robotostudio.com
Figma in 2025: hot takes - Roboto Studio
Excerpt
## File management: our biggest pain point Figma file management remains one of Figma's most significant challenges. Many designers report spending excessive time trying to organize files in Figma rather than focusing on actual design work. If I didn't know better, I might even call it a growth strategy, gouging users out of money for inviting people to view their work... But that would be cynical. Navigating through projects sometimes feels cumbersome, especially when working on multiple projects simultaneously. The current Figma folder system lacks robust structures and intuitive ways to group related work. Given Figma's strength in other areas of the design experience, there's significant potential for improvement in file management. ... However, the core design experience can feel cluttered with features that many designers don't use regularly. For example, the "copy to Figma slides" button appears prominently despite limited relevance to typical design workflows. More customization options allow users to prioritize features most relevant to their work. The challenge with expanding functionality lies in maintaining the clean, focused experience that originally differentiated Figma from competitors. Many designers have submitted Figma feature requests asking for better customization controls. ## Performance optimization needed Figma's responsiveness has declined compared to earlier versions. Users report increased lag and slower load times despite unchanged hardware specifications. File opening and interactions can take longer than expected, interrupting design flow and reducing productivity. As features are added, performance optimization becomes increasingly complex, requiring dedicated engineering resources. Performance issues are typically addressable with focused engineering effort. ... ## Text style management: missing batch operations A common workflow issue highlights gaps in Figma's text style management. When updating properties like line height across multiple text styles organized in groups (xs, lg, xl), designers must edit each style individually. The absence of batch editing capabilities for text styles creates time-consuming, repetitive tasks. For example, updating line height across 60 text styles requires 60 individual edits rather than group-level changes. … #### Developer handoff through dev mode What is figma dev mode? It's a feature that effectively bridges the designer-developer gap. Figma dev mode allows developers to inspect designs and extract specifications in formats they prefer (like CSS), eliminating guesswork and reducing back-and-forth communication. While designers may not use dev mode Figma directly, it significantly improves collaboration with development teams. However, Figma dev mode pricing can be a consideration for smaller teams, as it requires a paid plan to access all features. …
Related Pain Points
Complex design system files struggle with performance on high-end hardware
7Even high-end MacBook Pros experience hitching and lag when working with deeply nested components and large design system files. Performance degrades with UI3 updates, and the issue compounds—more component references worsen performance, which is ironic given that components are meant to keep things organized.
File management system lacks robust structure and intuitive organization
6Figma's file management remains a significant challenge, with designers spending excessive time organizing files rather than focusing on actual design work. Navigating through projects feels cumbersome, especially when working on multiple simultaneous projects, due to lack of robust folder structures and intuitive grouping options.
Text style management lacks batch editing for repetitive updates
5Figma requires designers to edit text style properties (like line height) individually across all styles, even when organized in groups. Updating a property across 60 text styles requires 60 separate edits instead of group-level batch operations, creating tedious, time-consuming, repetitive work.