7 Figma AI Features How to Generate Design (First Draft to Final Project)

Hello, Creatives!

Have you heard about or tried using AI in Figma yet? If not, you're missing out on some incredible tools that can seriously level up your workflow.

Figma AI is here to make your design process faster and easier. It helps you kickstart your projects, quickly and find the assets you need. Figma's AI features take away the hassle in your workflow, so you can focus on the important design details.

In this article, we’ll go over all the AI features in Figma that can help you work more efficiently. Whether you’re new to design or a pro, Figma AI lets you turn ideas into finished designs faster and with less effort. 

Let’s explore how these tools can keep you in the creative zone, boost your workflow and deliver designs that wow your clients!

What is Figma AI?

Figma AI is a set of tools that helps you design faster and with more creativity. Whether you need inspiration, want to explore new design ideas, or automate boring tasks, Figma AI keeps you in the zone and makes your workflow smoother.

It uses advanced AI models to assist with things like Visual Search, Asset Search, and Prototype Creation, all fine-tuned with public design data from Figma’s Community files. 

As Figma AI develops, it will get even better at understanding design patterns, helping you work more efficiently and with less effort.

AI Features in Figma Design: First Draft to Final Product

Let’s explore all the AI-powered features Figma offers that can take your design from the first draft to a fully polished final product.

1. First Draft: Get a Jumpstart with AI

First Draft helps you kick off your design process by turning your ideas into design mockups in just minutes. Using pre-built wireframes and design libraries, Figma AI creates drafts based on your descriptions, giving you a quick starting point to build from. 

It’s a fast and easy way to jumpstart your projects!

Let’s Create Your First Draft in Just 5 Simple Steps

1. Click Actions in the toolbar and select First Draft.
2. Choose a wireframe or design library, or let Figma AI pick one for you.
3. Enter a prompt like “A landing page for a developer tools startup” or select a suggested prompt.
4. Click Make it to generate your design.
5. Preview the themes, and if you’re happy, close the menu. If you need changes, click Make changes to refine your design further.

Benefits

• Fast Prototyping: Quickly generate working designs to validate and iterate.
• Reduced Design Fatigue: Focus on creativity by automating the basic structure.

Note: Once you close the Actions menu, you won’t be able to make changes using the First Draft libraries. However, you can continue editing your design by adjusting its properties, just like you would with any other design in Figma.

2. Find Assets and Designs: Efficient Search for Quick Wins

 This feature streamlines the search for design assets, saving time when navigating large libraries or managing rebranding projects.

Here’s How You Can Use Different Search Methods

1. Search by Keywords

1. Click Actions in the toolbar.
2. Type a keyword or description in the search bar, then click Search assets for.
3. Browse the results under the Components tab for components or the Other designs tab for non-component assets.

2. Search from a Canvas Selection

1. Select a layer in your design.
2. Click Actions in the toolbar and choose Search for similar.
3. Explore results under the Components tab for components or the Designs tab for non-component assets.

3. Search Using an Image

1. Click Actions in the toolbar and select Search for similar.
2. Select a layer with an image fill, or upload an image from your computer.
3. Browse the results in the Components or Designs tab.

4. Navigate Results

• Use the Components tab for components and the Designs/Other designs tab for non-component assets.
• Filter results by library, or insert a component directly into your current file.

5. Smarter Search with AI

Figma AI doesn’t just match keywords. It finds related components based on form and function, giving you more relevant results, even if you don’t remember the exact name.

   Benefits

• Time-Saving: Quickly locate the right assets without manual searching.
• Improved Workflow: Integrate components seamlessly into your project.

3. Prototyping Made Easy with Figma AI

Figma AI helps you quickly create prototype interactions between frames with minimal effort.

Create Prototype Designs in Just a Few Clicks

1. First, select Frames you want to connect.
2. Then, Open the Prototype tab in the right sidebar.
3. Now, click Make prototype to automatically add interactions.
4. At, last, review the flow and click Keep it if you're happy with the results.

You can easily adjust or remove interactions:

• Click on a connection to edit.
• Use the sidebar or Delete key to remove interactions.
• Right-click the canvas and choose Remove all connections to clear everything.

