Remember the seismic tremor that rocked the design world in September 2023?1 Adobe’s bold move to acquire Figma, the collaborative design darling, had everyone buzzing about a new creative utopia. But even back then, there were those with concerns about the future of the design landscape, if the merge were to go through.
Hitting the brakes last December, both Figma and Adobe jointly announced that they would be abandoning the merger amid scrutiny from regulators about anti-trust and unfair monopoly2. While the Figma-Adobe merger may be off the table, it raises some interesting questions about how the mobile app UI design paradigm will take shape in 2024.
Why did the merger fall through and what does this mean for mobile app design companies?
Let’s rewind: There were a lot of positives associated with the Figma-Adobe merger. Figma’s intuitive collaboration and plugin ecosystem, coupled with Adobe’s industry-leading design arsenal, promised a potent cocktail of efficiency and creativity for mobile app designers. For Guyana’s burgeoning mobile app design and development companies, it painted a future of:
- Seamless integration: Imagine designing in Figma, refining in Photoshop, and prototyping in Adobe XD, all under one seamless roof.
- Supercharged collaboration: Figma’s collaborative magic combined with Adobe’s cloud expertise could have propelled real-time teamwork to unimaginable heights.
- A design cornucopia: Access to both Figma’s UI/UX prowess and Adobe’s powerhouse applications would have broadened the creative palette for mobile app designers everywhere.
Concerns regarding antitrust: Despite the positives, regulatory concerns about stifling competition and hindering innovation led to the unexpected cancellation of the deal. While the dust settles, the implications for mobile app UI design are intriguing:
- The All-in-One Dream Deferred: While the Adobe-Figma merger may not have materialized, the trend towards all-in-one design platforms is likely to persist. Mobile app design companies in Guyana can capitalize on this by seeking out platforms that offer comprehensive design, prototyping, and animation capabilities.
- UX Takes Center Stage: With user-centricity becoming the design dogma, tools that prioritize UX, like Figma’s prototyping and Adobe XD’s interaction design features, will remain crucial. Investing in training designers on these tools will give Guyana’s app development companies a competitive edge.
- Niche Players Emerge Victorious: Though Adobe and Figma may have been the headliners, the spotlight now shines brighter on niche players offering innovative features or catering to specific design needs. A mobile app design company now has the opportunity to stand out by partnering with these rising stars.
The best tools for mobile app UI design in 2024
So, where does this leave us in the post-merger-mayhem world? Here are some top contenders for your mobile app UI design arsenal in 2024:
- Figma: Still the collaborative champion, Figma continues to evolve and improve, promising a bright future even without Adobe’s backing.
- Adobe XD: Adobe’s design powerhouse, XD, excels in prototyping and animation, making it a must-have for mobile app UI design.
- Sketch: A veteran favorite, Sketch offers a robust set of tools for crafting beautiful and functional UIs.
- Zeplin/Avocode: These design handoff tools bridge the gap between designers and developers, ensuring smooth code implementation.
Mobile app design and development in Guyana:
As a mobile app development company in Guyana, Webfx can skillfully navigate this dynamic landscape with you. We leverage the latest tools and trends to create stunning and user-centric mobile apps that are designed to propel your brand forward. With the Figma-Adobe merger off the table, the future of mobile app design is wide open, filled with exciting possibilities. Let’s embrace the plot twist and create something truly remarkable together.
Source:
- Sep 2022, “Adobe to Acquire Figma”, Adobe.com, [available online], available from: https://news.adobe.com/news/news-details/2022/Adobe-to-Acquire-Figma/default.aspx, [accessed Jan 2024]
- Dec 2023. “Why has Adobe and Figma called off $20 billion merger”, Economic Times, [available online], available from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/why-has-adobe-and-figma-called-off-20-billion-merger/articleshow/106099804.cms?from=mdr, [accessed Jan 2024]
Location – Guyana
