Figma Won’t Last Forever

And inVision is gone.

Saying Goodbye to inVision: Which Design Tool Will Follow?

In a surprising move, another design tool that once shaped the industry is shutting down: inVision. If you were designing during the 2010–2017 period, you likely relied heavily on this platform, as many did, especially for large-scale, complex projects. At our company, inVision was our go-to for nearly 99% of our work, including major projects for Fortune 500 clients.

Now, inVision is closing its doors, a victim of the ever-shifting design tool landscape. While there are many reasons for its demise, one key factor is Figma’s dominant presence. But Figma’s success isn’t the sole cause — inVision’s lack of consistent innovation and updates played a significant role. Their once-promising tool, inVision Studio, was highly anticipated and even outperformed Figma in some areas, like prototyping animation. But the lack of regular updates caused it to fall behind.

Great Tools Alone Aren’t Enough

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a beloved design tool fade away. Remember Macromedia? In the early 2000s, they developed tools like Freehand, Fireworks, and Flash, which were ahead of their time. But even they couldn’t withstand the changing tides, getting overshadowed by Adobe’s rise. It’s a reminder that being great at something isn’t enough if a tool lacks staying power and consistent evolution.

Is Figma Next?

The rise of Figma made waves, and many designers are now deeply embedded in its ecosystem. But even Figma has had its own challenges. When Adobe announced its acquisition of Figma, they also quietly stopped developing their own design tool, Adobe XD, leaving it in an uncertain state.

Yet, tools come and go. That’s why it’s so important to focus on the skills behind design, not just the tools. Whether it’s pen and paper, or a future tool we haven’t seen yet, if you understand the problem-solving aspect of design, you can adapt to any platform.

The Figma Obsession

There’s an industry-wide obsession with Figma that has caused many to focus too much on its specific workflows. But what happens if Figma, like inVision or Macromedia, eventually fades out? Design workflows that are too proprietary may leave designers stuck when newer, better tools emerge. In fact, Figma is already showing signs of trouble. When they announced they would start charging for access to “Dev Mode” on January 1, 2024, it raised red flags. For many companies, this meant tenfold increases in their design budgets with little added benefit.

Figma later extended the trial period for Dev Mode, likely because many companies weren’t prepared to pay up. Will Figma manage to survive this shift, or could their focus on monetizing developers lead to its downfall?

What’s Next?

With new players like Penpot and Framer making waves, the design tool ecosystem is shifting. These tools, along with others like Sketch and Lunacy, are challenging the status quo, pushing established platforms to evolve or risk becoming irrelevant. We could even see a future where designers work directly with code or where forgotten tools like Adobe XD are reimagined for modern workflows.

The question is: Are you prepared for a world beyond Figma? The most important thing to remember is that tools are temporary — your design mindset and problem-solving skills are what truly matter. Stay adaptable, continue refining your craft, and be ready to embrace whatever comes next.

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