With Figma AI, building interactive prototypes has never been easier!

   Benefits

• Iterative Design: Rapidly move from concept to prototype.
• Improved Communication: Effectively convey ideas to stakeholders.

4. Rename Layers: Organize Files and Simplify Bulk Layer Naming

With Figma AI, you can quickly assign meaningful names to your layers with just a few clicks. Automatically renames layers based on contextual clues, maintaining organization in complex design files.

How Figma AI Renames Layers

Figma AI automatically names layers based on their content, position, and relationship to other layers. It renames layers using the default naming convention, but keeps names you've already customized. 

Here's what Figma AI can and can't rename:

Figma AI Renames

• Frames, groups
• Rectangles with image fills
• Text layers
• Instances with default names

Figma AI does not Rename

• Layers you've already renamed
• Hidden or locked layers
• Nested instance layers
• Individual vector shapes without image fills

How to Rename Layers with Figma AI

1. Right-click your selection and choose Rename layers.
2. Click Actions in the toolbar and select Rename layers.
3. Use the quick actions menu and type Rename layers.

If no layers need renaming, you’ll see a message. You can still choose Rename anyway to redo the action.

Benefits

• Collaboration: Ensures consistent file organization for team members.
• Efficiency: Saves time in maintaining orderly design files.

Tip: You can easily customize layer names with regular expressions and bulk renaming. This is great for adding things like prefixes or suffixes to follow specific naming rules.

5. Replace Content: Generate and Populate Realistic Text in Your Designs

With Figma AI, you can quickly generate and fill realistic text in your designs. This saves you time by automatically adding content to repetitive elements like lists, posts, cards, and tables.

Let’s Replace text Content with AI

• Rewrite this: Generate new content or modify existing text using a custom prompt.
• Replace content: Automatically fill duplicated elements with similar content based on the first element in a series.

Requirements:

• Elements must have the same structure.
• They need to be in an auto-layout frame.
• Recommended maximum of 5 levels of nesting.

For example, If you're designing an e-commerce website with product cards showing the item name, price, and description, use Rewrite this to generate the content for the first card. Then, duplicate the card, apply auto layout, and use Replace content to automatically fill in the details for the rest of the product cards.

How to Start

1. Create a design with text (e.g., a card or table row).
2. Duplicate the element at least once.
3. Place them in an auto-layout frame.
4. Select Replace content from the Actions menu to fill in the text automatically.

Benefits

• Professional Presentations: Deliver polished designs with real content.
• Time-Saving: Eliminate manual data entry for repetitive elements.

Tip: Use auto-layout and consistent structure in your design elements to make the most of Figma AI's Replace content feature, saving time when generating text for repetitive items like cards, lists, or tables.

6. Rewrite, Translate, and Shorten Text: Make Flexibile for Your Global Audience

Modify text to suit different tones, languages, or lengths, catering to diverse audiences and design requirements.

Let's Easily Rewrite, Shorten, and Translate Text with Figma AI

1. Rewrite Text

Use Rewrite this to adjust your text’s tone or create new copy from scratch with a prompt.

1. Select a text layer.
2. Click Actions 👉 Rewrite this.

Example: Designing a mobile app for fintech in USA? Use Rewrite this to create engaging copy for your tech cards.

2. Shorten Text

Make long text more concise, perfect for simplifying paragraphs or fitting UX copy into limited space.

1. Select a text layer.
2. Click Actions 👉 Shorten.

3. Translate Text

Preview your UX copy in different languages with the Translate text feature.

1. Select a text layer.
2. Click Actions 👉 Translate to... and choose a language.

Benefits

• Global Reach: Easily localize designs for international users.
• Text Flexibility: Adapt content for various screen sizes and audiences.

7. Generate Images: Get Unique Images Using a Written Prompt

AI’s Generate Images feature allows designers to create custom visuals by simply using text prompts. This capability opens up new creative possibilities and reduces the reliance on stock images, enabling you to produce visuals that are perfectly tailored to your project. 

