Figma Pronounces Massive Redesign Utilizing AI

Figma is asserting numerous new options as we speak at its Config convention, together with a significant UI redesign, new generative AI instruments to assist folks create tasks extra simply, and a built-in slideshow function.

Let’s begin with the redesign, which, in accordance with the weblog put up, is meant to “lay the inspiration for the following decade.” You may see a brand new toolbar, rounded corners, and 200 new icons. As a part of the design refresh, the corporate needs to “focus much less on our person interface and extra in your expertise” and make one thing accessible to new customers however nonetheless helpful to Figma consultants.

Figma says that is the corporate’s third “vital redesign” because the launch of Figma’s closed beta. The brand new look is rolling out as a restricted beta, and customers can be a part of a waitlist in the event that they wish to attempt it out.

Apart from the redesign, the principle function is the brand new generative AI instruments, which appear to be a helpful option to shortly get began with design work. It is primarily a Figma-centric model of the “compose an e-mail” kind AI instruments we have seen many instances.

On the briefing, Figma Product Director Yuki Yamashita confirmed me an instance of how Figma may create an app design for a brand new restaurant. Inside seconds of coming into a question right into a textual content discipline, Figma simulated an app with menu lists, a tab bar, and even buttons for supply companions like Uber Eats and DoorDash. It appeared like a typical cell app format, however Yamashita was in a position to begin tweaking it straight away.

In one other instance, Yamashita requested Figma AI to create a design for a chocolate chip cookie recipe web page, and certain sufficient, it did, together with an AI-generated picture of the cookie. It appeared like a fairly correct picture on Zoom, however I can not think about it is tough for an AI generator to create a primary picture of a chocolate chip cookie.

Figma can also be introducing AI options that may assist velocity up small duties considerably, akin to “AI-enhanced” useful resource looking out and auto-generated textual content in tasks as an alternative of the same old Lorem ipsum placeholder textual content.

Ideally, all the new Figma AI instruments will make it simpler for these new to Figma to check concepts, whereas these extra conversant in the appliance will be capable of iterate quicker, Yamashita mentioned. “We use AI to decrease the ground and lift the ceiling,” Yamashita tells the publication. Aspects – CEO Dylan Area has one thing. mentioned Edge Additionally.

Figma AI is launching in restricted beta testing beginning Wednesday, and customers can get on a waitlist. Figma says the beta interval will final till the tip of the yr. Whereas nonetheless in beta, Figma’s AI instruments shall be free, however the firm says it might must introduce “utilization restrictions.” Figma additionally guarantees “clear pricing pointers” as soon as the AI ​​options are formally launched.

In its weblog put up, Figma additionally laid out its strategy to coaching its AI fashions. “The entire generative options we launch as we speak are primarily based on third-party, off-the-shelf AI fashions and weren’t educated on proprietary Figma information or buyer knowledge,” writes Chris Rasmussen, CTO of Figma. “We’ve custom-made visible search and useful resource discovery utilizing UI pictures from publicly out there, free group information.”

Rasmussen provides that Figma trains its fashions to be taught templates and “Figma-specific ideas and instruments,” however not on person content material. Figma can even enable Figma admins to manage whether or not Figma can be taught from “buyer content material,” which incorporates “content material from information created or uploaded to Figma by the person, akin to layer names and properties, textual content and pictures, feedback, and annotations,” Rasmussen says.

Figma is not going to start coaching for this content material till August fifteenth; nonetheless, you ought to be conscious that the Starter and Skilled plans enable this knowledge to be shared by default, whereas the Group and Enterprise plans don’t.

The corporate is more likely to be extra particular about the way it trains its AI fashions because of a current violation of Adobe’s phrases of service the place the corporate was compelled to make clear that this is not going to educate the AI ​​your job.

Along with the redesign and new AI options, Figma is including a doubtlessly very sensible new instrument: Figma Slides, a Google Slides-like function constructed proper into Figma. Yamashita says customers have already hacked Figma to discover a option to create slides, so there’s now an official technique for creating and sharing shows proper contained in the app.

There are a number of Figma-specific options that designers will seemingly admire. You’ll modify the designs you’ve got included in your deck in actual time utilizing Figma instruments. (Please be aware that these modifications will solely seem within the deck — settings are usually not at present synced with supply design information, though Yamashita says Figma needs to make this attainable over time.)

You too can current a prototype of the app straight from the deck, that means you don’t must make an advanced display screen recording simply to exhibit how one half connects to a different. You too can add interactive options for viewers members, like a ballot or an alignment scale the place folks can show a variety in the event that they agree or disagree with one thing.

Figma Slides shall be out there in open beta beginning Wednesday. Whereas it’s in beta testing, it will likely be free, however after the official launch it can grow to be paid. The corporate can also be including new options to its developer mode in Figmatogether with a “able to develop” process checklist.

This yr’s Config would be the first occasion since Adobe deserted its deliberate $20 billion acquisition of Figma. after inspection by regulatory authorities. After the merger ended, Adobe was compelled to pay Figma a $1 billion cut up price.