I was first introduced to Figma last year. I decided to take a workshop hosted by an IBM designer who led a one-day session on the basics of the platform. After just a few hours of playing around with components and frames, I remember thinking, "Wow, this is really a wonderful tool."
My curiosity was piqued, so I kept researching the company behind it. That led me down a rabbit hole into the fascinating story of the early idea of Figma and how it all began.
The Early Idea
Figma was founded in 2012 by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace while Dylan was still a student at Brown University.
The goal?
To make design accessible to everyone by moving it entirely to the browser—meaning no heavy software installs and no expensive hardware requirements.
They were inspired by tools like Google Docs, which allowed people to collaborate in real time. They thought:
Why not bring that same magic to design?
The Breakthrough: Browser-Based Design
In 2015, Figma launched its first beta.
The big difference?
It ran entirely in the browser using WebGL. This made it possible for multiple designers to work on the exact same file at the exact same time—eliminating the need to send massive files over email.
It was also cross-platform from day one:
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux (via browser)
- Even Chromebooks
You could design anywhere, with anyone, in real time.
Rapid Growth
By 2017, Figma started attracting major design teams.
Here is why they loved it:
- Real-time collaboration, just like Google Docs
- Version history without messy file names (no more
Final_v2_Final_FINAL.fig) - A robust free plan for individuals
- Incredibly easy handoffs for developers
Competitors like Adobe XD and Sketch simply struggled to match their seamless cloud-first approach.
The Business Model
Figma adopted a brilliant freemium model:
Free for individuals, with paid plans for teams needing advanced features.
This strategy made it easy for students, freelancers, and small startups to adopt the tool and eventually upgrade as they grew into larger teams.
IPO and Acquisition Talks
Figma’s popularity skyrocketed, especially during the remote work boom of 2020–2021.
In 2022, Adobe actually announced plans to acquire Figma for $20 billion, but the deal was eventually called off in 2023 due to regulatory concerns. Instead of slowing down, Figma kept expanding its product lineup, introducing tools like FigJam for online whiteboarding.
Finally, on July 31, 2025, Figma went public with an IPO that valued the company at over $12 billion, making it one of the largest design software IPOs in history.
Final Thoughts
Figma isn’t just a design tool; it is a profound story about accessibility, collaboration, and rethinking how creative work happens.
From a dorm room idea to a multi-billion-dollar public company, Figma proves that even in highly competitive markets, relentless innovation and user-first thinking can win. Next time you use it to design something, take a second to appreciate the incredible journey that made it possible.