Figma Config 2024: an overview of the main new features

Summary and opinions on all the new features of Config 2024: Figma AI, Figma Slides, UI3 redesign, Dev Mode, etc.

Key points to remember

Figma AI, UI3 and Figma Slides, the major new features of config 2024!

Summary of new features

Figma has once again struck hard at Config 2024!

This not-to-be-missed event for web and product designers took place on June 26 and 27 in San Francisco, and there were plenty of announcements! This year, the focus was onartificial intelligence, the redesign of the user interface, and significant improvements to existing functionalities. In this article, we take a look at the main news.

Figma AI

One of the most eagerly awaited announcements of this Config 2024 was of course theintroduction of AI with Figma AIa set of AI-based tools available directly from the designer interface. Currently in limited beta, Figma AI aims to turn ideas into finished products faster than ever!

Figma AI's main features

Design creation: Generate UX and UI designs from a simple prompt.
Visual search: Find specific components or designs from images or sketches.
Automatic naming of Frames: Ah, here's a micro-update that allows you to intelligently rename layers with a single click.
Prototype creation: Develop animated mock-up prototypes at the click of a button.
Text reformulation: Change tone, translate or adjust text to suit designs.
Generate and edit images: Create single images or remove backgrounds from existing images.

Features that will undoubtedly help designers to become more efficient and creative, by automating many tedious tasks. Our thoughts on the subject below.

Join the waiting list for Figma AI

To access these tools, users can join a waiting list via Figma's help menu by clicking on "Join UI3 + AI Waitlist". The beta version is free of charge until the end of 2024, when ... it will be a surprise on the pricing page!

UI3: the new interface

Figma's new UI 3 interface following config 2024

For those who were expecting Figma to be rebranded, well, it didn't happen... or almost!

For Figma unveils UI3, a major overhaul of its user interface. UI3 offers a far more immersive and ergonomic experience, with a component-centric interface and a new range of icons. This update resolves a number of sticking points that designers have been pointing out for some time, and lays the foundations for Figma's future.

Features of UI3

Immersive work interface: more space to work with accessible tools and a modular interface, especially in the functionality panel.
Redesigned icons and components: A new range of icons, perfectly integrated into the new interface.
New toolbar: A new toolbar is now available at the bottom of the screen, incorporating all the new functions.

UI3 is also available in a limited beta version, with the option of reverting to the previous interface during the transition phase.

Figma Slides: Power-Point in Figma?

FINALLY! That's probably the reaction of many designers and marketers when they see this new tool.

At least it was ours, because Figma Slides offers a major solution to the creation of presentations (slides) in Figma. Designed for a wider audience, Figma Slides integrates collaborative functionalities and design tools compatible with all Figma tools.

Figma Slides features

Presentation creation: Similar to Power-Point, with simplified functions for creating presentations of all kinds.
Flexible templates: Pre-recorded templates adapted to different audiences.
Real-time collaboration: slide co-creation and co-presentation with a "multiplayer mode". Figma's touch!

Figma Slides is currently in free beta and will move to a subscription model in early 2025, with an initial price of $3 or $5 / user / month.

Dev Mode updates: design / dev collaboration

Figma's Dev Mode receives significant enhancements to strengthen collaboration between designers and developers, while speeding up web development processes.

New Dev Mode features

Ready for development" view: A new view that centralizes elements ready for development.
Focus view: Limit distractions by displaying only what's ready for development.
Status updates: Notify developers of changes and progress statuses.

Code Connect has also been enhanced to integrate connected code extracts into component libraries, facilitating access to design system code.

Enhanced user experience

Figma continues to enhance its existing features withfurther notable updates.

Improved auto-layout: Suggested auto-layout and automatic frame creation.
Integrated UI kits: direct access to design resources from Apple, Google and Figma.
Responsive prototype viewer: visualize designs on different screen sizes from web prototype projection.

These improvements are designed to make designers' work more fluid and efficient.

Config 2024 launch Keynote

Our opinion on these new products

The Config 2024 announcements show that Figma continues to play a leading role in webdesign, especially with significant advances in AI.

Concerning AI

Let's see !

All these AI tools promise to revolutionize design by speeding up the transformation of ideas into finished products - all without any special technical skills. Although the beta version looks promising, we're waiting to see how these features behave in practice and whether they meet designers' real needs.

About the interface

YES!

The new UI3 interface offers a clearly more immersive, fluid and enjoyable experience. As with all redesigns of this kind, adapting to these changes will take time, and user feedback will be crucial for future updates.

About Figma Slides

We've already got the tool!

Figma Slides fills an important gap with this integrated presentation solution. Easy to use, compatible with design files, note-taking, collaboration - this new tool has already convinced us.

About Dev Mode

Joker

Although we don't use this feature much at Digidop, this update seems to really improve collaboration between designers and developers - especially with the new view system. Now it's time to see how it can be effectively adopted into existing workflows.

All these features are very promising for web designers and agencies , and their effectiveness will now depend on their implementation within teams.

Config 2024: the international event

Alongside the announcements, Config 2024 is an opportunity for many design communities around the world to get together. In France, the Figma Watch Party took place in Paris, in collaboration with Friends of Figma Paris, UX Republic, Flomodia and ... Digidop.

The event brought together some 250 designers for an evening dedicated to replaying Dylan Field's opening keynote, sharing ideas and having a good time.