Direct interaction between humans and machines creates experiences outside the constrained pathways we have become accustomed to providing - to navigate that new landscape, designers must master AI strategy, AI interaction design, and AI model design.

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Figma has reintroduced its AI-powered app generator, originally named Make Designs, now rebranded as First Draft. This decision follows the initial removal of the tool due to concerns that it closely mimicked Apple's iPhone weather app. Despite Figma's assurances that the AI models used were not trained on customer data, the company opted to take the feature offline for further testing. The relaunch of First Draft comes with several enhancements aimed at improving user experience. Users can now select from four different libraries tailored to their design needs, ranging from wireframing options for low-fidelity sketches to higher-fidelity libraries that offer more visual elements. This flexibility allows designers to explore various styles and approaches, complementing Figma's existing Visual Search feature, which enables users to locate files or components through prompts or images. First Draft operates using established AI models, such as OpenAI's GPT-4 and Amazon Titan, and is built on three core components: model, context, and prompt. The context incorporates proprietary design systems with a variety of components and examples, while users provide their design objectives as prompts. The AI then curates and organizes design elements based on these inputs, effectively generating a foundational design for users to build upon. Figma has emphasized that First Draft does not utilize customer content for training, and the feature has been relaunched after thorough analysis and testing. Additionally, Figma's suite of AI tools includes capabilities for auto-generating text within designs, further enhancing the design process for users.

Figma is enhancing its design capabilities with the reintroduction of a feature previously known as Make Designs, now renamed First Draft. This change aims to better encapsulate the feature's purpose: providing designers with a streamlined way to initiate their projects. The design process often involves navigating various challenges before reaching a first draft, and Figma recognizes the potential of AI to alleviate some of this tedium, allowing designers to more effectively translate their ideas into tangible designs. First Draft operates using established AI models, such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Amazon Titan, and is built on three core components: model, context, and prompt. The context is enriched with proprietary design systems that include a variety of components and assembly examples. Users can input their design objectives as prompts, and the AI will then curate and customize design elements accordingly, creating a foundational design for users to build upon. At the recent Config 2024 event, Figma announced over ten new AI features in limited beta, including First Draft. Initially launched as Make Designs, the feature faced challenges due to its design system producing outputs too similar to existing applications, prompting a temporary suspension. After thorough analysis and refinement, First Draft has been reintroduced with significant updates. Users can now select from four distinct libraries tailored to their needs, ranging from low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity designs, facilitating a more exploratory design process. Looking ahead, Figma envisions First Draft evolving to support custom libraries, enabling organizations to utilize their unique design languages without the hassle of manually sifting through numerous components. This initiative is being developed in collaboration with industry-standard design systems, such as Google Material 3, to demonstrate how robust, code-backed components can enhance team collaboration and iteration. Figma AI, including the First Draft feature, is currently in limited beta and will be gradually rolled out to users in the coming months. The team is committed to gathering user feedback to continuously improve the feature and ensure it meets the needs of designers effectively. Noah Levin, the Vice President of Design at Figma, oversees these developments, emphasizing the importance of integrating intelligent tools to empower designers and enhance their creative processes.