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Figma’s State of the Designer Report 2023 | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

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Designers appear more satisfied and optimistic despite the disruption of the past three years. Figma’s survey of 470 designers in Europe and Asia–Pacific examines how remote and hybrid work have affected collaboration, productivity, career prospects, and fulfillment. Its central conclusion is that designers are adapting successfully, while the growing strategic importance of design is improving both morale and opportunity.

Remote Work and Job Satisfaction

  • 69% of designers report greater job satisfaction than before the pandemic.
  • Individual contributors are especially positive: 82% say their satisfaction has improved.
  • Designers generally feel more in control of where and how they work.
  • Many believe their workflows and ability to create high-quality digital products have improved, even as remote work has become more common.
  • Group meetings and collaborative design practices are helping teams work together remotely.

Design’s Growing Influence

  • Nearly five times as many designers feel more positive about the design profession as feel more negative.
  • Design is increasingly viewed as a business-wide way of thinking rather than a function limited to one department.
  • Visible support from CEOs and other executives reinforces designers’ sense that their work is strategically important.
  • Leaders who participate in design files, give direct feedback, and experience product development firsthand create stronger connections with design teams.

Improved Career Prospects

  • 69% of respondents say their employment options have improved or greatly improved.
  • Designers are encouraged by organizations placing design at the center of product and business decisions.
  • The profession’s growing influence is changing how designers view their roles and future opportunities.

The report suggests that remote collaboration and increased executive engagement have helped designers feel more satisfied, empowered, and optimistic. Organizations can build on this momentum by supporting flexible work, investing in collaborative practices, and treating design as a core part of business strategy.