Figma's New Finger Tips | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)
Figma’s redesigned keyboard shortcut panel is inspired by Douglas Engelbart’s 1968 demonstration of fluid, two-handed computer interaction. The post argues that combining mouse control with practiced keyboard shortcuts lets designers work through motor memory and enter a state of flow. Figma’s new panel aims to make shortcuts easier and more enjoyable to discover and learn. ## Engelbart’s Two-Handed Computing - Douglas Engelbart’s landmark demo presented computers as tools for personal work and collaboration, not merely corporate calculation. - He used a mouse in one hand and a chorded “keyset” in the other: - The mouse selected objects. - The keyset issued commands, such as deleting a word while moving toward it. - This combination made his interaction appear remarkably fluid—like “dealing lightning with both hands.” - The effect depended on motor memory: repeated physical actions become instinctive, allowing users to focus on their goals rather than the mechanics of the tool. ## Keyboard Shortcuts and Creative Flow - Skilled Figma users similarly move across the canvas, restyle objects, and create designs without looking at their hands. - A mouse is relatively easy for beginners to learn, while keyboard shortcuts require deliberate practice before becoming automatic. - Mastering both devices can help designers work faster and maintain focus on the problems they are solving. ## Figma’s Redesigned Shortcut Panel - The old shortcut panel was difficult to scan and occupied much of the screen, interfering with learning through experimentation. - The new panel appears beneath the canvas and can be opened through the help menu or with **Ctrl+Shift+?**. - Shortcuts are organized into categories based on the user’s work: - Shape and vector tools - Typography - Two-handed mouse-and-keyboard combinations - Beginner-friendly shortcuts - Examples include using **Alt** while moving the mouse to measure objects and **⌘+\\** to hide interface chrome. - The panel highlights shortcuts as they are pressed and remembers them, encouraging users to reflect on and expand their shortcut habits. Figma’s approach treats shortcut learning as a gradual path toward fluency: provide relevant suggestions, reinforce what users already use, and reveal powerful combinations that can eventually become second nature.