figmaAug 1, 2022

Little Big Updates: More improvements for design and collaboration | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Figma’s August 2022 “Little Big Updates” release introduced more than 20 incremental improvements across Figma, FigJam, the desktop and mobile apps, and Community. The updates focus on smoother design workflows, faster collaboration, better accessibility, and fewer interruptions. Together, they show Figma’s ongoing effort to address user feedback and refine everyday interactions. ## Figma design improvements - Pencil annotations no longer get clipped or interfere with auto layout. - Gradient stops can be evenly distributed by double-clicking them. - Selecting a top-level frame also selects subsequent registered top-level frames. - Objects can be aligned as a temporary group by holding **Shift** while using alignment controls. - Pasting between text nodes preserves bullets and text styles. - Text-alignment shortcuts work while editing text inside a text box. - Links in comments open directly without an interstitial page. ## FigJam collaboration and diagramming - Auto-create prompts now appear on all four sides of shapes and stickies. - The Connector tool remains active by default, allowing users to continue diagramming without repeatedly reselecting it. - New guidelines help match shapes’ widths and heights. - Hovering over stamps reveals the users who added them. - Right-clicking a sticker provides access to its parent library and more stickers. - Copy and paste can replace image fills quickly. - Connectors automatically straighten when objects appear center-aligned. ## App, browser, and Community updates - The desktop app adds a menu-bar notification bell. - FigJam on iPad gets improved Apple Pencil responsiveness. - iPad users can undo and redo with two- or three-finger taps and swipes. - FigJam’s iPad app now supports Observation mode and Spotlight. - Search previews include recent searches, while list views show file owners. - Keyboard navigation makes it easier to move among collaborators and search by name. - **Tab** and **Shift + Tab** navigation now work within the comments modal. - Figma Community has been redesigned with new categories and search filters. Users can try the improvements directly in Figma and suggest additional changes through the Figma forum.

ipadfigmafigjamcollaborative-design+2

figmaMar 29, 2022

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

Figma’s March 2022 updates focus on making Figma and FigJam more accessible, flexible, and useful across devices and global teams. Major additions include FigJam for iPad, right-to-left text support, font-independent superscript and subscript characters, and improved Slack notifications. Together, these features help users ideate anywhere, design for more languages, and keep distributed teams informed. ## FigJam for iPad - FigJam is now available on the iPad through the App Store. - Users can sketch, brainstorm, and annotate away from desktop distractions. - Work can be resumed across iPad and desktop, supporting more fluid workflows. ## Right-to-left text support - Figma and FigJam now support right-to-left writing systems. - Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu, and other languages can be designed and edited more naturally. - The update improves Figma’s suitability for global audiences and international products. ## Superscript and subscript in any font - Superscript and subscript characters can now be used even when the selected font lacks those glyphs. - Figma automatically creates a synthetic, or “faux,” glyph. - The glyph is resized and repositioned to match the surrounding font style. ## Slack notifications for teams - Figma’s updated Slack app helps teams track activity in shared files, teams, and projects. - Notifications can arrive in real time or as hourly and daily digests. - Teams can subscribe project files to dedicated Slack channels. - Comment and collaboration updates can be shared where teammates already coordinate work. Overall, the release recommends using Figma’s new cross-device, localization, typography, and collaboration features to make design work more accessible and connected.

ipadfigmafigjamslack+3

figmaMar 14, 2022

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.

ipadfigmafigjamandroid+3