Config 2024 Figma Recap (IN 8 MINUTES) - Figma Ai, Figma Slides & More

The Config 2024 Figma Recap highlights major updates including UI3, a redesigned interface focusing on work centrality, Suggest Auto Layout for easier design configuration, and three native UI kits. Figma AI introduces an entirely new UI creation experience with custom graphics and structured frames. Additional features include a responsive prototype viewer, code connect syncing, and new billing and teamwork updates. Figma Slides, a new presentation tool, allows AI-assisted tone adjustment and live prototype integration. Predictions for the following year involve a focus on Design Systems, expanding the slides template repository, and enhancing AI capabilities.

Takeaways

• 🔄 UI3 Dev Mode and Figma Slides are among the four main pillars of updates at Config 2024.
• 📐 UI3 introduces a redesigned interface aiming to put work front and center, with hidden menus and resizable design panels.
• 🤖 Figma's Auto Layout is enhanced with a 'Suggest Auto Layout' feature that simplifies the setup process.
• 📱 Three native UI kits are provided for iOS, Material Design, and a neutral UI kit, linked with code connect for developers.
• 💻 Connect Workspace is introduced, similar to Slack, for team collaboration and project management.
• 💵 Billing updates include an email digest for paying users and manual approval for edit access to manage costs.
• 🛠️ Dev Mode allows setting frame status for active development and a 'Ready for Dev' tab to filter non-ready elements.
• 🔍 The Prototype viewer now includes a responsive viewer for different breakpoints, and code connect is directly synced with designs.
• 🧠 Figma AI generates custom UIs and graphics, with structured and correctly named frames, and allows for styling tweaks.
• 🔍 AI capabilities also include searching within files, image background removal, design translation, and layer renaming.
• 🎉 The ability to highlight designs and create a prototype with a single action is a significant feature addition.
• 📑 Figma Slides is a new feature, leveraging Figma's infrastructure to build a presentation tool with AI tone adjustment and live prototype integration.
• 📈 Predictions for the following year include a focus on Design Systems, expansion of the slides template repository, and advancements in AI capabilities.

Q & A

What were the four main pillars of updates at Figma's Config 2024?

The four main pillars of updates at Config 2024 were UI3 Dev mode, AI, and Figma Slides.

What is the goal of the UI3 redesign in Figma?

The goal of the UI3 redesign is to put the user's work in the front and center of the Figma experience, making it more focused and efficient.

How does the 'Suggest Auto Layout' feature in Figma work?

The 'Suggest Auto Layout' feature in Figma automatically configures layouts, making it easier for users to get started with Auto Layout without having to manually adjust settings.

What are the three native UI kits provided in the assets panel of Figma?

The three native UI kits provided in the assets panel are for iOS design, Material Design, and a neutral UI kit by the Figma team.

What is the purpose of the 'Connect Workspace' feature in Figma?

The 'Connect Workspace' feature allows users to invite other teams into their projects, similar to a Slack workspace, to facilitate better collaboration.

How does the 'Dev mode' update in Figma benefit developers?

In 'Dev mode', developers can set the status of each frame to indicate whether they are ready for development, and they have access to a 'Ready for Dev' tab that hides everything that isn't ready yet.

What is the significance of the 'Prototype viewer' update in Figma?

The 'Prototype viewer' update introduces a responsive viewer that allows developers and designers to see how the designs look at different breakpoints.

What capabilities does Figma AI offer for creating a new UI?

Figma AI can generate an entirely new UI with custom graphics, structured and correctly named frames, and allows users to tweak the styling of the UI.

What is unique about the AI search feature in Figma?

The AI search feature in Figma can search for anything in your file, find similar icons, remove backgrounds of images, translate designs into another language, and even rename all your layers.

What is the main advantage of Figma Slides over other presentation apps?

Figma Slides allows users to use AI to configure the tone of voice in presentations and integrate prototypes directly into slides for live presentations.

What are the speaker's predictions for Figma's future developments?

The speaker predicts a continuous focus on Design Systems and Dev mode, a major focus on building out the slides template repository, and an emphasis on enhancing AI capabilities to create more intricate UIs.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Figma UI3 and Auto Layout Enhancements

The first paragraph introduces the major updates at Figma's Config 2024 event. The UI3 update, a redesigned interface, aims to centralize the user's work and streamline the experience with hidden menus and resizable design panels. Figma also introduces 'Suggest Auto Layout' to simplify layout configuration. Additionally, three native UI kits are provided for iOS, Material Design, and a neutral UI by Figma's team, all linked with code connect for developers. Billing and teamwork updates include 'Connect Workspace' for team collaboration and enhanced billing controls to monitor and approve user access for cost management. Dev mode allows developers to set frame statuses and access a 'Ready for Dev' tab, while the Prototype viewer gains a responsive design feature and code connect synchronization.

