Figma Feature drop
Highlights from Config 2023
Hi everyone,
It’s been an exciting few weeks for designers and developers alike with Figma’s annual Config conference.
As part of Config 2023, Figma has release some massive new features which is already transforming the way designers work.
Today, we'll take a closer look at what's new in Figma and how it can help you streamline your workflow.
Let’s dive in!
Dev Mode
Figma has introduced a new view for developers that is similar to browser dev tools.
With Dev Mode, developers can easily integrate with VSCode, and there is also a 'mark as ready for dev' option for screens and sections.
This feature aims to make the design-to-development process smoother and easier.
Variables
Figma has introduced design tokens, which are called variables.
This feature allows for quick adaptive designs and preset parameters (dark mode, tablet view, etc.) that can be applied to any screen.
With this feature, designers can create super powerful designs that are adaptable to any device.
Advanced prototyping
Figma's advanced prototyping feature has made prototyping simpler and faster.
With the new conditional-based prototyping feature, you can specify conditions such as:
'on click, IF _____, THEN navigate to _______, ELSE go to ________.'
This feature also eliminates the need to switch between tabs for on-canvas prototype view, making prototyping a breeze.
Auto Layout updates
Auto Layout updates now allow setting min/max width and wrap feature (like flex-wrap in CSS), making it easier to create responsive layouts.
Font Preview
Figma has also introduced a new font preview feature.
With this feature, you can now see fonts in the canvas while browsing.
This simple yet effective feature will save designers time and headache instead of playing ‘font roulette’.
AI Updates
It’s 2023, so we can’t talk about design without mentioning AI.
At Config, Figma announced their acquisition of Diagram, one of the most promising startups in the intersection of design and AI.
The future is exciting, and I can’t wait to see how Figma integrates generative AI.
Closing thoughts
The last week has been fun to see designers coming together from all over the world, whether virtually or in person, to share their excitement around Figma and the future of design.
I’ve been using these new features for a week or so, and they feel like they fit into my workflow pretty seamlessly.
I can’t wait to see what the design community does with these new powers, and the amazing things we will make.
If you want to learn more about Config and these feature updates, check out launch keynote below:
We’ll leave it there for today. Thanks for reading.
Until next week,
Sean