Gugu Madonsela
Durban made history in May when it became the first African city to host Canva’s Community Lab, a hands-on workshop introducing new features powered by artificial intelligence. The event, part of a series held during May and June, brought together more than 100 creatives at the Moses Kotane Research Institute on 19 May.The workshop was organised and led by Zama Khumalo, a young and passionate Canvassador from Durban, and attracted a mix of students, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and graphic designers, all eager to learn practical ways to boost their productivity using tools that won’t break the bank. For many small business owners and freelancers in KZN, hiring a professional designer or buying costly design software is simply not affordable. Canva has become a popular alternative because it offers many of the same tools without the high price tag, and the new AI features introduced at the workshop are making it even easier for people to create professional-looking work in less time. Speaking about the impact of the workshop, Zama Khumalo said the Durban event became more than just a training session.”The Canva Community Lab in Durban became such an essential space to connect, align, and motivate people to improve themselves and their creative journeys further,” she said. Attendees left the workshop with new skills they can apply immediately, whether they are designing social media posts for a small business, preparing school projects, or building a graphic design portfolio. Durban’s role as the first African city to host a Canva Community Lab is a proud moment for the city and for KZN’s creative community. It shows that world-class creative tools and training are becoming more accessible to ordinary South Africans, and that Durban is increasingly seen as a hub for creative growth on the continent.
