When Canva announced the new Affinity tools, the design world stopped for a second. What was once a tightly held suite of professional software locked behind a one-time fee and a steep learning curve is now open to everyone. Canva didn’t just acquire Affinity; they’re releasing it back into the wild, making high-level creative tools free, unified, and accessible to all.

And for us at Ape Forge, that’s something worth celebrating.

DESIGN WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

For years, creative tools have been divided between the pros and the public. Adobe has long been the industry titan, but its subscription model and complex ecosystem have made it out of reach for many people just trying to bring their ideas to life.

Now, Canva has cracked that barrier wide open.

With Affinity’s suite (Designer, Photo, and Publisher) now integrated and available for anyone, the playing field is finally leveling out. You can design a logo, touch up photography, and lay out a print catalog all within the same ecosystem. All without needing a Creative Cloud subscription or a decade of experience.

It’s a big moment for creativity, and we’re here for it.

OUR PHILOSOPHY:

CREATIVITY SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONe

At Ape Forge, we’ve always believed that design should be accessible. It shouldn’t be gated behind cost, software, or complexity. Whether you’re a startup, a freelancer, or a national brand, your ideas deserve the same creative potential.

That’s why this shift feels so right for us. It aligns with everything we stand for. Trust, honesty, and creative freedom.

For years, we’ve wrestled with the question: Which tools will let our clients use and edit what we create? Too often, the answer has been, “It depends on what software you have.” Now, with Affinity’s new approach, everyone can participatein the creative process. Clients can open, tweak, and expand on their files with ease. No locked files, no paywalls, no subscriptions.

This is design democracy, and we’re here for it.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR CLIENTS

Ease of access. That’s the headline.

Our clients won’t need to worry about which program we use or whether they can open a file. With the new Affinity tools, anyone can collaborate directly, experiment, and learn. This shift empowers business owners, marketing teams, and creatives alike to take part in the design process in a way that’s more hands-on and less intimidating.

We see it as a win for everyone.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR APE FORGE

Internally, this change means big things.

We’re officially onboarding Affinity into our daily workflow. Replacing older software piece by piece until Affinity becomes our primary toolset. For now, we’ll continue to run it alongside Adobe, but our long-term plan is clear: Ape Forge is going all-in on Affinity.

This isn’t just about saving money or trying the next shiny tool. It’s about aligning with where design is going. It's headed toward openness, collaboration, and accessibility. It’s also about returning to our roots: functional, intentional product design. Tools evolve, but our mission stays the same. We are here to create purposeful, high-impact work that helps businesses grow. Simple as that!

THE LEARNING CURVE

(AND WHY IT’S WORTH IT)

We won’t sugarcoat it... after years of Adobe muscle memory, switching platforms comes with its own learning curves. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned as a creative agency, it’s that growth doesn’t come from comfort.

We’ve done this before. When AI tools began reshaping content creation, we didn’t resist them, we embraced them. We learned, adapted, and integrated them into our workflow to enhance our creativity, not replace it. Now, we’re doing the same with Affinity. At the end of the day the best agencies don’t cling to old tools, they evolve with the craft.

THE REAL VALUE ISN’T IN THE TOOLS

Here’s the truth we’ve always believed: the value of design doesn’t come from the software. A great design isn’t great because it was made in Adobe, or Affinity, or Canva. It’s great because it carries intention, clarity, and craftsmanship. The software is just the brush. The vision, message, and execution are what matter.

So whether we’re designing your brand in Affinity or dragging things around in Canva, or retouching a photo in Photoshop, our goal is the same: to deliver thoughtful, purposeful, and high-quality work that makes an impact.

Embracing the Change

This new chapter with Affinity isn’t just a tech update for us... it’s a philosophical one. We’re embracing a platform that gives everyone a seat at the creative table. And we encourage our clients, partners, and fellow creatives to do the same. Download it. Try it. Play with it. See what happens when the tools of design are placed directly in your hands. The creative world just got a little more open, a little more connected, and a lot more exciting.

So here’s our take:

Creativity is for everyone.

The tools are free.

And the future of design just got a little wilder.

— The Ape Forge Team