Figma Compass update adds context-aware auto-layout and design rationale

Design · 4 min read

Figma Compass introduces an AI-driven auto-layout engine that analyzes component purpose and adjusts spacing, alignment, and wrapping behavior according to content types like labels, actions, or data tables. The feature uses on-device heuristics supplemented by opt-in cloud models to infer intent and propose layout adjustments.

A new design rationale sidebar records the prompts, versioned changes, and suggestions that led to a specific layout decision, creating a searchable history of why a component was built a certain way. Teams can add annotations, link to accessibility tests, and export rationale for stakeholder reviews.

Compass also expands plugin APIs to allow third-party pattern libraries to declare semantic roles, which the auto-layout engine can then respect. Figma emphasizes that designers retain final control, framing the AI suggestions as accelerators rather than replacements.