There was a significant topic of discussion during the evening, and that was — you guessed it — AI. Figma Make’s event focused heavily on AI, emphasizing what the product could achieve through natural language prompting. Almost every designer present was either using an AI tool or developing one. No one was unaffected by this trend.
Additionally, every designer could sense the tension in the room, as we are living in times where restructuring and layoffs are becoming increasingly common. If a designer hasn’t faced these challenges themselves, they’ve certainly witnessed them affecting those around them.
In 2025, it seems almost impossible to avoid discussing both AI and layoffs, particularly for those in the corporate world. This led to deeper conversations that revolved around empathy.
We reflected on the irony that designers, who continually advocate for user empathy, are among the most ruthlessly laid-off professionals across various companies.
The conversations encompassed themes of people, politics, power, and impact. Even when no one was directly discussing ‘design,’ we were still engaging in dialogues surrounding every aspect of it.
Our discussions shifted towards topics that influence design or are influenced by it — the invisible factors that aren’t immediately apparent but nonetheless exist and affect us all.
This experience left me with more questions and thoughts than any other event has. I feel grateful to have met so many incredible people and to have participated in these important conversations. While many of the discussions were uncomfortable, I pondered whether the world we live in today is, in fact, comfortable.
It dawned on me that perhaps the best thing you can do for your design career now is to focus less on design itself and more on what design enables.
The most meaningful conversations about design are no longer confined to the design itself; they center around what design can change or what changes design. We are experiencing turbulent times right now, and change is the only constant.
