Figma Config Conference

Config commons

The fun began the day before the conference with Config Commons, a lively party held at Yerba Buena Gardens. This event, featuring treats, craft stations, and screen printing (I got a cute cloud screen printed onto a Config Commons shirt), set a vibrant tone for the conference, allowing us to mingle and get energised for the days ahead.

New Figma launches

One of the more exciting moments for me was the opening keynote, where the Figma team showcased new features. It was really cool to be part of and to feel the energy in the room, and everyone's reactions in real time. The keynote introduced several significant updates, including:

• New Figma UI: Redesign of Figma’s UI aimed to reduce complexity.
• Figma Slides: A new tool for creating presentations within Figma, that enables embedded prototypes in slides
• Enhancements to Dev Mode: Improvements to facilitate better collaboration between designers and developers.
• AI-Powered Features: New integrations designed to streamline workflows and boost creativity.

Inspiring talks

The conference offered a huge selection of presentations, making it hard to choose which ones to go to! Some of my favourites were:

• Jason Ballard: "Building a Human Future with Robots" — A compelling discussion on the intersection of technology and human experience. An amazing way to finish off the conference, really touching on the themes that came up throughout the event.
• Reginé Gilbert: "The Design Renaissance" — Insights into the evolving nature of design and its impact on the modern world.
• Josh Wardle: "Opting for the Opposite" — A unique perspective on making unconventional design choices.
• Simone Giertz: "Why Shitty Robots Are the Antidote of Perfectionism" — A humorous yet profound take on embracing imperfection in design.

These sessions covered topics from AI to the essence of craft, offering valuable insights and inspiration. There was a lot of AI talk throughout the conference, but it was nice to cut through that with talks highlighting the importance of bringing design and humanity into what we build. 

So many people

The scale of the conference was impressive, with over 8,000 participants, I was struck by the sheer number of attendees. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and a shared sense of excitement. It was also overwhelming at the same time and came with a few hiccups throughout the event. 

Merch and goodies

The conference floor was filled with merchandise, activity stations, and exclusive goodies. I explored the partner stalls, customisation stations, and Figma store, but the goodies were not easy to get my hands on. Due to the sheer number of people the lines were way too long for me to brave joining.

Key takeaways

As the conference concluded, I reflected on several key themes:

• The Role of AI in Design: AI is increasingly empowering designers, allowing them to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their work.
• The Importance of Craft: On the other side of all the AI advancements, the value of human creativity and the craft of design remains crucial. 

And most importantly, it was fun! I found that being physically present allowed me to fully absorb the event's energy and insights in ways that virtual attendance could not match. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of going to the next Config to do it - it’s a great experience.