Unlocking Figma's Latest Updates: A Practical Guide
Introduction
Figma's been shipping updates at a breakneck pace - and honestly, it's hard to keep up. You're not alone if you've opened the app and wondered what's new. The last month has brought some of the most significant updates in the tool's history. I've spent weeks putting these updates through real project work, and I'm here to give you the practical lowdown: what each feature actually is, a concrete example of when you'd use it, and a quick tutorial to try it yourself.
1. The Figma Agent - AI that works directly on your canvas
This is the headline release, and it deserves the top spot. The Figma agent is AI that lives directly on the canvas and in the left rail - not as a separate tool you switch to, but as a collaborator working inside the same file as you and your team. It's fine-tuned specifically for editing Figma files, with deep context on your components, tokens, design system standards, and best practices.
What it actually does, in 3 buckets:
The agent is strongest in three areas: exploration, automating busywork, and working through feedback. It can generate multiple distinct directions for the same problem, make bulk edits, and implement feedback - all while respecting your design system out of the box.
A concrete example:
Say you've designed a mobile checkout flow and your PM leaves 12 comments across 5 frames after a review. Instead of manually working through each one, you can ask the agent to sort these comments by theme and create a new revision of the design that incorporates the feedback. It reads the context - because it's in the same file - and proposes changes. You stay in control and refine from there.
How to try it:
1. Join the waitlist at figma.com/join-waitlist to request early access. 2. Once you have access, look for the agent in the left rail or start a prompt from any design layer. 3. To steer its output, @ mention specific tokens, variables, or components - this is the equivalent of giving it a key command for your design system.
2. Custom Skills in Make - reusable workflows as markdown files
Released May 11, this is my personal favorite of the batch because it solves a real, recurring frustration. If you use Figma Make, you've probably found yourself typing the same context and conventions into prompts over and over. Custom skills fix that. A skill is a markdown file that outlines the conventions and workflows you use repeatedly. You define it once, then call it with a slash command in any prompt - and Make produces output that matches your standards with far fewer prompts.
3. Sections in Figma Slides - finally, real organization
Released May 18, this is a smaller but genuinely welcome quality-of-life update for anyone who builds presentations in Figma Slides. Decks get long and messy fast, and until now there was no clean way to group slides. Sections fix that. You can now name your slide rows, drag to reorder them, and jump between sections directly from Presenter or Audience View.
4. Grid is generally available - and much smarter
Released May 22, grid moved out of beta and picked up several genuinely useful improvements. If you've struggled with auto layout for complex two-dimensional layouts - galleries, dashboards, card grids - this is the update for you. Three improvements stand out: drag to reorder columns and rows directly, automatic positioning, and automatic rows are created or removed as you add or delete content.
5. The smaller releases worth knowing about
A few other updates shipped this month that don't need full sections but are worth a mention if they touch your workflow: Bulk edit in Figma Buzz, New in Make: voice-to-text, question cards, version history, and Faster file transitions on desktop.
My thoughts - what actually matters here
Stepping back from the feature list, a few honest observations after working with these. The agent is the real story, and it's a strategic shift, not just a feature. Figma is clearly betting that the future of design work is a tight loop between AI generation and direct manipulation - not one replacing the other. At Chulbul Design, we often see teams struggling to keep up with the latest design tools and trends - but with the right approach, you can stay ahead of the curve.
The Future of Design Work
In our experience at Chulbul Design, the key to success lies in embracing the latest design tools and trends, while staying focused on the needs of your users. With Figma's latest updates, you can streamline your workflow, improve collaboration, and create stunning designs that delight your audience. So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of Figma and discover the power of AI-driven design. As the design landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the future of design work is brighter than ever - and with the right tools and expertise, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. In the Delhi NCR region, we're seeing a growing demand for skilled designers who can leverage the latest tools and trends to drive business success. By staying up-to-date with the latest Figma updates and best practices, you can position yourself for success in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.