Donata Delano - From Architect to Designer: Founder of The Good Canvas

As I was having lunch with Donata Delano at Bardo Restaurant in Burlington, I was struck by her laid-back demeanor and the structured energy sitting just beneath it. Donata Delano is the founder of The Good Canvas, a creative studio that blends artistry with strategy to design meaningful, elegant websites for entrepreneurs.

With a background in architecture and a lifelong passion for visual storytelling, Donata has carved out a space where thoughtful design meets intentional business-building.

“I’m a creative person, always have been,” Donata said. “I’ve always used my hands to express myself—whether it was playing piano, or building scale models, DIY projects, cooking or art, doing something manual gives me joy.”

Creativity ran through her childhood, shaped by parents who were always making, building, or dreaming up something new. “I grew up with parents who were always doing something—renovating a home, building a business or trying something new—these things always felt natural to me.”

Donata’s story begins in Warsaw, Poland, where she was born. It was her sister’s birth that changed the trajectory of her family’s life.

“When my sister was born with a learning disability, my parents knew they wanted to leave to find her a better life—with services and programs and tolerance that at the time didn’t exist in Poland,” Donata shared. “There were also conflicts in Poland—political and financial—and my parents dreamt of a life in Canada. And here we are.”

Once in Canada, Donata flourished in a world of possibilities. She set her sights on architecture as a teenager, drawn to the balance of structure and creativity. “Before University, I decided I wanted to become an architect so I studied insane amounts of math and physics in high school and got into undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture and design.”

After completing her Master’s in Architecture from the University of Toronto, she went on to pursue her professional license, a grueling three-year process. She landed her dream job and initially felt fulfilled.

“At the beginning I had this immense feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment,” Donata said.

But with the goal behind her, a new realization began to emerge. “I was able to settle into my job and that was when I started noticing myself drifting away from it.”

She could see the difference in herself compared to the people around her. “I saw others around me fully involved and focused on the projects and the office, and I saw myself standing next to them (and myself) in meetings as in some kind of outer body experience.”

That disconnect forced a deeper reflection. “I had been so laser-focused on all the steps that I forgot to check in with myself. Which I was ultimately forced to do in 2020.”

The pandemic gave her space to ask: what now?

“Working from home, without anything else to really focus on, I knew I wasn’t happy with this for the rest of my working life. It was just a matter of how and when.”

It was then that her husband offered a new perspective. “My husband suggested we move abroad for a year to spend time with his family and realign what we wanted from life.”

Within months, the family was on a plane heading to Mexico. “In six months, we were standing at the airport with 10 suitcases and our two little girls, ready for an adventure.”

While living abroad, Donata returned to her roots as an artist—and uncovered an entirely new passion. “I rediscovered my love for painting and visual communication (something that I never really lost), and started to sell paintings online and internationally.”

What started as selling art became a crash course in digital communication. “That involves everything else like website development, email marketing, blogging, outreach,” Donata said. “And it was those things that I truly fell in love with.”

That passion became her new business. “The Good Canvas was born, a beautiful marriage between my technical background and visual creativity.”

Her work now supports values-driven entrepreneurs, often women and creatives, who are building intentional brands. “There is a natural target audience that is drawn to my work,” Donata shared. “This tends to be women entrepreneurs, small business owners who want to build something meaningful with their time and investment.”

She’s deliberate about who she serves. “I work with clients who want to do good things, in good ways, and that care about how we share and receive information so that it’s not overly stimulating, artificial or forced.”

Growing the business meant learning to let go. “I have always struggled with relinquishing control so when it came time in my business to either delegate or burn out, I trusted letting go and began to build my team.”

Today, that team includes an SEO expert, developer, virtual assistant, and a local social media company. Most of their websites are built using WordPress. “It gives us the creative freedom to build something truly unique and strategic without losing on power and optimization," Donata shared.

The process Donata uses is calm, collaborative, and rooted in trust. “We start with a deep dive into your brand and goals, then move into design, development, and launch. I keep things clear and low-stress throughout, and after launch, I offer training and ongoing support so you feel confident using your site.”

Even though web design is now her main work, painting remains a part of who she is. “Yes, I’m an artist and painter at heart, always. That creative lens really informs everything I do at The Good Canvas.”

Her creative spark is nourished by people and the natural world. “Hard work by people who are putting something meaningful and beautiful into the world is so inspiring,” Donata said. “I love helping them uncover their story and translate it visually into a website or brand that feels true to them.”

Balance, she says, isn’t static—it’s seasonal. “Balance isn’t something I think you arrive at once and for all, for me it’s more like an ongoing rhythm that shifts with the seasons.”

“I’ve learned to listen to my energy, my body and mind and build white space into my calendar, and protect my mornings or weekends when I need to recharge," Donata said.

She also finds joy and healing in the kitchen. “I’ve always loved to cook and learn new skills and techniques in the kitchen.”

Living with autoimmune conditions has made wellness a necessity, not just a passion. “I’m also very passionate about my physical and mental health,” Donata shared. “Living with chronic autoimmune conditions makes me very sensitive to the physical impacts of stress, lack of exercise or poor diet.”

For women looking to begin their own entrepreneurial journey, Donata offers thoughtful, personal encouragement.

“Trust your voice, even when it feels quiet. There’s so much power in building a business that gives you what you need, not just what you think you need.”

“Give yourself permission to do things differently, to say no, to move slower, to create with heart.”

“Ask for help. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and can take you to a place that might be different from what you were expecting. It’s a hard thing to start but so liberating.” ||

Visit her site here: https://thegoodcanvas.com

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1. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Look out the window.

2. What is your favorite thing to wear?

Leggings and a big sweater.

3. If you could pick one word to describe you what would it be?

Thoughtful.

4. What’s one beauty tip you would pass on?

Fillers.

5. Everyday is better with:

My family.