Explore the value of play through a new zine | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Finding room for play is presented as an essential part of design, helping people stay curious, experiment, and discover unexpected solutions. To explore this idea, Figma and It’s Nice That created The Playbook, a printed zine combining essays, advice, visual commissions, and hands-on activities. Debuted at Config 2023, it encourages readers to treat play and iteration as practical parts of creative work.

A Collaboration About Play

• The Playbook was produced jointly by Figma and It’s Nice That.
• It explores spontaneous thinking, curiosity, and experimentation across different design practices.
• The publication reflects Figma’s belief that play supports learning and helps collaborators connect ideas.

Essays on Iteration and Collaboration

• Figma Chief Product Officer Yuhki Yamashita discusses how to embrace endless iteration and work productively while ideas remain in flux.
• Chief Technology Officer Kris Rasmussen examines collaborative engineering, arguing that engineers should work beyond strict role boundaries.
• Together, the essays present iteration and cross-functional collaboration as central to modern product development.

Creative Advice and Rules for Play

• The zine features conversations with creatives about staying curious when possibilities feel unlimited.
• Paula Scher contributes ten rules for play drawn from her career, including advice on sketching, influence, and creative experimentation.
• The publication encourages readers to look for “what if?” moments that can unlock new directions.

Interactive Activities and Visual Commissions

• Readers can onboard themselves into the zine and take a quiz about their meeting-hosting style.
• A design challenge built around “How might we?” offers a hands-on break from reading.
• Shawna X visualizes a “lightbulb moment” in a risograph print.
• Manshen Lo interprets Bruno Munari’s 12-step design methodology.
• The publication combines essays and activities with a range of playful visual work.

Printed Format and Config Debut

• The Playbook was printed as an A5 zine and wrapped in compostable cellophane.
• Two essays by Yamashita and Rasmussen appeared together in a complementary A6 zine.
• Copies were distributed to Config 2023 attendees when they arrived.

The Playbook treats play not as a distraction from serious design work, but as a method for learning, collaborating, and generating better ideas. Its combination of reflection and practical exercises encourages designers and teams to make experimentation a regular part of their process.