowing them to showcase their talents and creativity to an international audience.
Angelo Cuyegkeng, Design Specialty Lead at Canva Philippines, shared that these community events are an essential way to connect with the local design scene, gather insights, and foster conversations around creativity. As Angelo emphasized, “Community is at the very core of what we do at Canva. Not just connecting with different communities, but also hearing back from them.”
Creative Lab events have also helped the Canva team connect with individuals who have achieved personal and professional milestones through design. “We've seen stories of solopreneurs or entrepreneurs building up their business with the help of Canva, building their brand. We've seen teachers collaborate in the classroom with Canva education,” Angelo shared.
“We've also seen stay-at-home moms earn a living on the side while managing the household with the help of Canva as part of their extra income. They've been able to leave their jobs and start their own design practice and design business with Canva,” he added.
One story that resonated with Angelo was about Kaye and Gerard, founders of With Faith and Love, a Canva-based design studio for business owners. The couple left their 9-to-5 jobs to become full-time visual identity designers, supporting their family through their creative work. To Angelo, their story affirms Canva’s role in helping local creatives thrive.
“It’s serving as an opportunity for them to showcase their talents, their creativity, and I think in the long term that also sparks interest and influences other users that are not in the Philippines to really take a look at local talent in the Philippines to possibly be curious about the culture,” Angelo expressed.
Angelo believes that design is a powerful medium for celebrating culture. At Canva, designers are encouraged to explore local trends and integrate culturally relevant elements into their templates and projects. Through initiatives like Creative Lab and the Canva Creators Program, the team also supports the next generation of creatives, equipping them with both a global perspective and a platform to share their work.
At its core, Canva Philippines aims to provide a space where creators can continuously learn, grow, and connect. As Angelo emphasized, “Creative Lab is not a one-off thing. That's something that we will continue to sustain in the months and years to come.”
With over a decade of experience in the creative industry, Angelo Cuyegkeng serves as Canva Philippines’ Design Specialty Lead, driving both local and global creative initiatives as a seasoned motion designer and producer.
