techlist.io
KREN
figma

What’s new in Figma: October 2021 | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

figmadesign-systemsprototypingfigjampluginswidgetsinteractive-componentsbranching

Figma’s October 2021 updates focus on making collaboration more flexible, prototyping faster, and design work easier to scale. FigJam gained widgets, plugins, templates, code blocks, advanced shapes, and open sessions, while Figma introduced interactive components and several workflow improvements. Together, these features aim to balance structured teamwork with experimentation and spontaneous collaboration.

Work Better Together in FigJam

  • Widgets can be added directly to FigJam files to support activities such as:
    • Taking team selfies with Photo Booth
    • Checking team sentiment with Alignment Scale
    • Mapping organizational structures with Org Chart
  • Plugins help users develop and synthesize ideas more efficiently:
    • Tour Guide turns jam boards into slideshow presentations.
    • Color Picker expands color options for stickies and shapes.
    • Unsplash provides access to image libraries.
  • The FigJam toolbar now provides access to:
    • Plugins and widgets
    • Templates for brainstorming, workshops, research, and other activities
    • Code blocks and new shapes for technical collaboration
  • Open sessions allow visitors to join FigJam files without creating an account.

Bring Designs to Life with Interactive Components

  • Interactive components create reusable interactive elements, reducing the amount of manual prototyping required.
  • Designers can experiment and iterate more quickly while collaborating with their teams.
  • Interactions inherited from main components are hidden on instances, making complex prototypes easier to understand and edit.
  • Additional prototyping improvements include:
    • Shift + E to switch between Design and Prototype tabs
    • Canvas visibility for interactions, allowing everyone to inspect and explore them
    • An option to disable keyboard navigation in prototype viewers for more realistic user testing
    • Copying and pasting prototype interactions to reduce repetitive work

Explore and Design at Scale

  • Figma emphasizes supporting design systems while still leaving room for experimentation and new ideas.
  • The update introduces branching, presented as a way to help teams manage and explore design-system work at scale.