I've been exploring local AI models recently and found that running DeepSeek directly on a Mac can be surprisingly useful for design and development work.
For designers and developers, a local AI setup offers several advantages:
- More privacy when working with project documentation and design assets
- Faster experimentation without relying on cloud-based services
- Help with UX writing, user flows, and content generation
- Assistance with plugin development and front-end code
- Greater control over AI workflows and model settings
The setup process is becoming much simpler, and modern Apple Silicon Macs are capable of running powerful AI models locally with good performance.
I'm curious how the Figma community is approaching local AI. Are you using local models for design systems, UX research, content creation, plugin development, or other parts of your workflow?
What has worked well for you, and what challenges have you encountered?