Modal · Feature discovery
Canva’s new feature announcement modal prompts hands-on experience
Canva announces Magic Design with a sidebar card that opens a large modal, where users try the feature without leaving the overlay.
Screenshot added to the library in April 2023; its exact capture date wasn’t recorded, and the product may look different today. Write-up reviewed 22 Oct 2026.
At the time of the screenshot, Canva announced Magic Design in two stages. A small card in the editor’s Design panel (first image) leads to a feature announcement modal titled "Generate a Presentation instantly with Magic Design". The modal has a short paragraph, two points with small icons, a purple Try it out button and a note that Magic Design is new technology. On the right, a demo types a prompt ("Styling proposal from interior decorator") into the Magic Design box. Trying it out happens on the same overlay, so users don’t leave the modal to get a first result.
Why it works
- Good design with visuals: a clear heading, a short paragraph, two points with small icons and an animated demo give the modal an obvious reading order.
- Hands-on in place: users try Magic Design on the same overlay, with less friction than being sent to another screen first.
- Good copy: the heading names the benefit, "Try it out" asks for little commitment, and the small print sets expectations about new technology.
The sidebar card is covered in Canva’s contextual tooltips. More on this pattern: new feature onboarding and UI modals.
