At the most recent Config, Figma just released their own website builder called ​Figma Sites​. In theory, it’ll help designers who have little or no coding ability to be able to publish websites that much more quickly.

I’m of 2 minds about stuff like this.

Early in my career, Macromedia released Dreamweaver, which promised “a single environment to quickly create, build, and manage websites and Internet applications.” It came complete with “visual layout tools” for “rapid web application development.” The basic idea was to let designers draw and the software took care of the code part. It was true, but the code was bad. It technically worked, but it created a lot of problems in areas like accessibility, content management, browser compatibility, and more. Since then, I’ve been skeptical of any software that promises to take care of the code behind-the-scenes.

(And today I learned that Dreamweaver still exists! 🤯)

On the other hand, I do believe—naively, perhaps—that we will, one day, get to a point where we can draw—or speak, or think—and have software create the interfaces for us. We’re closer than we’ve ever been in history. Design systems are a big stepping stone. Tools are getting better. AI accelerates it all. I’ve all but ditched hand-coding and code-driven code-based CMSs in favor of tools like Framer, Webflow, Wix Studio, and Showit. Almost all of my digital properties are built with one of these kinds of tools. Not only do I use them myself, but I partner with all of these companies to spread the word about them, because, although I don’t believe any one of these things is currently the answer, the point to the kind of future I want for digital designers.

So, when a new one comes out, I jump at the chance to try it out and see what new perspectives they might offer. When it comes to these kinds of tools, I’m certainly part of the “Innovator” customer type, to use the Crossing the Chasm parlance.

You might not be, but you might be curious enough to watch someone else who is. So, I made a 2-hour video of my first experience with Figma Sites: