Config 2026 Keynote with Dylan Field (CEO & Co-founder, Figma)
Summary
Dylan Field reframes code as design material, not the opposite, arguing AI has lowered the floor but creators must raise the ceiling through bold expression. Figma's Config 2026 launches new tools treating code and design as unified workflows to unlock unbounded creativity.
Key Takeaways
- Reject the false design vs. code debate—position code as a shapable material like color or texture. This mental shift unlocks new workflows where designers work across both mediums without forced tool choices.
- AI has demonstrably lowered the creative floor (making tools more accessible) but hasn't raised the ceiling yet. The real opportunity is builders and creators raising the ceiling through risk-taking and bold expression.
- Config 2026 focuses on two product pillars: new materials to express anything imaginable, and new tools to shape those materials further. This dual approach removes creative constraints from the tooling layer.
- Community and connection drive innovation in design. Actively seek out unfamiliar creators, ask what they're thinking about, and build new relationships—not just reconnect with existing networks.
- This is Figma's 10th Config conference. The evolution from introducing hyperlinks to the canvas (2020) to unifying code and design workflows shows how rapidly the design infrastructure layer is consolidating.
Related topics
Transcript Excerpt
It's you. It's you. It's you. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hello. Hello. >> [applause] >> We grew up in a world that told us the future belonged to those who could code. Knowing how something should look and feel wasn't enough. You had to [music] know how to build it, too. But now everything's shifted. Code is a material as shapable as texture or color. And ideas no longer have to wait their turn. [music] So now the question isn't can it be made. It's what would you make if you could make anything. You'd probably start by following your curiosity, going wide before going deep. making and remaking until it feels right. The point isn't just to make it faster. It's to take it further together. The future doesn't [music] just happen. It's built by design. Please welcome to the stage Figma [music] CEO …