#design-tools · 8sync News

Config 2026: New materials, new tools and a more expressive canvas

Figma's Config 2026 conference introduced several major platform expansions. Code layers let designers treat code as a design material directly on the canvas, with two-way conversion between design and code. Figma Motion adds a full timeline editor with keyframes, presets, and Dev Mode inspection, exportable as CSS, JSON, React, MP4, WebM, SVG, or GIF. Shader fills and effects can now be generated via the Figma agent using text prompts or image references, with parameterized controls. Generative plugins allow teams to build custom tools by describing behavior in natural language, no API knowledge needed. Figma Weave tools bring node-based generative workflows into the main canvas. The Figma agent now supports Skills, Connectors (Notion, Slack, GitHub, Atlassian, etc.), and shared agent chats for team visibility.

Figma adds code layers to the canvas and lets users build custom AI plugins at Config 2026

Figma unveiled several major updates at its Config 2026 conference. The headline feature is code layers, which brings executable code directly onto the collaborative design canvas, allowing teams to clone repos and extract flows from code into design layers. The feature is backed by React and supports npm packages including motion and 3D libraries. Other announcements include native animation and 3D transform support, AI-generated shader effects, prompt-based custom plugin creation, and new AI skills for Figma's design assistant that can connect to external tools like Notion, GitHub, and Excel. Figma also deepened integration with Figma Weave (from its Weavy acquisition). The updates come as Figma faces competitive pressure from AI coding tools like OpenAI Codex, Canva's AI model, Adobe Firefly, and Google Pics, with its stock down ~79% since its July 2025 IPO.

Figma adds code layers, support for animations, more AI features in new update

Figma has announced a major update introducing code layers directly on the collaborative canvas, enabling teams to clone repositories and extract flows from code to design layers. The update also adds native support for animations, transitions, 3D transforms, and shader effects — previously requiring external tools. AI capabilities are expanded with support for generating assets, shader fills, and custom plugins via text prompts. Users can now connect external tools like Notion, GitHub, and Excel to Figma's AI assistant for richer context. Integration with the acquired Weavy node-based workflow tool is also in progress, with in-canvas Weavy workflow generation coming later this year.