Stay Sharp or Stay Behind: AI Just Shifted Again
If your studio isn’t paying attention to what the big players are building and what the next generation is already using—you’re behind. Not lost forever, but definitely lagging.
We’re not saying toss out your methods. But the terrain is changing fast. New AI features aren’t just speed tools—they’re redefining how work gets done: from research and prototyping to production and delivery.
This spring, both Adobe and Figma dropped major updates at their flagship events, signaling exactly where creative workflows are headed. If you missed the drops, here’s what matters—and why.
Adobe Firefly: AI for the Whole Creative Stack
Adobe is no longer just catching up to AI-native startups—it’s building the infrastructure for an AI-assisted creative studio. Highlights from the latest Firefly update:
- Firefly Video: Turn prompts into cinematic sequences. AI-assisted storyboarding and camera moves mean pre-vis just became anyone’s tool.
- Text to Vector: Instant logos, illustrations, and iconography from natural language descriptions.
- Firefly Boards (Beta): AI-assisted moodboarding that pulls references and assets into structured, editable layouts.
- Image Model 4: Enhanced detail and realism in AI-generated images—especially with human figures.
Adobe isn’t pitching one-off experiments. It’s quietly replatforming the creative pipeline.
Figma’s AI Suite: Where Ideas Get Built, Fast
Figma used Config 2025 to double down on AI inside its design system. What’s coming:
- Figma Make: Describe an idea, and Figma builds it. Not a wireframe—an actual interactive prototype.
- Edit Image: Text-based photo editing directly inside your design canvas.
- Model Picker: Plug in the best generative model for the task—Imagen 3, GPT-image, or Titan—without leaving Figma.
- Figma Sites: Build and publish real, dynamic sites right from your design file. Less handoff, more launch.
Designers are now shipping MVPs without a developer in the room.
The Real Shift: AI as a Design Partner
These aren’t gimmicks. They’re infrastructure changes. Adobe and Figma aren’t just adding AI—they’re rethinking what a design environment is.
Your studio doesn’t need to reinvent itself overnight. But if you’re not experimenting, you’re not learning. If you’re not adapting, you’re already slow. And if you’re still billing research and wireframes the same way—you’re missing the point.
