Figma declares a serious redesign utilizing synthetic intelligence

Figma is saying a number of recent options at its Config convention at the moment, together with a serious redesign of the consumer interface, new AI instruments to assist individuals create tasks extra simply, and built-in slideshow performance.

Let’s begin with the redesign, which goals to “lay the muse for the subsequent decade,” in keeping with one weblog submit. You may see issues like a brand new toolbar, rounded corners, and 200 new icons. As a part of the design refresh, the corporate desires to “focus the panel much less on our UI and extra in your work” and create one thing that’s accessible to new customers whereas nonetheless being helpful to Figma specialists.

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

Along with the redesign, the principle characteristic addition is new generative AI instruments, which appear to be a helpful option to rapidly get began on design. It is principally a Figma-focused model of the “e mail draft” sort AI instruments we have seen many occasions.

At a press convention, Yohki Yamashita, chief product officer at Figma, confirmed me an instance of how Figma created an app design for a brand new restaurant. A number of seconds after typing the immediate right into a textual content field, Figma mocked up an app with menus, a tab bar, and even buttons for supply companions like Uber Eats and DoorDash. It seemed like a generic template for a cell app, however Yamashita was in a position to begin tweaking it immediately.

In one other instance, Yamashita requested Figma AI to develop a recipe web page design for chocolate chip cookies, and it definitely did — together with an AI-generated cookie picture. Over Zoom, it seemed like a fairly correct picture, however I am unable to think about it might be tough for an AI generator to create a primary picture of a chocolate chip cookie.

Figma additionally affords AI options that may assist pace up small duties in huge methods, like “AI-powered” asset looking and mechanically generated textual content in designs as a substitute of generic Lorem ipsum placeholder textual content.

Ideally, all of Figma’s new AI instruments will permit individuals new to utilizing Figma to check concepts extra simply whereas permitting these with extra expertise with the applying to iterate quicker, in keeping with Yamashita. Yamashita says in an interview with the sting – One thing CEO Dylan Discipline stated the sting additionally.

Figma AI will launch in a restricted beta beginning Wednesday, and customers can be a part of the waitlist. Figma says the trial 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 have to supply “utilization limits.” Figma additionally guarantees to offer “clear pricing tips” when the AI ​​options are formally launched.

In a weblog submit, Figma additionally defined its strategy to coaching its AI fashions. “All the generative options we’re launching at the moment are powered by third-party AI fashions and weren’t educated on Figma’s personal recordsdata or buyer information,” wrote Chris Rasmussen, CTO at Figma. “We fine-tuned visible search and asset search utilizing UI pictures from public and free group recordsdata.”

Rasmussen provides that Figma trains its fashions so that they study patterns and “Figma-specific ideas and instruments” however not from customers’ content material. Figma will even permit Figma directors to regulate whether or not Figma can prepare on “consumer content material,” which incorporates “file content material created or uploaded to Figma by the consumer, equivalent to layer names and properties, textual content and pictures, feedback, and annotations,” in keeping with Rasmussen.

Figma will not begin coaching for this content material till August 15; Nevertheless, it’s best to know that Starter and Skilled plans are enabled by default to share this information, whereas Group and Enterprise plans are opted out.

The corporate is probably going being particular about the way it trains its AI fashions because of Adobe’s latest phrases of service debacle, the place the corporate needed to make clear that it would not prepare AI for your enterprise.

Along with the redesign and new AI options, Figma is including a brand new device that may very well be very useful: Figma Slides, a Google Slides-like characteristic constructed proper into Figma. Customers have already hacked into Figma to discover a option to create slides, so now there’s an official option to create and share shows instantly inside the app, Yamashita says.

There are some Figma-specific options that designers will probably recognize. You’ll edit the designs you’ve got included within the assortment in real-time utilizing Figma instruments. (Observe that these adjustments will solely seem On deck (Modifications is not going to at present sync with the unique design recordsdata, though Yamashita says Figma desires to make that potential finally.)

You can too prototype the app instantly from the block, which implies you need not do a fancy screencast simply to exhibit how one piece connects to a different. You can too add interactive options for viewers members, equivalent to a ballot or alignment scale, the place individuals can draw on a scale in the event that they agree or disagree with one thing.

Figma Slides can be out there in open beta beginning Wednesday. It is going to be free whereas in beta however will grow to be a paid characteristic when it formally launches. The corporate can be including new options to it Developer mode in Figmatogether with a listing of “growth prepared” duties.

This yr’s Config is the primary since Adobe deserted its deliberate $20 billion acquisition of Figma after regulatory scrutiny. With the merger dissolved, Adobe needed to pay a breakup payment of $1 billion to Figma.