UX Caffè

Figma and Adobe in 2025: Useful Innovations or Just Hype?

A friendly and up-to-date analysis of the latest from Figma and Adobe — between fulfilled promises and unmet expectations

2025-05-14

2025 has been a year full of announcements and updates in the world of digital design. Figma and Adobe, two industry giants, introduced new features and tools aimed at revolutionizing the way designers work. But have these innovations truly improved our workflows — or are they just smoke and mirrors?

Figma: Innovation Meets Its Limits

At the 2025 Config conference, Figma introduced several new tools: Sites, Make, Buzz, and Draw. The declared goal was to offer a comprehensive platform where designers could create, collaborate, and publish — all within the Figma ecosystem.

Figma Sites, in particular, promised to turn designs into fully functional websites with a single click. While the ease of use was praised, early reviews were mixed. Critics pointed out the lack of advanced customization options and issues with accessibility. Some users reported that the auto-generated code didn’t always follow web best practices, making SEO optimization and inclusivity more difficult.

Figma Draw, on the other hand, brought vector illustration tools directly into the platform. This feature was well received — especially by those looking to merge UI design and illustration without switching between software.

Adobe: Evolution or Revolution?

Adobe, for its part, has continued to integrate artificial intelligence into its core tools. Photoshop introduced features like Generative Fill and Generative Expand, allowing users to modify and expand images in just a few clicks. These updates simplified complex tasks, making workflows faster and more efficient.

Illustrator received major updates as well, including Text to Vector Graphic and Text to Pattern, which allow users to generate vector graphics and patterns from text prompts. These features expanded creative possibilities, although some users reported a steeper learning curve at first.

That said, not all feedback was positive. Some designers expressed frustration with Photoshop’s interface, finding it less intuitive than more modern competitors. Additionally, the growing reliance on AI tools sparked concerns about the authenticity and originality of creative work.

Conclusion: Between Excitement and Caution

The innovations introduced by Figma and Adobe in 2025 have undoubtedly expanded what’s possible for designers, offering new tools and simplifying several processes. However, it’s important to critically assess how well these new features integrate into your own workflow.

Figma has shown strong ambition to become an all-in-one design platform, but tools like Sites still need time to mature if they’re to compete with established solutions like Webflow or Framer. Adobe remains a powerhouse in the industry, but must now face the challenge of making its tools more intuitive and accessible for the next generation of designers.

In the end, 2025 marked a step forward in the evolution of design tools — but the real measure of success will be how well these innovations meet the everyday needs of creative professionals.