Figma introduced a slew of recent options at its Config convention as we speak, together with a serious UI redesign, new generative AI instruments to assist individuals create tasks extra simply, and built-in slideshow capabilities.
Let’s begin with the redesign, which, in accordance with a weblog publish, is meant to “lay the inspiration for the subsequent decade.” You may see new toolbars, rounded corners, 200 new icons, and extra. As a part of the design replace, the corporate needed to “make the canvas much less targeted on our UI and extra in your work” and make one thing simple to make use of for brand spanking new customers whereas nonetheless being acquainted to Figma Consultants are helpful.
Figma says that is the corporate’s third “main redesign” for the reason that launch of Figma’s beta model. The brand new look is rolling out as a part of a restricted beta, and customers can be a part of a waitlist in the event that they wish to strive it out.
Apart from the redesign, the primary new characteristic is new generative AI instruments, which look to be a helpful solution to begin designing rapidly. They’re mainly the Figma model of the “draft e-mail” sort AI instruments we have seen many occasions.
Throughout a briefing, Figma chief product officer Yuhki Yamashita confirmed me an instance of how Figma may create an app design for a brand new restaurant. Seconds after he typed his immediate into the textual content field, Figma simulated an app full with a menu record, a tab bar, and even buttons for supply companions like Uber Eats and DoorDash. It regarded like a generic cellular app mannequin, however Yamashita was in a position to begin tweaking it instantly.
In one other instance, Yamashita requested Figma AI to design a recipe web page for chocolate chip cookies, and certain sufficient, it did simply that — full with AI-generated photos of the cookies. With zoom, it seems like a fairly correct picture, however I can not think about an AI generator having a tough time making a primary picture of a chocolate chip cookie.
Figma additionally introduces synthetic intelligence options that may assist significantly pace up small duties, akin to “synthetic intelligence enhanced” asset search and mechanically generated textual content within the design, as an alternative of the generic Lorem ipsum placeholder textual content.
Yamashita mentioned that ideally, all new Figma AI instruments will enable individuals new to Figma to check concepts extra simply, whereas permitting these extra accustomed to the app to iterate quicker. “We’re utilizing synthetic intelligence to decrease the decrease restrict and lift the higher restrict,” Yamashita mentioned in an interview. edge – CEO Dylan Discipline mentioned edge in addition to.
Figma AI can be obtainable in restricted testing beginning Wednesday, and customers can be a part of a waitlist. Figma says the testing interval will final till the tip of the yr. Whereas in beta, Figma’s AI instruments can be free, however the firm says it might must introduce “utilization restrictions.” Figma additionally promised to offer “clear pricing steerage” when the unreal intelligence capabilities are formally launched.
Figma additionally detailed its methodology of coaching synthetic intelligence fashions in a weblog publish. “The entire technology options we’re launching as we speak are powered by third-party AI fashions out of the field and weren’t skilled on Figma’s non-public recordsdata or buyer profiles,” Kris Rasmussen, Figma’s chief expertise officer, wrote. “We use information from public sources. UI photos free of charge group recordsdata have been fine-tuned for visible and asset search.”
Rasmussen added that Figma trains its fashions in order that they be taught patterns and “Figma-specific ideas and instruments,” however not from customers’ content material. Figma can even let Figma directors management whether or not Figma can practice on “buyer content material,” which incorporates “file content material that customers create in Figma or add to Figma, akin to layer names and properties, textual content and pictures, feedback and annotations,” in accordance with Rasmussen’s assertion.
Figma will not begin coaching on this content material till August fifteenth; nevertheless, you need to know that the Starter and Skilled plans decide out of sharing this information by default, whereas the Group and Enterprise plans decide out.
In mild of Adobe’s current phrases of service debacle, the place the corporate could also be extra particular about the way it trains its AI fashions, the corporate should make clear that it will not practice AI in your job.
Along with the redesign and new AI options, Figma has additionally added a brand new device that might be very helpful: Figma Slides, a Google Slides-like characteristic constructed into Figma. Yamashita says customers have been hacking Figma to search out methods to create slideshows, so now there’s an official solution to create and share shows inside the app.
Designers could recognize some Figma-specific options. You can use Figma’s instruments to immediately alter the designs included in your deck. (Please word that these modifications will solely seem on deck — Changes don’t at the moment sync again to the unique design file, though Yamashita mentioned Figma hopes to ultimately allow this.
You may as well display app prototypes immediately from the platform, which suggests you needn’t make sophisticated display screen recordings simply to display how one half connects to a different. You may as well add interactive options for viewers members, akin to polls or alignment scales that chart if individuals agree or disagree with one thing on a scale.
Figma Slides will start public testing on Wednesday. It will likely be free in the course of the beta part, however will grow to be a paid characteristic upon official launch. The corporate has additionally added new options to its developer mode in Figma, together with a “Able to Develop” process record.
This yr’s Config is the primary since Adobe deserted plans to purchase Figma for $20 billion following regulatory scrutiny. With the merger unwinding, Adobe was compelled to pay Figma a $1 billion breakup payment.
