Figma announced a suite of new design and coding product updates at its annual Config conference, centred on AI-powered motion graphics and shader tools that aim to help creatives "push their ideas further" and automate tedious tasks. The updates include a reimagined canvas optimised for full-stack development, bringing teams, AI agents, tools, and materials together in one place. The new AI motion graphics capabilities allow designers to create animations and visual effects directly within Figma without switching to specialised tools. The shader tools enable real-time visual effects programming on the design canvas. Additionally, Figma introduced "code layers" that let developers work directly with code on the design canvas, bridging the gap between design and engineering workflows.
π The Backstory
Figma, founded in 2012, has become the dominant collaborative design tool used by UX/UI designers worldwide. Adobe's failed $20 billion acquisition attempt in 2022 was blocked by regulators, and Figma has since continued to expand its capabilities independently. The company has been investing heavily in AI features, including AI-powered design generation and automation. The Config conference is Figma's flagship annual event where it unveils major product updates. The addition of motion graphics and shader capabilities positions Figma to compete with specialised tools like After Effects, Spline, and Unity for certain creative workflows, while the code layers feature aims to strengthen its value for developers.
π― Why It Matters
Figma's expansion into AI-powered motion and shader tools represents the blurring of lines between design tools, animation software, and development environments. This convergence could reshape creative workflows by reducing the number of tools designers need to master. For the broader tech industry, it signals that AI integration in creative tools is moving beyond static design generation into dynamic, real-time, and code-integrated capabilities.
Figma announced a suite of new design and coding product updates at its annual Config conference, centred on AI-powered motion graphics and shader tools that aim to help creatives "push their ideas further" and automate tedious tasks. The updates include a reimagined canvas optimised for full-stack development, bringing teams, AI agents, tools, and materials together in one place. The new AI motion graphics capabilities allow designers to create animations and visual effects directly within Figma without switching to specialised tools. The shader tools enable real-time visual effects programming on the design canvas. Additionally, Figma introduced "code layers" that let developers work directly with code on the design canvas, bridging the gap between design and engineering workflows.
Figma, founded in 2012, has become the dominant collaborative design tool used by UX/UI designers worldwide. Adobe's failed $20 billion acquisition attempt in 2022 was blocked by regulators, and Figma has since continued to expand its capabilities independently. The company has been investing heavily in AI features, including AI-powered design generation and automation. The Config conference is Figma's flagship annual event where it unveils major product updates. The addition of motion graphics and shader capabilities positions Figma to compete with specialised tools like After Effects, Spline, and Unity for certain creative workflows, while the code layers feature aims to strengthen its value for developers.
Figma's expansion into AI-powered motion and shader tools represents the blurring of lines between design tools, animation software, and development environments. This convergence could reshape creative workflows by reducing the number of tools designers need to master. For the broader tech industry, it signals that AI integration in creative tools is moving beyond static design generation into dynamic, real-time, and code-integrated capabilities.