Figjam

98 posts

figmaMay 10, 20222 min readCurated summary

Figma Community Awards 2022 | Figma Blog

Figma introduced its first-ever Community Awards to recognize the plugins, widgets, templates, UI kits, and other resources that help designers collaborate and work more efficiently. With more than 1,600 resources published daily, the awards highlight how the community builds practical and creative tools for Figma and FigJam. Winners were selected through community nominations and voting, then announced at Config. ## Purpose of the Awards - The awards celebrate community members who “imagine, design, and build” together. - Recognized resources support workflows ranging from accessibility and UI design to workshops, ideation, and team bonding. - The program included ten award categories. ## 2022 Award Winners - **Plugin for extending Figma’s utility:** *Similayer* by Dave Williames, for selecting similar layers using multiple properties. - **Plugin for adding content:** *Content Reel* by Eugene Gavriloff and Microsoft, offering reusable text, images, and icons. - **Widget for teams:** *FigJenda* by PG Gonni, an interactive workshop and meeting agenda compatible with the FigJam timer. - **Widget for utility or fun:** *Rock Paper Scissors* by Alex Einarsson. - **Team bonding template:** *Remote Design Sprint* by Miranda Mazzara, Danila Gallardo, and Aerolab. - **Ideation template:** *Customer Journey Map* by Fuad Aslan. - **UI kit:** *Ant Design Open Source* by Mr Biscuit and Vinh Bui, an open-source design system. - **Icon set:** *css.gg* by Lona and Astrit, containing more than 700 CSS, SVG, and Figma icons. - **Educational resource:** *Micro interactions - Prototyping* by Rusmir Arnautovic. - **Graphic resource:** *Sketch Elements Brushes Set* by Streamline. ## How the Awards Worked - Community members could nominate resources through Figma Community profiles. - Nominations were open from April 14–22, followed by finalist announcements on May 2. - Voting took place from May 2–10. - Each resource could be nominated only once, but users could nominate as many different files, plugins, or widgets as they wished. - Nomination totals were kept private to preserve fairness. ## Recognition for Creators - Winners were honored during the awards ceremony at Config on May 11. - They received a physical Figma Community Award and Figma merchandise. - Creators were encouraged to promote their resources and use **#FigmaCommunityAwards**. The awards demonstrate how central community-created resources are to the Figma ecosystem. Designers were encouraged both to recognize tools that improve their work and to publish their own resources for others to discover and use.

Figjam Figma Design Systems Prototyping+4

figmaApr 27, 20222 min readCurated summary

What’s new in Figma: April 2022 | Figma Blog

Figma’s April 2022 update focuses on making FigJam more structured, customizable, and playful for collaborative workshops, brainstorms, and retrospectives. The release adds organizational and formatting tools alongside expressive features such as Washi tape and artist-designed stickers. Together, these updates aim to help teams create clearer boards while preserving the informal energy of digital collaboration. ## Structure and Customize FigJam Files - Users can organize boards with dedicated sections. - Stickies and shapes now support more colors, including custom colors. - Sticky notes can be made proportional and visually consistent with other content. - Adjustable font sizes make it easier to establish hierarchy for titles and labels. - Improved snapping helps users arrange and align objects precisely. - Multiple objects can be locked or unlocked simultaneously. ## Add More Personality to Collaborative Work - Figma made cursor chat more expressive. - New sticker packs were added, created by Figma Community artists Jiro Bevis, Diana Marmol, Rooney, and Fanny Luor. - The stickers provide playful ways to react, encourage teammates, and personalize FigJam sessions. ## Washi Tape Returns Permanently - Washi tape, previously introduced as an April Fun Day feature, became a permanent FigJam tool. - The update includes dozens of newly designed tape patterns. - Users can upload their own patterns. - The feature is intended to recreate the creative, tactile feel of decorating physical workshop materials. These changes make FigJam more adaptable for organized facilitation without sacrificing creativity. Teams can use sections, consistent formatting, and alignment tools to improve clarity, then add custom colors, stickers, and Washi tape to make collaborative sessions more engaging.

