Playbook by MediaBistro | Tools & Software for Creative Professionals
Canva Brand Kit and Haikei serve entirely different needs in the graphic design workflow. Brand Kit functions as a centralized repository for brand assets within Canva's ecosystem, while Haikei specializes in generating custom SVG backgrounds and shapes. These tools complement rather than compete with each other.
Canva Brand Kit operates as the brand management layer within Canva Pro, storing logos, color palettes, typography choices, and template libraries in a centralized hub. Teams can access these assets across all Canva projects, ensuring visual consistency whether creating social media graphics, presentations, or marketing materials. The system automatically suggests brand colors and fonts as team members design, reducing the friction of maintaining brand standards.
The Brand Kit includes template creation and sharing capabilities, allowing design leads to build reusable frameworks that team members can customize within approved parameters. Multiple brand kits can be stored within a single account, making it useful for agencies managing several client identities or companies with distinct product lines. The tool integrates directly into Canva's design interface, so brand assets appear alongside standard design elements.
Haikei generates customizable SVG backgrounds and design elements through an intuitive web interface. The tool offers multiple generators for waves, blobs, gradients, layered peaks, and geometric patterns that designers can adjust through visual controls. Each generator provides parameters for color, complexity, layering, and animation, allowing for distinctive outputs rather than template-based designs.
The platform exports assets as SVG or PNG files, making them immediately usable in web projects, presentations, or other design work. SVG output means the backgrounds scale infinitely without quality loss, a practical advantage for responsive web design. Haikei operates entirely in the browser with no account required for basic use, though registration unlocks additional features and saves custom presets for repeated use.
Brand asset storage and team access management
Generative SVG background and shape creation
Centralized brand colors, fonts, logos, and templates with auto-suggestion
No brand management features
Template creation from existing designs
Parametric generators for waves, blobs, gradients, and patterns
Designs export through Canva's standard formats (PNG, JPG, PDF, MP4)
SVG and PNG export with transparent backgrounds
Multi-user access with brand kit sharing and permissions
Individual use with preset saving for logged-in users
Native to Canva platform with access across all Canva tools
Standalone tool requiring manual import into other software
The pricing structures reflect fundamentally different product approaches. Canva Brand Kit comes bundled with a comprehensive design platform subscription, while Haikei provides focused functionality at no cost. Your choice depends on whether you need an integrated brand management system or a specialized generation tool.
These tools occupy separate niches in the graphic design toolkit. Canva Brand Kit solves the organizational challenge of maintaining brand consistency across teams, while Haikei addresses the creative need for unique generative backgrounds. If your priority involves coordinating multiple team members around shared brand standards within the Canva ecosystem, Brand Kit provides essential infrastructure. The investment makes sense when design consistency and template reuse matter more than individual asset creation.
Haikei excels as a specialized generation tool that produces assets you can use anywhere. The free access and SVG export make it valuable for designers working across multiple platforms who need distinctive backgrounds without repetitive manual creation. Many designers will benefit from both tools: Brand Kit for systematic brand management and Haikei for generating fresh visual elements that fit within those brand parameters. The choice becomes less about competition and more about which workflow challenge you need to solve first.
