Design engineer Vincent van der Meulen shares Figma's visual search pivot story, highlighting the importance of visual search in AI tools. He discusses the challenges faced, the transition to a software engineer role, prototyping, communication, and the future role of design engineers in the AI age. The episode gives insights into identifying opportunities, collaborating with machine learning experts, and the transformative power of feedback.
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Quick takeaways
Visual search was a pivotal feature mid-project for Figma's AI pivot.
Design engineers play a crucial role in bridging design and technical aspects for innovation.
Deep dives
Using Video to Showcase Design Work is Trending
Designers are leveraging video on social media to elevate their work, adding motion to make designs stand out. Platforms like Jitter offer an alternative to labor-intensive tools like After Effects, streamlining motion design. Jitter's Figma plugin simplifies importing designs and provides templates for easy project initiation.
Developing Component Suggestions for Designers' Workflow
By combining knowledge of design and engineering, a concept of autocomplete component suggestions emerged, aligning with technical feasibility and design appeal. Aligning technology capabilities with design issues offers a continuous path for innovation, identifying user problems and technological constraints to bridge opportunities.
The Journey Behind Figma's Visual Search Feature
The podcast delves into the evolution of Figma's visual search feature, underscoring a significant pivot mid-project. The inception of a simplified version of autocomplete, termed 'component suggestions,' stems from addressing design assistant challenges through practical, drag-and-drop component recommendations.
Navigating Challenges and Innovation in Design Engineering
The episode highlights the complexities and iterative nature of developing design tools like autocomplete and search algorithms. Insights include overcoming the disparity between design and AI models, emphasizing visual representations for better design search, and the pivotal role of design engineers in bridging design and technical realms.
If you watched last week’s episode, then you heard Jordan Singer say how visual search was actually the “killer feature” (not generative AI). What’s interesting is that this feature was actually a mid-project pivot.
So in this episode we get the full behind-the-scenes of visual search from design engineer Vincent van der Meulen:
Why they decided to pivot
How Vincent went cowboy mode
A look at the future of design engineering
What good design looks like in an AI world
Why visual search is a big deal for future AI tools
How Vincent used video to get Figmates excited about his idea