Figma’s big AI reveal!

At the recent Config conference, Figma unveiled several exciting new features that promise to enhance user experience and streamline workflows. The highlights include a significant UI redesign, innovative generative AI tools, and a built-in slideshow functionality.

A New UI for the Next Decade

Figma's latest UI redesign aims to set the stage for the next decade of design. According to a blog post by the company, the new interface includes a refreshed toolbar, rounded corners, and the addition of 200 new icons. This redesign focuses on making the canvas more about the user’s work and less about Figma’s interface, striving to create an environment that is both inviting to new users and efficient for seasoned designers.

This redesign marks the third major overhaul since Figma’s closed beta launch. Currently, it is being rolled out as a limited beta, with interested users able to join a waitlist to gain early access.

Introducing Generative AI Tools

The standout feature of the recent announcements is the introduction of generative AI tools designed to expedite the design process. These tools are intended to help users quickly get started on new projects by generating basic design templates from simple text prompts.

For example, Figma’s Chief Product Officer Yuhki Yamashita demonstrated how a prompt for a restaurant app resulted in a fully mocked-up design, complete with menu listings and delivery partner buttons, within seconds. Another prompt generated a recipe page for chocolate chip cookies, including an AI-created image of a cookie.

Figma's AI tools also include features to enhance asset search and auto-generate text in designs, replacing generic placeholder text with more meaningful content. These tools are aimed at lowering the entry barrier for new users while allowing experienced users to iterate more quickly.

The AI features are now in a limited beta phase, with interested users encouraged to join a waitlist. While in beta, these tools will be free, though Figma may introduce usage limits and will provide clear pricing guidance when they officially launch.

Figma Slides: A New Way to Present

Another practical addition is Figma Slides, a feature that allows users to create and share presentations directly within Figma. This tool is designed to address the need for a streamlined method to create slideshows, which users had been hacking together previously.

Figma Slides includes several unique features. Users can tweak designs in real-time within the slides, though these changes won’t yet sync back to the original files. You can also present app prototypes directly from the slides, eliminating the need for complex screen recordings. Additionally, interactive features like polls and alignment scales can be added to engage the audience.

Figma Slides is currently in open beta and will remain free during this period. It will transition to a paid feature upon official release.

Developer Mode Enhancements

Figma also announced new features for its developer mode, including a “ready for dev” task list, which aims to improve the handoff process between designers and developers.

Addressing Data Privacy in AI Training

Figma has also clarified its approach to training AI models, ensuring that no private Figma files or customer data were used. The company fine-tuned its models using public, free community files. Users can control whether their content is used for training, with the default settings differing based on the plan type. This transparency comes in the wake of Adobe’s recent controversy over AI training on user content.

Conclusion

These announcements come after Adobe’s abandoned $20 billion acquisition of Figma due to regulatory scrutiny, which resulted in Adobe paying a $1 billion breakup fee to Figma. With these new features, Figma continues to innovate and provide powerful tools for designers, maintaining its position as a leading design platform.

Figma’s ongoing commitment to user experience and cutting-edge technology is evident in these updates, promising an exciting future for the platform and its users.

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