The story of Figma: living long enough as a hero to become a villain?

Figma, a digital product design tool, has become a beloved brand in the design world due to its innovative features, community-friendly approach, and a freemium model. However, recent developments suggest that the company is facing challenges, including complaints about aggressive pricing strategies, confusing AI announcements, and questionable UI redesign choices. Figma has raised approximately $750 million in venture capital, which puts pressure on the company to deliver returns. To meet these expectations, Figma may need to go public through an initial public offering (IPO), but this path is complex and requires both internal and external factors to align favourably. The company faces challenges in expanding beyond the traditional digital product design market, managing negative community sentiment, integrating AI effectively, and expanding into code delivery. Figma's journey illustrates the challenges of maintaining user-centricity while pursuing aggressive business objectives. The coming months and years will be crucial for Figma as it navigates these challenges and transitions from a design industry darling to a sustainable, public company.