Figjam Figma User Interface Collaboration+2

figmaApr 20, 20223 min readCurated summary

Good ideas stick | Figma Blog

Figma’s digital washi tape began as a playful April Fun Day experiment inspired by a community tweet. The feature translated washi tape’s blend of visual delight, flexibility, and “just-right adhesion” into Figma and FigJam, attracting 224,000 rolls in a single day. Strong user enthusiasm convinced Figma that the feature should become more than a one-day joke. ## Why Washi Tape Works - Japanese washi tape is a decorative form of masking tape used for gift wrapping, scrapbooking, drawing, and planning. - Its appeal comes from being: - Colorful and expressive - Easy to tear, move, layer, and write on - Functional without damaging the surface underneath - These qualities make it especially appealing to designers, who enjoy patterns, lines, grids, and color. ## The Origins of Modern Washi Tape - In 2007, three Tokyo artists asked Japanese industrial tape manufacturer Kamoi Kakoshi to create more colorful versions of its masking tape. - The company invited them to its factory, saw how creatively they used the tape, and developed a new product line called **mt**. - The first collection launched with 20 colors. - Kamoi refined the tape’s “just-right adhesion,” allowing it to be repositioned, torn by hand, layered, and removed without damaging walls or other surfaces. - The company continued expanding the product with new colors, patterns, and collaborations until washi tape became a common household craft material. ## Translating Washi Tape into a Digital Product - Figma’s team prototyped a digital equivalent for Figma and FigJam. - The goal was to preserve the physical product’s: - Decorative, tactile feeling - Ease of manipulation - Practical usefulness - Ability to add personality to otherwise ordinary work - The April Fun Day release let users decorate files with bold, colorful strips of digital tape. ## From April Fools’ Feature to Lasting Utility - The feature quickly spread across user files, generating 224,000 digital “rolls” in one day. - Users experimented with ways to make sticky notes feel “stickier” and incorporated the tape into their work. - Many users asked Figma to bring the feature back permanently. - Their response showed that the tape was not merely a novelty: its combination of fun and utility made it genuinely useful in collaborative spaces. Figma’s experiment demonstrates that successful digital tools can emerge by identifying the emotional and functional qualities of familiar physical objects—not just copying their appearance. Washi tape’s lasting appeal comes from making everyday work more expressive, and digital versions can offer the same sense of creativity with even greater flexibility.

Figjam Figma Prototyping Collaborative Design+1

figmaMar 29, 20222 min readCurated summary

What’s new in Figma: March 2022 | Figma Blog

Figma’s March 2022 updates focus on making Figma and FigJam more accessible, flexible, and useful across devices and global teams. Major additions include FigJam for iPad, right-to-left text support, font-independent superscript and subscript characters, and improved Slack notifications. Together, these features help users ideate anywhere, design for more languages, and keep distributed teams informed. ## FigJam for iPad - FigJam is now available on the iPad through the App Store. - Users can sketch, brainstorm, and annotate away from desktop distractions. - Work can be resumed across iPad and desktop, supporting more fluid workflows. ## Right-to-left text support - Figma and FigJam now support right-to-left writing systems. - Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu, and other languages can be designed and edited more naturally. - The update improves Figma’s suitability for global audiences and international products. ## Superscript and subscript in any font - Superscript and subscript characters can now be used even when the selected font lacks those glyphs. - Figma automatically creates a synthetic, or “faux,” glyph. - The glyph is resized and repositioned to match the surrounding font style. ## Slack notifications for teams - Figma’s updated Slack app helps teams track activity in shared files, teams, and projects. - Notifications can arrive in real time or as hourly and daily digests. - Teams can subscribe project files to dedicated Slack channels. - Comment and collaboration updates can be shared where teammates already coordinate work. Overall, the release recommends using Figma’s new cross-device, localization, typography, and collaboration features to make design work more accessible and connected.

