How Magician uses Figma’s text review API | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Magician, an AI-powered Figma plugin from Diagram, uses Figma’s text review API to generate copy suggestions directly while designers edit text layers. The API runs in the background and integrates with Figma’s editor rather than requiring a separate plugin window. Diagram argues that this creates a productive intersection between product design and AI, helping users overcome writer’s block and iterate faster.

Figma’s Text Review API

• The API lets developers create default text review plugins that run automatically while users type on the canvas.
• Plugins can highlight text ranges and provide replacement suggestions.
• Potential applications include:
  • Spell checking and grammar correction
  • Improving marketing copy
  • Enforcing company style guides
  • Generating alternative wording

Magician and Its AI “Spells”

• Magician is a Figma design tool created by Diagram to support creativity and ideation.
• Its initial features are organized as “magic spells”:
  • Magic Icon for generating icons
  • Magic Image for creating imagery
  • Magic Copy for writing assistance
• The plugin is designed as an extensible platform so new AI capabilities can be added consistently.

Magic Copy in Practice

• Magic Copy uses the text review API to suggest alternatives as users edit text layers.
• It can generate options for:
  • Headlines
  • Body text
  • Calls to action
• Suggestions appear directly within the editing workflow, making the feature useful when designers are unsure what to write or want to improve existing copy.

A New Plugin Interaction Model

• Unlike traditional plugins that require users to open and interact with a separate window, the text review API works in the background.
• Its results are integrated into Figma’s native editor interface.
• Although the API was primarily intended for spell checking, Diagram repurposed it for AI-assisted copywriting.

Iteration and Experimentation

• Diagram began with Magic Copy and other features as separate plugins before combining them into Magician.
• The team continuously fine-tuned each spell’s output to make it useful and consistent across different contexts.
• Its development was influenced by accessible generative AI tools and models such as Stable Diffusion and OpenAI.
• The team’s approach emphasizes starting small, testing ideas quickly, and refining what works.

Magician demonstrates how Figma’s text review API can extend beyond correction tools into creative assistance. Developers can use the API’s seamless editor integration to build focused AI experiences that help designers write, explore, and iterate without interrupting their workflow.