05:01

🤖 Figma AI and Slides: Innovations and Predictions

The second paragraph delves into Figma's AI capabilities, which enable users to generate entirely new UIs with custom graphics and correctly structured frames. AI is also used for image background removal and layer renaming. A significant feature is the ability to quickly create prototypes from highlighted designs. Figma Slides is introduced as a new tool leveraging Figma's existing infrastructure, offering AI-assisted tone configuration and the ability to integrate live prototypes into presentations. The speaker predicts a continued focus on Design Systems and Dev mode, an expansion of the slides template repository, and significant advancements in AI capabilities, possibly integrating custom design systems with text-to-UI features. The video concludes with personal musings and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content.

Keywords

UI3

UI3 refers to the redesigned interface of Figma, introduced in the video as a major update. It is designed to put the user's work at the center of the Figma experience, with a focus on hiding menus when following others and resizing the design panel. This update is directly related to the theme of improving the user interface and user experience within Figma, as it aims to streamline the workflow and make it more intuitive for users.

Auto Layout

Auto Layout is a feature in Figma that automates the configuration of layouts, reducing the need for manual adjustments. The script mentions 'suggest Auto layout' as a way to make it easier for users to get started with this feature. It is an integral part of the video's narrative on enhancing productivity and simplifying the design process within Figma.

UI Kits

UI Kits are pre-designed user interface components provided by Figma in the assets panel. The script mentions three native UI kits for iOS design, material design, and a neutral UI kit by the Figma team. These kits are significant as they offer designers a starting point for creating consistent and professional interfaces, which ties into the broader theme of the video about streamlining design workflows.

Code Connect

Code Connect is a feature that links Figma designs with code, allowing developers to copy relevant code and use it in real projects. This feature is highlighted in the script as a way to bridge the gap between design and development, which is a key theme in the video about improving collaboration and efficiency in the design process.

Connect Workspace

Connect Workspace is likened to a Slack workspace in the script, allowing teams to collaborate more effectively by inviting others into projects. It is part of Figma's updates on billing and teamwork, which is a theme in the video about enhancing team collaboration and project management within the platform.

Dev Mode

Dev Mode is a setting in Figma that allows developers to focus on frames that are ready for development. The script describes it as a way to hide elements not yet ready, which is related to the video's theme of streamlining the development process and making it more efficient.

Figma AI

Figma AI is a feature that uses artificial intelligence to assist in the design process. The script describes it as being able to generate custom UIs and graphics, which is a significant part of the video's theme about leveraging AI to enhance creativity and productivity in design work.

Prototype

In the context of the video, a prototype refers to a preliminary model of a design that can be tested and iterated upon. The script mentions the ability to highlight designs and create a prototype, which is a key aspect of the video's theme about accelerating the design and development process through automation.

Figma Slides

Figma Slides is a new feature introduced in the video that allows users to create presentations using Figma's infrastructure. It is an unexpected addition that fits within the video's theme of expanding Figma's capabilities beyond design into new areas such as presentations.

Design Systems

Design Systems are a set of reusable components and guidelines that help maintain consistency in design. The script discusses Figma's focus on Design Systems as a way to lock in users, which is related to the video's theme of establishing long-term user engagement and loyalty through comprehensive design solutions.

AI to UI

AI to UI is a process mentioned in the script where artificial intelligence is used to generate user interfaces based on text prompts. This is part of the video's exploration of AI's role in the future of design, emphasizing the theme of innovation and the potential for AI to revolutionize the design process.

Highlights

UI3, the redesigned interface of Figma, aims to put work at the center of the Figma experience.

UI3 introduces the 'suggest Auto layout' feature, simplifying the process of configuring layouts.

Figma now provides three native UI kits for iOS, Material Design, and a neutral UI kit by the Figma team.

Code Connect allows developers to copy relevant code from UI kits for real projects.

Connect Workspace is introduced, functioning similarly to Slack for team collaboration.

Figma is rolling out an email digest feature for billing and manual approval for edit access to files.

Dev mode allows setting the status of frames and accessing a 'ready for Dev' tab.

The Prototype viewer now includes a responsive viewer for different breakpoints.

Figma AI enables the creation of entirely new UIs with custom graphics and correctly named frames.

AI can also be used to search for anything in a file, including icons and similar items.

Images can have backgrounds removed, and designs can be translated into other languages using AI.

Figma Slides is a new feature, leveraging Figma's infrastructure to build a comprehensive slides tool.

Figma Slides allows the use of AI to configure the tone of voice for presentations.

Design prototypes can be integrated into slides for live presentations.

Figma is predicted to focus on Design Systems and Dev mode for user retention.

Expansion of the slides template repository is expected to capture more markets.

Figma is likely to invest heavily in AI, aiming to create more intricate UIs and possibly integrate user design systems.