Figjam Figma Slack Typography+3

figmaMar 14, 20222 min readCurated summary

FigJam for iPad: space to explore and ideate | Figma Blog

FigJam for iPad was introduced to make brainstorming and collaboration more fluid across devices. The article argues that tablets’ focused, tactile nature complements FigJam’s infinite canvas, especially for sketching, exploring early ideas, and giving visual feedback. Although the standalone iPad app is being retired in 2026, FigJam remains available through the Figma app and the web. ## Why Tablets Suit FigJam - Desktop workflows often interrupt creative focus with notifications and constant context switching. - Tablets provide a more focused, single-app environment. - The iPad’s portability and touch or pen input make it feel similar to working in a notebook. - FigJam’s open canvas naturally supports freeform drawing, doodling, annotations, and low-fidelity exploration. - Users can move fluidly between desktop and tablet depending on the task. ## Embracing Early Ideas - Low-fidelity sketches make nonlinear exploration and iteration easier. - Rough ideas encourage collaboration rather than inviting narrow critique. - Users can sketch concepts on an iPad, then continue refining or sharing them from a laptop. - Team members can draw directly over one another’s ideas, making ideation more interactive. ## Making Feedback More Personal - Handwritten annotations can complement or replace traditional comments. - Users can circle, underline, and mark up text, diagrams, and sketches directly on the canvas. - Visual and handwritten feedback creates a warmer, more collaborative experience than written critique alone. ## Running Collaborative Sessions - The iPad can support group workshops as well as individual work. - Facilitators can display a FigJam file on a desktop screen while using the iPad for live annotations. - Quick actions—such as circling stickies or highlighting contributions—make meetings feel more natural and fluid. Figma positioned FigJam for iPad as an early step toward richer tablet-based design workflows. For current users, FigJam is available through the Figma mobile app or the web; the standalone iPad app is scheduled for retirement on January 8, 2026.

Figjam Figma Android Collaborative Design+3

figmaFeb 27, 20222 min readCurated summary

What’s new in Figma: February 2022 | Figma Blog

Figma’s February 2022 updates focus on making design collaboration easier, from finding files to brainstorming in FigJam. Search now offers previews and file-type filters, while FigJam—now out of beta—adds more flexible editing and clearer collaboration tools. Overall, the release aims to keep teams aligned and help ideas move smoothly from brainstorming to implementation. ## Updated Search and Discoverability - Search results now include file previews, making it easier to identify the correct design. - Users can filter recents, team pages, and search results by Figma or FigJam file type. - These changes reduce the time spent locating current designs and resources. ## FigJam Collaboration Improvements With FigJam available to all teams, Figma added several refinements for brainstorming and diagramming: - **Centralized resource menu:** Components, templates, widgets, and other resources are now accessible from one simplified toolbar menu. - **Flexible font sizing:** Text can be resized to any size by dragging the corners of a text box, supporting clearer hierarchy and emphasis. - **Persistent stamps and highlights:** Reactions and highlights stay attached to the objects they reference when content is moved. - **Faster color and shape changes:** Updated toolbar icons make it easier to swap colors and shapes while building diagrams. - **Image borders:** Users can add borders to images to draw attention to selected visuals. - **Simpler selection borders:** Thinner borders and larger selection corners make objects easier to select and resize. Figma’s release reinforces its broader goal of bringing more people into the design process while keeping collaboration organized, discoverable, and visually clear.

Figjam Figma User Interface Design Collaboration+2

figmaFeb 7, 20223 min readCurated summary

Jamming on FigJam: a journey from beta to GA | Figma Blog

FigJam emerged from Figma’s shift to remote work and the growing need for a shared digital space for collaboration and connection. Figma launched it in beta to avoid perfectionism, learn quickly from users, and balance immediate needs with a longer-term product vision. Its path from inception to general availability was driven by cross-functional teamwork, rapid decisions, and continuous user feedback. ## A Collaborative Product Culture - Product Manager Emily Lin describes her role as a facilitator rather than a sole decision-maker. - Figma’s culture encourages ideas and decisions from anyone, with designers, engineers, product, support, sales, and marketing working together. - This collaborative model was especially important for building Figma’s second product. ## Why FigJam Was Created - As Figma began working remotely, the company saw users using its design tool to connect, brainstorm, socialize, and collaborate beyond traditional design work. - Figma employees experienced the same need for a digital gathering space during a difficult transition to remote work. - Because the need was urgent and FigJam became a company-wide priority, teams across Figma contributed to its development. ## Using Beta to Avoid Perfectionism - Building a second product created pressure to match the quality and care associated with Figma. - The team recognized that trying to perfect every detail could slow development and prevent them from responding to real user needs. - A beta launch allowed Figma to ship sooner, gather feedback, and iterate while continuing to pursue a broader product direction. ## Prioritizing Decisions and Feedback - The team focused first on questions that could block future decisions, such as how FigJam should relate to Figma and whether it needed to be a separate application. - Rather than extensively deliberating over every detail, they made decisions, consulted stakeholders, and adjusted based on feedback. - Hundreds of alpha testers participated through a shared Slack workspace and supplied ongoing insights. - Requests were divided into launch-critical fixes and fast-follow improvements: - Author names on sticky notes were required for the initial launch. - A timer could be released after launch as a follow-up feature. ## Iterating After the Beta Launch - After FigJam’s April 2021 beta introduction, product decisions continued to center on solving user problems. - A panel of users opted into new features and provided proactive feedback. - Ideas also came from support conversations, Twitter, and internal teams across the company. - The process emphasized giving active FigJam users the functionality they actually needed rather than following a rigid predetermined roadmap. The FigJam launch demonstrates the value of shipping an adaptable beta, resolving foundational questions early, and involving users and cross-functional teams throughout development. For products facing uncertainty or time pressure, iterative learning can be more effective than waiting for a perfectly defined first release.

