Figma's Config 2024 was a treasure trove of innovations, leaving the design community buzzing with excitement. As we've sifted through our initial impressions, the dust has settled, and it's time to delve into the highlights. Join us as we break down the game-changing announcements and share our thoughts on how these innovations are set to reshape the design landscape.
Figma AI
Search
This feature is set to revolutionize how designers manage their assets, making it easier than ever to find and reuse elements. Imagine locating the perfect component from hundreds of assets in seconds—pure magic! Over the years, our design studio’s assets and case studies now number in the hundreds, and being able to leverage that sounds incredibly promising. Our verdict? A solid 5/5!
Make designs
Generative AI is unsurprisingly great for drafting designs, and Figma’s integration into their newly published design system makes us hope and wonder how well it will integrate with our own in-house systems. It had a rocky start and lots of big promises, but we’re going to keep a close eye on this one. We give it a watchful 3/5.
Instant Prototyping
The new Quick-Click Prototyping feature is a dream come true for some designers. Turning static designs into interactive prototypes in a snap allows for faster testing and iteration. While it's a simple concept, the potential time savings are immense. We give this a hopeful 4/5.
Rename layers
Figma's Automatic Layer Renaming is a game-changer for keeping design files organized. No more endless scrolling through "Rectangle 23" and "Group 45" as this AI-powered feature renames layers based on their content and context. Our own experience with AI layer renaming has been positive so far, and Figma releasing its own built in version is exciting and much desired. Stunning, 6/5
Figma UI3
The UI3 update brings a fresh, minimalistic look to Figma. Figma’s own animation showing how they’ll turn Figma into Figjam may appear daunting, but at a close look, it is a much more reasonable upgrade. Moving the toolbar to the bottom and introducing a more intuitive layout should streamline workflows. While some changes are a bit unexpected, the overall design is both beautiful and functional. We're excited to see how this impacts our daily tasks, despite our slight frustration at not having early access. A fair 4/5 here.
Dev Mode
From the designer's point of view, the new summary page for developers is truly fantastic. We are also happy that the page icon for development-ready work has been moved to the right of the page list, and finally our own page emojis don’t get pushed aside.The new features should greatly enhance collaboration, earning a full 5/5 from us.
Figma Slides
Figma Slides introduces a new way to create presentations, blending Figma's collaborative design features with powerful presentation tools. The ability to use live designs and real-time collaboration makes it a strong contender against traditional tools. However, the separate pricing from Figjam was a bit surprising. We love the product, rating it 5/5, but the pricing gets a puzzled 3/5.
Pages in FigJam
At last, getting pages in FigJam feels like a long-awaited upgrade. This feature enhances organization within brainstorming sessions, making it easier to manage large projects. It's like a refreshing stretch after a long-haul flight—necessary and very welcome.
Figma had so much more to say and announce, especially on the subject of design systems. They released their own kit, as well as integrated Material 3 and iOS & iPadOS support, perhaps there is a lot more to say on that subject in the future.
Overall, Figma's Config 2024 has set a high bar for the future of design tools. While some features are still under scrutiny, the potential they bring to streamline and enhance our workflows is undeniable. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into these updates and see how they integrate into our everyday design practice!
For more detailed insights from the event, check out the Muzli Recap and Figma Blog.
At Povio, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of the curve with the latest design innovations, just like those showcased at Figma's Config 2024. Our expertise in leveraging cutting-edge tools ensures that we deliver impactful, user-centered designs tailored to your needs. If you're looking to elevate your product design with a team that's as passionate about innovation as you are, contact us today to see how we can bring your vision to life.
