Figma

Figma is the industry-standard tool for designing digital product interfaces. You use it to lay out screens, define components, and share interactive prototypes with stakeholders before a line of production code is written. Its collaborative nature means designers and builders can work in the same file simultaneously, and any team member can inspect exact spacing, color, and font values.

For AI builders, Figma plays two roles. First, it's an input for code generation: you can paste a Figma URL directly into tools like Lovable or v0, and they'll attempt to scaffold a working UI from the design. Second, it's a spec surface: many builders use FigJam (Figma's freeform whiteboard) or Figma frames to sketch architecture diagrams, user flows, and product specs before handing context to a coding agent.

Figma's own AI capabilities have expanded rapidly, including Figma Make, a no-code app builder built directly into the design tool, and an MCP server (a connector that lets coding agents read and write to Figma files). The line between design tool and builder tool is blurring fast.