digital-whiteboard

2 posts

figma

What’s new in Figma: April 2022 | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

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.

figma

FigJam for iPad: space to explore and ideate | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

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.