Figma released an update on Wednesday introducing code layers, native support for motion and shaders, and new AI capabilities to build custom plug-ins.
The design platform has spent time integrating code into its tool. Last year, it launched Figma Make, an AI prompt-based prototyping system, and added connections to Claude Code and Codex to smooth the hand-off between design and engineering.
Code layers
The company is now placing code layers directly onto the collaborative canvas. Teams can clone repositories and pull flows from code to create design layers for testing.
Yuhki Yamashita, chief product officer, stated that code layers allow designers, product managers, and programmers to iterate on ideas instead of writing flawless production-ready code.
We think the multiplayer canvas is really powerful because this is an environment where you don’t really care about the quality of the code. If you’re rapidly exploring or need to kind of explore a bunch of new directions, you can do that in this spatial way. We hope that this feature produces different behavior not just with designers, but also with engineers and PMs.
Yamashita made the comment during a call.
Animation and shaders
The platform now supports animations, transitions, and 3D transforms. Previously, designers built animations in separate software and converted them to code for Figma to read. Now, they integrate motion and transitions directly into the tool.
Users can generate some of these assets with AI. The update also adds the ability to create shader effects and fills using AI.
Last year, Figma acquired Weavy, a node-based tool that lets designers run workflows through different models to compare outputs. The company is improving the connection between the two apps. Later this year, users will generate Weavy workflows directly within Figma.
AI assistant updates
The company is adding new skills to its AI assistant for use with the collaborative canvas. Users can write text prompts to create repeatable skills that AI agents can run.
Connections to tools like Notion, Granola, Excel, and GitHub are available. Users can also attach files to give the AI bot more context on what they want it to do.
The update includes a feature to help users build custom plug-ins, such as layout generators or vector path tracers, using prompts.
What it means
Designers no longer need to switch apps to build motion or rely on engineers for basic prototypes. They can test interactions and visual effects inside the same file. The code layers allow teams to move faster during the exploration phase without worrying about production standards.
