How one Figma engineer plays to her strengths | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)
Kathryn Salant’s interests in music, programming, and cycling all reflect her belief in experimentation, iteration, and measurable progress. Her career shows how creative disciplines can reinforce one another, leading her from trumpet performance and interactive media to software engineering at Figma. Across each field, she values collaboration, meaningful expression, and the process more than perfection. ## Figma’s “3 Things” Tradition - New employees present three experiences or interests that shaped them. - Kathryn’s three things—music, programming, and cycling—illustrate the connections between her creative and technical life. - Figma presents these stories to highlight the diverse backgrounds of its employees. ## Music and Creative Expression - Kathryn began playing trumpet in fifth grade and studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the London College of Music. - She became dissatisfied with classical music’s emphasis on technical precision over inspiration and meaning. - In San Francisco, she joined the avant-garde Extra Action Marching Band in 2003. - The band performed with David Byrne and experimented with unconventional material, including Beyoncé and Black Sabbath covers. - These experiences deepened her interest in creativity beyond strict tradition. ## Programming as a Creative Tool - Kathryn first encountered programming in sixth grade on Apple IIe computers, learning Logo and creating a convincing Super Mario demo. - She continued experimenting by taking apart and sometimes breaking her mother’s work computer. - While studying music, she discovered Flash 4 and became fascinated by its combination of motion graphics, interactivity, and web technology. - Flash showed her that programming could enable artists, musicians, and designers to express ideas. - She pursued software engineering so she could help other people bring creative visions to life. - Her respect for design and emphasis on communication between engineers and designers align closely with Figma’s collaborative mission. ## Cycling and Community - Kathryn became an avid cyclist after completing the seven-day AIDS/LifeCycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. - In 2006, she founded Butterlap, a weekly San Francisco bike ride centered on community and inclusiveness. - She later took part in CycloCross, a muddy, social form of bicycle racing. - Her participation in the 2008 Single Speed CycloCross World Championships was as much about encouraging others as competing. - Cycling reinforced her preference for shared experiences, perseverance, and not taking competition too seriously. Together, these three interests show Kathryn’s consistent approach: improve through iteration, stay open to unconventional ideas, and create alongside other people. Her story suggests that technical work can be strongest when it preserves the curiosity, collaboration, and expressive freedom found in the arts.