Figjam Figma User Experience Slack+3

figmaJan 31, 20222 min readCurated summary

Design needs everyone: new plans for companies that design together | Figma Blog

Figma’s 2022 plan updates aim to make design a company-wide activity while reducing the organizational complexity that comes with more participants. FigJam is leaving beta with expanded collaboration features and new pricing, while Figma Enterprise adds structure, controls, security, and administrative support for larger organizations. The central goal is to help teams collaborate from brainstorming through implementation without overwhelming users or administrators. ## FigJam Becomes a Full Collaboration Product - FigJam was launched in beta to support brainstorming, diagramming, planning, meetings, and informal collaboration. - Teams adopted it for varied uses, including: - Dwell’s company-wide idea “swarms” - Square’s employee onboarding - Twitter’s cross-functional bug-bashing sessions - Figma expanded FigJam with plugins, widgets, and ready-to-use templates. - FigJam is free on the Starter plan, including: - Unlimited personal whiteboards - Three shared whiteboards - Unlimited collaborators - Unlimited shared whiteboards for an organization start at $3 per editor per month. ## Figma Enterprise for Larger Organizations - As more departments joined the design process, companies faced: - More files and projects to navigate - Less flexibility for individual teams - Greater administrative responsibility - The Enterprise plan is designed for organizations needing more structure, granular controls, advanced security, and support. - Pricing begins at: - $75 per editor per month for Figma - $5 per editor per month for FigJam - Features were being released immediately or planned for the following months. ## Workspaces Reflect Company Structure - Enterprise workspaces let organizations create dedicated areas for departments, product groups, or functions. - Workspaces help users focus on relevant content while preserving access to company-wide resources. - Administrators can define default teams and libraries for each workspace. - Users can limit searches to a particular workspace to find files, people, and components more quickly. ## Administration at Company Scale - Enterprise tools are intended to manage large numbers of files, users, and permissions more efficiently. - Workspace administration can be delegated to people familiar with each group’s users. - Delegated responsibilities include membership, roles, and true-ups. - Role-setting through SCIM is also introduced to automate administrative workflows. Figma’s broader recommendation is that companies should invite more people into design while using FigJam for inclusive collaboration and Enterprise workspaces and controls for organization-wide scale.

