Figma revealed new tools designed to bring structure to artificial intelligence workflows during its first Config event in India. The company introduced a markdown-based editor called Figma Specs and opened the public beta for its code layers feature. These updates aim to give design and engineering teams more control over how AI agents interact with their brand guidelines and prototypes.
Figma Specs Editor for Design Systems
The new Figma Specs feature allows users to define their design language using a simple markdown format. This document acts as a central reference for both human teams and AI agents. Users can store these specs as standalone files within Figma or embed them directly on the design canvas. The editor supports references to existing canvas elements, FigJam diagrams, code layers, and other design assets.
Teams can also attach design libraries, code libraries, and specific guidelines to these specs. This creates a centralized system that agents can consult to ensure they adhere to established brand rules. The move addresses the challenge of non-deterministic AI outputs by providing a fixed set of constraints for the software to follow.
Figma also announced integrations with over 20 new tools through its Model Context Protocol (MCP). Supported partners include Open Code, Dia, Grok Bot, and the Indian AI startup Sarvam. These integrations allow agents to pull context from external sources while working within the Figma environment.
Code Layers Enter Public Beta
Alongside the specs editor, Figma made its code layers feature available to a wider audience. The tool, which was previously in private beta since June, allows users to add coding elements directly to designs on the canvas. This enables the creation of more interactive prototypes that behave like functional software.
Users can now ask the Figma agent to convert a design into code or modify specific parts of the code to iterate on a prototype. This functionality bridges the gap between visual design and technical implementation, allowing teams to test interactions without building full applications.
Loredana Crisan, Figma’s chief design officer, noted that the volume of code produced by teams has increased significantly. She stated that while code production has risen seventeen-fold, the number of actual software releases has only grown by a factor of 1.3. This suggests that much of the new code is used for discovery and design rather than final shipping.
Integration with Payload and India Expansion
Figma is also deepening its integration with Payload, an open-source headless content management system it acquired last year. The company is connecting Payload with its Figma Make product to help users generate dynamic websites and manage content directly. Payload has seen a sixfold increase in downloads over the past twelve months.
The announcements come as Figma continues to expand its presence in India. The company opened its first Indian office last year to support sales, partnerships, and product functions. It now reports that India is its largest market outside the United States. The platform is used by 40 percent of the top 100 companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Source: TechCrunch
