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Issue no.15: The state of design

Figma
A person rides an arrow like a surfboard, reaching toward the viewer with a pencil in hand.A person rides an arrow like a surfboard, reaching toward the viewer with a pencil in hand.

AI-powered tools and workflows are fundamentally changing the way we design.

Share Issue no.15: The state of design

Illustrations by Kyle Platts

Now, ideas can move fluidly between code and canvas, and designers aren’t defined by their medium. To help steer through the uncertainty, we took an industry pulse check. Here’s what our research reveals about where the job market’s going, which skills are in highest demand, and how designers are adapting to new pressures.

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What matters most

AI is changing how designers approach their craft. In our State of the Designer report, 91% of respondents say that AI tools are helping them uplevel their work. But what that looks like—whether it’s visual polish, thoughtful problem solving, or intuitive UX—varies from person to person. Those definitions matter: They can directly shape how designers experience their jobs. Dive into the findings to see what makes the difference.

Illustration on green background shows six framed vignettes circling a globe icon: robotic arm, hammer pencil, person riding an arrow, raised finger, eyes peering from a tunnel, scissors cutting ribbon.Illustration on green background shows six framed vignettes circling a globe icon: robotic arm, hammer pencil, person riding an arrow, raised finger, eyes peering from a tunnel, scissors cutting ribbon.

Read more

Illustration of a globe on a green background with paths linking framed icons—magnet shoe, thinking head, loop arrow, raised finger, tunnel eye, scissors.Illustration of a globe on a green background with paths linking framed icons—magnet shoe, thinking head, loop arrow, raised finger, tunnel eye, scissors.

State of the Designer 2026: Designers are leaning into the messy middle

Our State of the Designer report explores how designers around the world are upleveling their skills, keeping craft high, and turning new pressures into creative momentum.

Who's in high demand

Despite what you may hear, AI isn’t slowing design hiring—in fact, it’s fueling it. In our survey of hiring managers around the world, 82% say their need for designers has stayed stable or increased. It’s not just tech companies adding headcount, either. Find out who’s hiring, and what they’re looking for.

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Why demand for designers is on the rise

In the AI era, companies need designers more than ever. In fact, our latest study suggests that AI is actually driving renewed momentum in design hiring. We unpack why that is, what hiring managers are prioritizing, and which skills designers need to get ahead.

Which skills stand out

Whether you’re leaning into all things MCP or sharpening your prompting skills, there’s no shortage of ways to level up. From knowing how to connect AI workflows to translating between cross-functional teams, find out which new skills are in high demand, and which fundamentals are here to stay.

Illustration on purple background showing arms extending out of cubes with different tools like a paintbrush, hammer, measuring tape, drill, and cloth, all working on constructing a sculpture out of different materials. Illustration on purple background showing arms extending out of cubes with different tools like a paintbrush, hammer, measuring tape, drill, and cloth, all working on constructing a sculpture out of different materials.

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Illustrated letter T being built with hands using paint, drill, hammer, tape measure, and chisel on a purple background.Illustrated letter T being built with hands using paint, drill, hammer, tape measure, and chisel on a purple background.

5 design skills to sharpen in the AI era

Our latest research highlights the skills designers need to meet the moment.

Rabbit hole

A collage showing an abstract illustration of organic blue shapes on a green background, lines of code written in colorful boxes, and two Config speakers high-fiving behind a podiumA collage showing an abstract illustration of organic blue shapes on a green background, lines of code written in colorful boxes, and two Config speakers high-fiving behind a podium

1. PMs are jumping into prototyping with Figma Make

Illustration of a tree growing from circuit-like roots, with UI panels and charts branching out like leaves.Illustration of a tree growing from circuit-like roots, with UI panels and charts branching out like leaves.

3 ways product teams are building conviction faster with Figma Make

From communicating complex behaviors to pushing the edges of an idea, product managers at ServiceNow, Ticketmaster, and Affirm are using Figma Make to prototype their way forward.

—and drumming up conviction about where to go next on the product roadmap.

2. Ideas can start anywhere and go everywhere. Figma’s CEO and Co-Founder Dylan Field explains why the future of design is code and canvas

Colorful layered code snippets arranged like ascending steps with a large black cursor arrow pointing at the top.Colorful layered code snippets arranged like ascending steps with a large black cursor arrow pointing at the top.

The future of design is code and canvas

There isn't just one way to build. For the best ideas to move forward, we need the power of code and the canvas. Claude Code to Figma is just one way we’re giving builders more choice.

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3. With the breakneck pace of product development, how do we keep sight of what’s most important? Our Config 2026 speakers tell us what’s top of mind for them in the age of AI

Two speakers on stage at Config high-five behind a white podium, standing in front of a colorful screen.Two speakers on stage at Config high-five behind a white podium, standing in front of a colorful screen.

Our Config 2026 speakers on the biggest opportunities with AI

Here’s a first look at our speakers and how they’re interrogating craft, quality, and intention in an AI-powered world.

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The last word

The future belongs to the curious.” —Vishal Kapoor, SVP of Product, AffirmThe future belongs to the curious.” —Vishal Kapoor, SVP of Product, Affirm

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