Figma and the enshittification of Product Design
How profit-focused software has delegitimized the entire design industry
Figma has become the design product that is synonymous with what we call modern-day product design. But how did it happen? We know that design as a discipline began long before this software won our hearts and minds and made its way into the mainstream. Our instincts tell us that Figma is the perfectly normal choice for designing digital products because — it’s easy to use, it’s free and, hey, the features are all there!
Our world would not be the same when Figma made its debut in 2016. Since its release, it has gone on to gross billions in revenue, even almost selling out to Adobe before refusing the offer. Its grip on the design industry is only a minor testament to its incredible contribution to the accessibility of design. Just think — what other product allowed developers to collaborate with design on such an intimate level? No other product matches the usability and versatility of Figma.