[Config 2025] Figma Draw is here — let’s hear what you think! ✍️

 Entering and exiting Draw mode feels a bit odd. 

It seemingly needs to be a mode, since tools change drastically, and the left and right panel switch to different views. And it’s different from the ‘old’ draw mode. And what about the other modals or states: Prototyping and Dev Mode ? These are also reflected in changing tools, panels, and views.

Of course many modes and states are also available as a keyboard shortcut.

But it all starts to feel a bit messy and confusing, especially to new users (which I noticed in my Figma courses last week). So I’m trying to find the reasoning behind the decisions how and why to access these modes or states.

Let me elaborate on that.

Since Figma Design starts in the Design mode, with the familiar tool bar, let’s regard these as the main modes or states.

The earlier Draw mode is still entered (and exited) through using (or leaving) the Path tool in the main toolbar, or using the Enter key, or double-clicking. An additonal tool bar pops up, and the Design tab in the panel on the right focuses on contextual settings, as usual.

The new Draw is accessed through that new button next to the tool bar. The main tool bar gets overhauled, the left panel switches the view of its Assets panel slightly.

The Prototype mode is entered exclusively through its indication in the right panel. Nothing else changes, the left panel and all tools and many design features remain available as usual, it’s just that the right panel only shows the Prototype settings of any selected object.

Entering/exiting Dev mode changed from somewhere in the top right to that new mode bar on the bottom. It switches the main tool bar and the right panel to a totally different state.

These interfaces are getting very inconsistent !

Why do Draw, Design, and Dev have a button next to the toolbar, while Prototype hasn’t ? Why is the main mode (Design) not the first one ? Why didn’t the old and new Draw modes and tools merge, and why is it a mode at all ? Why do some modes flip the main tool bar, while others add onto it ? Why does the right panel only offer access to the Design and Prototype modes ? While it already was getting a bit vague and more vague with the old Draw and Dev modes, it doesn’t make sense anymore at all now.

Don’t be afraid of changing the paradigms radically if you need to !
User interfaces need clarity and coherence, especially for new users.
Don’t be like Adobe and just add another new feature among old ones.
Growing in that way is worse than alienating existing users. 

 Be bold, change for the better ! 

Instead of adding REAL value to your core product (e.g. better prototyping) , you give us a bunch of half-bakes solutions for hobbyists. You are becoming Adobe

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... ADD IPAD FIGMA VERSION FOR DRAWING!!!

One thing that I would like to bring up is possibility to apply the brushes on the vector strokes that were already made with a pen tool! Thank you 🤞

Really the main thing keeping me from using it is my drawing tablet of choice right now: iPad Pro. The fact that Figma Draw or even Figma Standard isn’t available even for an M-series chip-enabled iPad is pretty annoying.
 

I get it is something Apple needs to change in terms of memory limits and use of private APIs… it’s just crazy that they put desktop-class chips in their iPads now yet don’t allow any desktop-class applications like Figma. That said I hope Figma has some sway in pushing Apple to figure it out with y’all.

If I had a Wacom tablet hooked up to my Mac maybe I’d be open to it.

Missing Critical Features
1.Magic Select
2.Magic Erase
3.Magic Fill
4.Right Click any element and input prompt to improvise it
5.Right Click Frame and generate designs and interact with it with pixel perfect AI optimizations

Hi everyone,

I'm experiencing an issue with the brush tool in Figma's drawing environment.

I have a simple drawing tablet with a pressure sensor. When I was drawing, I noticed that the stroke was responding to pressure – the harder I pressed with my pen, the thicker the line became, which was great!

However, this functionality suddenly stopped working. Now, no matter how much pressure I apply, the stroke remains uniform.

Has anyone encountered this problem before, or does anyone know what might have happened or how to fix it?

✍️ Figma Draw — What we heard and what’s next
 

👋 Thank you for all the incredible feedback on Figma Draw!

Since launching Figma Draw at Config, we’ve been blown away by your thoughtful reactions — the excitement, critiques, and ideas are shaping what comes next. We’re listening closely, and we’re grateful for this community’s energy and insights.
 

Now, we want to share the top themes we’ve heard and how we’re thinking about what’s ahead.

👂 Top Themes from the Community
 

1. You’re eager to use Figma Draw on iPad

Many of you want to bring your drawing workflows to the iPad, where sketching feels more natural and accessible.

“Is there a plan to bring this to iPad? I do all of my initial sketching there before moving to desktop. Having Draw available would make that transition seamless.”
— @oliverr

“Would love to use this on my iPad, where drawing feels more natural. Hope support comes soon!”
— @danam
 

2. You’re asking for more foundational drawing tools

You’ve highlighted some key tools you'd expect from a robust drawing experience — from erasers to improved path editing and smoother curve creation.

“An eraser tool is a must. I get Draw is early, but for a tool about drawing, it’s missing the basics.”
— @phat

“Would love a better join-path or combine-path functionality. Right now it's very manual.”
— @tancrede

“I think Draw needs a curve drawing tool like Illustrator’s. Making smooth shapes with the pen tool takes too long.”
— @lisaq
 

3. You want smoother UI interactions and workflows

Draw introduces new ways of working — and you’ve told us some things feel clunky. Better toolbar placement, clearer mode switching, and smoother onboarding are high on your list.

“Please let me move the Draw toolbar — having it stuck in the corner makes it hard to access when working in fullscreen.”
— @joshy

“Draw is cool, but switching modes and figuring out where things are feels clunky. Hoping for smoother integration into my normal workflow.”
— @monicag

What we're doing with this feedback

We’ve already shared your feedback with our Figma Draw team — and in some areas, work is already in progress. Here’s what we can share so far:

• iPad Support – We hear you on support for more devices, it’s a great callout. While we don’t have anything to share just yet, feedback like this helps inform where we focus next.
   
• Additional Drawing Tools – Since Config we have launched variable width strokes and will be launching more new drawing capabilities very soon! For a comprehensive review on drawing tools keep an eye on this Figma Learn article: Draw with illustration tools.
   
• UI Improvements – We’re actively exploring refinements and will continue to iterate based on your feedback, keep it coming!
   

We'll continue to update any relevant forum topics and our release notes as Figma Draw improvements roll out. In the meantime, if you’re looking to get hands-on with Figma Draw, try one of these step-by-step projects:

• Create an illustration using transforms, effects, and text on a path
• Create an illustration using the arc tool, stroke width profiles, and effects
• Create an illustration using pattern fills, vector networks, and effects

💬 Want to keep the conversation going?

Still have more to add? We’d love to hear more:

• Ask a question or get help in Ask the Community.

• Report a bug or friction point in Report a Problem.

• Drop in features and improvements in Suggest a Feature.

• Anything else? We want to hear from you in Share Your Feedback.

Thanks again for being part of the Figma community — we’re grateful for your voice, and we’re excited to keep building Figma Draw with your feedback.

Beggginggg you all for an ipad app that is actually functional! 😀 I would love to have all my work in one tool but the ipad ability is essential for me in my drawing tools so I end up using Linearity and then exporting and it’s a pain, especially when I have to make updates once I see the drawing in my final design, and then have to keep switching between tools.

Any updates on an ipad release date? 

What does it take to reduce the smoothing on the pencil tool in Figma Draw, so we can use it to quickly sketch little placeholder icons and use handwriting to annotate stuff? Right now, the overly aggressive nature of the smoothing makes the pencil tool almost useless for this type of freehand drawing work.  Thank you!