The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Bringing Dev Mode to Figma (Interview)
Nov 22, 2023
Emil Sjölander, who works at Figma and previously founded Visly, discusses the groundbreaking Dev Mode designed to unite developers and designers in a single workspace. He shares insights on the evolution of design tools and the journey from outdated practices to modern collaboration. Emil delves into how Dev Mode enhances user experiences and optimizes workflows, along with the challenges of translating designs into functional code. The episode also highlights integrating design systems to improve project outcomes and the importance of feedback in refining development tools.
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Early Web Development Challenges
- Jerod Santo reminisced about the early days of web development when CSS was new and designs were made in Photoshop.
- They used techniques like sliding doors for tabs and lacked rounded elements, highlighting the limitations of older technologies.
Visual Tools for Frontend Development
- Emil Sjölander discussed the history of visual tools for frontend development, noting their long-standing presence.
- He explained how the increasing complexity of web development has made creating effective visual tools more challenging.
Photoshop for UI Design
- Emil Sjölander expressed surprise at the past practice of using Photoshop, a photo retouching tool, for UI design.
- He compared it to the overuse of Excel for various tasks, highlighting the ingenuity of developers in adapting tools.