Our Takeaways from Figma’s Annual Conference
At the end of June, five dedicated Leap team members travelled to San Francisco to attend Config 2024, Figma’s annual conference. A huge thanks to Figma for inviting us to meet with industry professionals and explore the newest trends in design and tech. Here’s how what we learned can benefit our clients:
Staying Informed with the Latest Technology
Our attendance at Config 2024 reinforced the importance of staying current with technological advancements. A web-based collaborative design software, Figma has new features such as Figma Slides, which show how user feedback can drive innovation. These tools allow us to work more efficiently, directly benefiting our clients by enabling faster and more precise design processes.
Enhancing Collaboration with Dev Mode
The new Dev Mode features, including Code Connect, streamline the workflow between designers and developers. This ensures that designs are seamlessly translated into production-ready code. As Leap web developer Andrew noted, “The new version of Figma helps bridge the gap between designers and developers, ensuring that we’re speaking the same language.” When there’s less translation (and fewer opportunities for meaning to get lost), the result is greater collaboration and more efficiency.
Leveraging AI for Better Workflow
Figma’s AI features provide instantaneous access to different styles and layouts, helping designers capture ideas quickly and focus on their vision. This leads to more efficient design processes and quicker turnaround times for our clients. New statuses in Figma also enhance team communication, allowing for uninterrupted creative flow and fewer delays in project timelines.
Prioritizing Human Touch in Storytelling
While AI enhances productivity, the human element in content creation remains crucial. As emphasized during the conference, AI can handle 80% of the work, but human personalization completes the picture. By leveraging our empathy and experience, we create content that resonates deeply with audiences, building trust and delivering greater value to our clients.
Encouraging Diverse Creativity
Our team was inspired by talks on the importance of diverse interests in fostering creativity. Designer Cianna noted, “Finding time to play in what you do for work is key to growth and mastery.” This perspective is something we’ve long believed—our in-studio ping pong table is one clue—but it was great to hear it from so many fellow creatives. We’re more inspired than ever to foster creativity in and out of the studio, bringing fresh ideas to every project.
Bringing Our Insights to Client Projects
The energy from Config 2024 has invigorated our team. Art Director Kelly reflected, “It was fascinating to see so many people from the tech industry, some from small agencies like ours and others from huge tech companies.” This experience highlighted the common goal of doing our best work and inspired us to apply our newfound knowledge to benefit our clients.
By staying informed and in touch with new tech, our team at Leap is better equipped to drive product innovation and efficiency. Now that we’re back home, we’re ready to incorporate what we’ve learned into our creative process. We think you’ll like what we have in store.