FigJam: Figma's New Online Whiteboard Tool

Figma's Major Update: Introducing FigJam and More

For years, Figma operated in a stealth mode before the public release of its collaborative, web-based design platform. Since its launch, the company has consistently pursued rapid development and improvement. Today marks the unveiling of Figma’s most substantial product update yet.

Introducing FigJam: A New Whiteboarding Experience

The core idea behind Figma’s creation was to empower designers with a more prominent role and provide a space for efficient collaboration. This need is even more critical today, particularly with the rise of remote work. Consequently, Figma is expanding its reach across the entire design workflow with the introduction of whiteboarding capabilities.

FigJam isn't solely for designers; it also offers a platform for individuals without design backgrounds to actively participate in brainstorming sessions.

FigJam's Features and Integration

FigJam boasts a comprehensive suite of features, including sticky notes, emojis, and versatile drawing tools. It also provides access to shapes, pre-designed lines and connectors, stamps, and real-time cursor chats.

Seamless integration with Figma is a key aspect of FigJam. Elements created or refined within FigJam can be effortlessly transferred into Figma for further development.

A Focus on Early-Stage Collaboration

“Our intention was to develop FigJam as the initial phase of the design process, preceding actual design implementation,” explained Dylan Field, Figma’s founder and CEO. “Users are seeking a smoother, more integrated experience, and we aimed to create a tool accessible enough for broader participation.”

Integrated Voice Chat for Enhanced Communication

To further streamline collaboration, Figma is integrating voice chat across all its products. This eliminates the need to switch to separate platforms like Zoom or Google Meet when designing in Figma or brainstorming in FigJam; users can simply activate chat within the Figma interface for audio communication.

Figma achieved this functionality through a partnership, though the specific partner and technology remain undisclosed.

New Mobile App and Branching/Merging Capabilities

Alongside FigJam and voice chat, Figma is also releasing a more robust mobile application, initially available in beta through TestFlight.

Furthermore, Figma is introducing branching and merging functionality. This allows designers working on design systems, for instance, to create separate branches for their modifications and then merge them with the main design system without disrupting the workflows of others.