Figjam Figma Design Collaboration Scim+2

figmaJan 25, 20223 min readCurated summary

Little Big Updates: fixes and features for a better workflow | Figma Blog

Figma’s “Little Big Updates” introduces 32 small but meaningful improvements aimed at making Figma and FigJam faster, more accessible, and easier to navigate. The updates cover text editing, keyboard shortcuts, component publishing, libraries, exporting, and FigJam collaboration. Together, they streamline common workflows and reduce friction for designers and teams. ## Faster Editing and Accessibility - Text editing is up to 10 times faster in Figma and FigJam. - macOS accent-menu support is available by long-pressing letters. - HEIC image uploads are supported, making it easier to use iPhone photos. - Bullets remain consistent across mixed text styles. - Home and End keys navigate to the beginning or end of text areas. - External-link interstitials have been removed to preserve workflow continuity. - Retina screenshots pasted from Chrome will use the correct dimensions. - Text highlights on blue FigJam backgrounds are now more visible. ## Canvas Navigation and Keyboard Shortcuts - `⌘L`/`Ctrl+L` copies links to files and selected frames in the desktop app. - `⌘R`/`Ctrl+R` renames elements while the interface is hidden. - Holding `⌘`/`Ctrl` while clicking selects top-level frames directly. - Quick actions (`⌘+/` or `Ctrl+/`) can show or hide the FigJam UI. - Quick actions can also unlock all objects. - Hovering over the FigJam toolbar reveals additional keyboard shortcuts. - Connector text now supports new lines with Return or Enter. - Objects continue snapping to the grid while being dragged. ## Design Tools and Components - Vector network regions can be filled with different colors. - Components and instances can be searched when inserting (`Shift+I`) or swapping. - Any component can be published via its right-click menu. - Components can be searched in the publishing modal. - Published files now have a distinct icon for easier identification. - Invalid components can be located directly from the publishing modal. - The publishing modal allows users to choose which components appear in the asset list. - Unpublished changes can be published directly from the relevant interface. - A “Return to instance” option is available when selecting a main component. - SVG strokes on parent objects export correctly. - Libraries can be accessed directly from organization subscription settings. ## FigJam Improvements - FigJam shapes support more flexible resizing. - Right-clicking an element copies a direct link to it. - Stamps can be dragged directly from the stamp wheel. - The red shape color is now a truer red. - Team libraries are prioritized in the library-selection modal. - Connector text editing is simpler with standard Return or Enter behavior. The updates demonstrate how incremental improvements to shortcuts, performance, publishing, and collaboration can substantially improve everyday workflows. Designers and teams can explore the changes through Figma’s accompanying Community file.

Figjam Figma Design Systems Macos+4

figmaJan 25, 20223 min readCurated summary

Little Big Updates: Dispatches from Quality Week | Figma Blog

Figma’s Quality Weeks dedicate focused time to bugs, edge cases, and features that technically work but feel broken. The post argues that software quality is not defined only by code correctness: browser behavior, user expectations, perceived responsiveness, and inconsistent support can all make a product feel buggy. Small fixes—sometimes only a few lines of code—can therefore have disproportionately large effects. ## Quality Week and the macOS Accent-Menu Bug - Figma periodically holds Quality Weeks to address forgotten bugs, oddities, and issues outside normal feature work. - A macOS accent-menu problem caused letters to repeat or fail to appear. - The issue involved the complex sequence of keyboard and text-input events handled by the operating system and browser before Figma received them. - Molly developed a fix of fewer than ten lines that worked in Firefox and Safari and supported both keyboard and mouse input. - Chrome, Figma’s most widely used browser, still exhibited the problem, showing that a technically correct fix may not solve the user-facing issue for most customers. - She also reported the underlying browser issue to Chrome developers for a possible future fix. ## The Difference Between a Technical Bug and a Real Bug - In theory, a bug consists of: - How the software is supposed to behave. - How its current behavior differs. - Real-world systems make those definitions ambiguous: - Intended behavior may not be clearly defined. - A perfect fix may be impractical or impossible. - Some problems require choosing a new, less-buggy direction rather than restoring the old one. - Historical examples such as Y2K, the Pentium FDIV error, and the Mars Climate Orbiter failure demonstrate that identifying a problem and knowing its cause does not automatically make it easy to resolve. - Figma treats issues as worthy of attention when they materially affect users, even if they do not fit a strict engineering definition of “bug.” ## When Missing Support Feels Like a Bug - HEIC image support illustrates the difference between “never implemented” and “broken” from a user’s perspective. - Figma’s inconsistent handling of HEIC files—especially images dragged from iPhones and iPads—made the product feel unreliable. - Sawyer added support in 98 lines of code. - The new support exposed a second usability problem: large, high-resolution HEIC files could take many seconds to process, during which the canvas appeared to ignore the drop. - Jackie identified that a loading state could communicate progress and prevent users from assuming the feature had failed. - The example shows that fixing one problem can reveal another, and that perceived responsiveness is part of product quality. Figma’s approach is to prioritize issues based not only on technical correctness but also on how users experience the product. Quality work should address the small inconsistencies that make software feel unreliable, particularly when a modest implementation can remove substantial frustration.