How to Create Images with Figma AI

Figma AI offers 2 primary ways to create images:

1. Using the Actions Menu: To create a custom image within an existing layer or a new layer on your canvas:

• Select the layer you want to add an image to, or clear your selection to create a new image layer.
• Go to the Actions menu and select Make an image.
• Enter a detailed prompt with as much context as possible.
• Click Make it or press Enter.
• Figma AI will generate four images based on your prompt, and you can choose the one that best suits your design.

2. Using the Fill Tool: If you want to fill a specific shape or frame with an image:

• Select or create the shape where you want the image to be placed.
• Click the Fill swatch in the right sidebar to open the color picker.
• Choose Image from the Fill mode options.
• Click Swap image > Generate new, then enter your text prompt.
• Click Make it or press Enter, and the generated image will fill your shape.

Another special feature ‘Remove Background’ that you will enjoy to modify your design background. To remove the background of your generated image: 

1. First, select the image layer.
2. Then, click Actions and choose Remove background to edit and place the image in your design.

Benefits

• Time-Saving: Quickly generate custom images and fills without needing external tools.
• Creative Freedom: Easily experiment with multiple image options directly within your design.
• Seamless Integration: Remove backgrounds and layer images effortlessly for a polished, professional look.

The Future of Design with Figma AI

As AI technology continues to grow, its applications in design are expanding rapidly. Figma AI is only the start; upcoming updates might bring new features that analyze how users interact, forecast design trends, and offer deeper insights into project performance.

• Automate Repetitive Tasks: Figma AI will handle mundane tasks like renaming layers, finding assets, and generating content, giving you more time to focus on the creative side.
• AI-Powered Design Insights: Imagine AI that not only predicts design trends but also suggests improvements based on user behavior, helping you make smarter, faster design decisions.
• Lightning-Fast Workflow: Figma AI will dramatically speed up your workflow by turning ideas into polished designs and help you to deliver high-quality work without burnout.
• Seamless Collaboration: AI will streamline asset management and file organization, allowing your team to spend more time innovating and less time on tedious logistics.
• Continuous Learning: To maximize the benefits of Figma AI, designers should engage in continuous learning, staying updated on advancements and cultivating a mindset that embraces change.

The Role of Designers: AI vs. Human

AI is a powerful tool, but the true magic of design still lies with you. Your creativity, empathy, and vision can’t be replicated. While Figma AI enhances your workflow, it's your unique problem-solving skills, storytelling, and ability to connect with users on an emotional level that make your designs truly stand out. 

Always double-check AI-generated information before making decisions. Let others know when you're using AI-created content. Figma will label AI-generated outputs for some features, like sticky note summaries.

AI will help you work faster, but your human touch will always be what makes the design unforgettable.

FAQs About Figma AI Tools

1. Are Figma’s AI Features Free?

Figma’s AI features are currently free during the beta phase, but usage limits may apply. Once fully launched, there may be an additional cost for using these features.

2. What Are Figma's AI Features Based On?

Figma's AI features are powered by third-party AI models and data from public, free Community files. These models help automate tasks, improve workflows, and generate content, making the design process faster and more efficient.

3. Would Figma AI Steal Our Work?

No, Figma AI is designed to respect your privacy and intellectual property. It uses public data and third-party models to power its features, but it does not access or use your private files or designs for its AI training. Your work remains yours, and Figma is committed to protecting your data.

4. How Do I Enable AI Features in Figma?

To enable AI features in Figma, follow these simple steps:

1. Open Figma and go to your Design file.
2. Click on the Actions menu located in the toolbar.
3. If you're part of the beta program, you’ll see options for AI-powered tools like First Draft, Make Prototype, and more.
4. Select the AI feature you want to use and start exploring!

If you don’t see the AI options, make sure you’re part of Figma’s beta program for AI features. You may need to request access or wait for them to roll out more broadly.

Final Thoughts

AI is becoming an integral part of our world.

The shift is already underway. 

In the near future, we'll see more applications of generative AI, such as features like 'Make Variations,' 'Create Moodboards,' and 'Generate Designs from our design system.' 

This transformation is inevitable and will continue to shape how we design and create.

But remember, no matter how smart AI gets, your creativity, vision, and personal style are what make your designs stand out. Embrace the changes, stay flexible, and keep learning—you’re ready to thrive in this evolving design world.

Together, we’ll keep pushing design boundaries and creating amazing work!