Figma: The Collaborative Design Tool That Adobe Couldn't Ignore

Figma’s rise is a story of persistence, innovation, and reshaping the way designers collaborate in the digital age. Founded by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace, Figma reimagined how designers work together online, turning a simple idea into a tool that transformed the design world. Here’s how Figma went from a startup with a bold vision to becoming a significant player in the design software space.

A Simple Vision: Design Should Be Collaborative

Dylan Field and Evan Wallace met at Brown University, where they shared a passion for technology and design. After interning at Flipboard, Dylan Field took the bold step of dropping out of Brown in 2012 after being awarded a Thiel Fellowship—a $100,000 grant that encourages young talent to skip or leave college to build new things. With this seed funding, Field and Wallace co-founded Figma with a clear mission: to make design accessible to everyone and collaborative by default.

In its early stages, Figma faced significant challenges. Building a powerful vector-based design tool that worked directly in the browser was technically complex. Wallace, known for his expertise in computer graphics, took on the technical challenge of building a real-time collaborative design tool with smooth performance, while Field focused on the company's vision and user experience.

Building a Product Designers Loved

After years of development, Figma launched its beta version in 2015. Unlike traditional design tools that required installation, Figma was entirely browser-based, making it easy to access from any device. But its real game-changer was its real-time collaboration features, allowing multiple designers to work on the same file simultaneously—similar to how Google Docs revolutionized document editing.

Initially, Figma’s adoption was slow, as it faced stiff competition from established players like Adobe and Sketch. However, its collaborative approach resonated with design teams, especially those working remotely or across different locations. By the time Figma officially launched to the public in 2016, it quickly became a favorite among designers for its ease of use, sharing capabilities, and community-driven plugins.

A Strategic Shift: Focus on Teams

One of Figma's key strategies was focusing on team collaboration rather than just individual designers. This shift allowed them to capture a broader market, from small startups to large enterprise clients. They introduced features like version history, design systems, and prototyping, making Figma an all-in-one tool for UX/UI design. Companies like Uber, Microsoft, and Airbnb started adopting Figma as their design platform of choice, seeing the value in its collaborative capabilities and cloud-based approach.

As more organizations transitioned to remote work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Figma’s user base skyrocketed. The need for seamless collaboration tools became more urgent, and Figma found itself perfectly positioned to meet the moment.

The Current Landscape

Figma's rapid growth and innovative approach continue to solidify its status as a leader in the collaborative design space. Although Adobe attempted to acquire Figma in 2022 for $20 billion, regulatory scrutiny ultimately led to the termination of the deal in late 2023. Figma remains an independent entity, committed to enhancing the design experience for users around the globe.

Overview in Numbers

• Founding Year: 2012

• Founders: Dylan Field, Evan Wallace

• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA

• Employees: Around 1,000+

• Status: Independent

• Key Milestones: Launch in 2016, raised over $330M in funding, valued at $10B in 2021.