Figjam Figma Macos Quality Assurance+3

figmaJan 9, 20222 min readCurated summary

The year ahead: a conversation with Soleio, Julie Zhuo, and May-Li Khoe | Figma Blog

The article explores how creative work may evolve in 2022 as remote and hybrid work become permanent. Soleio argues that collaboration will move further into digital tools, requiring stronger documentation, asynchronous processes, and organizational discipline. He also predicts that creative tools will spread across the workforce and increasingly incorporate automated, virtual collaborators. ## Hybrid Work Will Reshape Creative Collaboration - Creative work will increasingly reflect hybrid workforce models. - Institutional knowledge and team context will move from physical offices into digital environments. - Traditional brainstorming sessions may shift from conference rooms to tools such as FigJam. - Creative software will become more accessible and collaborative, encouraging people outside traditional creative roles to use it. ## London’s Growing Technology Ecosystem - Relocating from Silicon Valley to London required Soleio to adjust his understanding of the two technology ecosystems. - Whereas technology dominates the Bay Area, it remains a newer and more disruptive sector in many other regions. - London is attracting more early-stage investors and becoming a stronger home for ambitious startups. - This growth may allow founders to build major technology companies without moving to Silicon Valley. ## Global Teams Need Better Organizational Hygiene - Distributed teams must deliberately coordinate feedback and decision-making across time zones. - Clear writing, recorded video feedback, and structured processes will become more important. - Remote teams cannot rely on shared office space or informal conversations to maintain context. - Transparent documentation and decision-making will become a competitive advantage. ## Automation and Virtual Collaborators - Design exploration and feedback are expected to become increasingly automated. - Future knowledge work may involve non-human agents that provide feedback, support iteration, and perform tasks currently handled manually. - These tools could fundamentally change the nature of teamwork by making virtual collaborators part of everyday creative processes. Teams preparing for the future should invest not only in collaborative tools, but also in documentation, asynchronous communication, and transparent organizational practices.

Figjam Figma Open Source Collaborative Design+3

figmaDec 15, 20212 min readCurated summary

Frame 2021: design by the numbers | Figma Blog

Figma’s 2021 data shows how remote and hybrid work reshaped design collaboration. Teams increasingly worked across borders and included product managers and developers earlier, using FigJam for ideation and Figma for interface design and handoff. The overall trend was toward a more open, continuous design process spanning idea to implementation. ## Building Across Borders - Figma users represented 235 countries and territories. - Collaboration activity grew across regions and time zones as organizations adopted virtual-first and hybrid work. - In the U.S., New York and California remained major collaboration hubs, while Washington and Texas gained activity. - Globally, the U.S. and Russia were established hubs, with India, Brazil, and Indonesia increasingly active. - Nearly 14% of collaboration occurred between different continents, up from 8% in early 2020. - Examples included teams collaborating between Madrid and Wellington, and between Beijing and Buenos Aires. ## From Ideas to Shipped Products - About 52% of users collaborated with others in 2021. - Shared files had a median of four invited collaborators. - Product managers and developers were the largest groups of Figma users outside designers. - FigJam supported early-stage brainstorming and freeform exploration before teams moved into Figma to build interfaces. - Around 15% of active FigJam users began with templates, with brainstorming templates the most popular. ## A More Open Design Process - The first collaborator viewed a Figma file an average of 10 days after creation, compared with 19 days in 2019. - This suggests cross-functional partners were being involved earlier in design. - Developers participated in 40% of collaborative files. - When developers joined, handoff typically began 33 days after design creation and continued for 45 days after the first code inspection. - Handoff activity often continued well after the final design edit. ## Collaboration Beyond Design - Teams increasingly used digital tools for activities traditionally held in person. - FigJam supported stand-ups, icebreakers, roadmapping, retrospectives, and other team exercises. - The shift reflects a broader move toward virtual-friendly collaboration across the entire product development process. Figma’s findings recommend treating design as a shared, end-to-end process rather than an isolated stage. Bringing cross-functional partners into FigJam and Figma early can improve collaboration across locations, disciplines, and the full path from concept to code.

Figjam Figma Design Collaboration Remote Work+2

figmaDec 15, 20212 min readCurated summary

What’s new in Figma: December 2021 | Figma Blog

Figma’s December 2021 updates focus on making collaboration and creation more seamless across Figma and FigJam. The release adds richer media support, improved drawing tools, and expanded mobile capabilities. Together, these changes help teams share context, refine ideas, and preview designs without interrupting their workflow. ## Enriching FigJam collaboration - Users can paste links into FigJam to watch Vimeo videos, play Spotify music, and share other rich media. - The new Vimeo plugin supports screen and webcam recordings directly within Figma and FigJam. - Recordings can be used for status updates, product demos, tutorials, and asynchronous collaboration. ## Highlighting and refining ideas - The new **Highlighter** tool emphasizes text and other FigJam elements. - Holding **Shift** while highlighting creates perfectly straight lines. - The **Eraser** tool removes individual strokes, making it easier to correct sketches and refine work in progress. ## Expanding mobile design workflows The updated Figma mobile app lets designers preview, review, and manage work more independently from a desktop. - Play prototypes directly on mobile devices. - Toggle hotspot hints during prototype playback. - Mirror selected desktop frames to a mobile device. - Share, browse, and view Figma files and prototypes. - Share, browse, and view FigJam files. - Navigate teams, projects, and workspaces from the app. - Updates are available for iOS and Android phones and tablets. Figma’s December release is primarily about removing friction from collaboration: teams can communicate with richer media, improve FigJam ideation with more precise tools, and validate mobile experiences directly on their devices.

Figjam Figma Prototyping Android+4

figmaNov 29, 20212 min readCurated summary

What’s new in Figma: November 2021 | Figma Blog

Figma’s November 2021 updates focused on helping distributed teams collaborate more efficiently and inclusively. The main improvements redesigned comments to make feedback easier to notice and manage, while audio captions made real-time discussions more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing users. Together, these features reduce friction when teams move from ideas to decisions and deliverables. ## Redesigned Comments for Faster Feedback - Comments in both Figma and FigJam are now more prominent and easier to spot. - Adding and responding to comments has been simplified. - The redesign helps teams: - Share feedback more naturally - Organize and manage discussions - Act on feedback without interrupting their design workflow - The goal is to keep collaboration “in the flow” as teams iterate across functions. ## Audio Captions for More Inclusive Collaboration - Figma had previously introduced audio calls and cursor chat, allowing teammates to communicate without leaving a shared file. - FigJam also supports collaborative interactions such as high-fives during brainstorming sessions. - Closed captioning was added in beta to the Figma desktop app. - During audio discussions, captions make it clearer: - Who is speaking - What each person is saying - This improves participation for deaf and hard-of-hearing users and helps everyone follow important feedback. Figma’s November updates reinforce a practical collaboration principle: feedback should be easy to give, easy to understand, and accessible to every participant. Teams using Figma and FigJam can take advantage of redesigned comments and captions to make shared design work faster and more inclusive.

Figjam Figma Accessibility Collaborative Design+2

figmaNov 15, 20212 min readCurated summary

Stay in the flow with redesigned comments | Figma Blog

Figma redesigned comments in Figma and FigJam to make feedback easier to discover, understand, and act on without interrupting design work. The updates encourage more collaborators to participate, promote shorter and more contextual feedback, and provide better tools for managing large volumes of comments. Overall, the redesign aims to keep teams in the flow while incorporating feedback. ## Inviting More Collaborators - The comment sidebar is now easier to find for viewers opening a file. - Comments are also more visible in prototype presentation mode. - These changes help unfamiliar collaborators discover where to leave and review feedback. - Figma hopes increased visibility will encourage more contextual input instead of feedback through separate tools—or no feedback at all. ## Encouraging Clearer Feedback - The comment composer was made smaller to encourage concise, easier-to-follow responses. - Reactions let users quickly express opinions, keep threads shorter, and lower the barrier to participation. - Collaborators can select an area of the canvas to leave broader feedback about multiple designs, groups of stickies, or a general concept. - Area-based comments preserve the context of feedback, whether it concerns a broad layout or a small design detail. ## Managing Feedback During Design Work - Comment pins are visible by default, making feedback harder to overlook. - Designers can keep comments open while editing the canvas, allowing them to reference feedback without leaving their workflow. - A simplified canvas view makes it easier to see where feedback is concentrated. - Comment pins display avatars and provide previews on hover. - Comments in the same area are grouped into clusters to reduce visual clutter. - Users can search comments by keyword or person and sort them by date. - Comments can be marked as “unread” as a reminder to return to them later. Figma’s redesigned comments make collaboration more accessible and structured, particularly during design critiques, sprints, and iterative review. The practical recommendation is to use concise, contextual comments and the new search, clustering, and unread features to keep feedback manageable.

Figjam Figma User Experience Prototyping+2