Introduction
Friends of Figma is a local chapter of Figma’s global design community – a vibrant group of designers and creatives who come together to collaborate, learn, and inspire each other. Our mission is to connect designers across New York City’s diverse design scene, from students and independents to professionals at top companies, in an inclusive and supportive environment. In fact, Friends of Figma welcomes everyone interested in building great things – whether you’re a designer or not!
We currently connect over 1000 designers in the NYC area – folks from top companies, startups, agencies, and academia. Our role in the design community is to foster knowledge-sharing and networking: we organize meetups, workshops, and talks that encourage designers to exchange ideas, discover new techniques, and build meaningful professional relationships. Most importantly, have fun while doing all that.
In Person Event Planning
We take care of the content and community outreach, and we rely on our partners to help provide the support for a smooth in-person experience. Here’s what a typical FoF NYC event requires:
Venue & Seating: This could be a company office, coworking space, classroom, or any event venue in NYC. The estimate attendee count will usually be the venue capacity limit, but if we’re running workshop we can have a smaller group. The venue should have adequate seating (or standing room for casual mixers), and an open layout suitable for the chosen format (e.g. a front area for speakers/panel, tables for workshop activities, etc.). In most of our past events, our partners hosted at their office space or school venue. A projector or large screen Reliable Wi-Fi is also helpful (especially for live Figma collaboration or any demo requiring internet). We can coordinate in advance to test any A/V needs. Food & Beverages: This might be as simple as pizza and soda, coffee and donuts, or light snacks and drinks – whatever fits the time of day and the host’s capabilities. Having some food and drinks available before or after the main talk gives attendees a chance to chat and network (and a well-fed audience is a happy audience!). We appreciate when partners sponsor snacks or have a pantry to share; it goes a long way in making everyone feel welcome. Check-ins: It’s helpful to have a check-in process that accommodates all guests (for example, a guest list at building security, if needed, and someone to greet attendees at the door). Adequate lighting and sound are important so that everyone can see and hear. If any attendees have special needs (vision/hearing accommodation, etc.), we’ll communicate that beforehand so we can accommodate. We also aim for a welcoming environment – simple touches like name tags, clearly marked directions/signs, and a friendly check-in table make a big difference. Equipment & Supplies: Depending on the event, a few extra items can be useful. For workshops, tables or desks for participants with laptops and possibly extension cords/power strips for charging can be important. For talks, a podium or table for the speaker’s laptop, a clicker for slides, and a whiteboard or sticky notes (if doing brainstorming) can come in handy. We’ll discuss any special supplies needed (for example, printed worksheets or markers for an activity) and plan accordingly. (Don’t worry – FoF NYC organizers will work closely with you on all these details. We’ll create a run-of-show and checklist, and ensure the event setup is handled. As a partner host, your main role is providing the space and basic amenities; our team will handle the rest, from registration to content to cleanup.)
Types of events we can host (tldr: possibility is endless)
One of the strengths of Friends of Figma NYC is our flexibility in event formats. We can collaborate on a variety of event types, depending on what aligns best with the partner’s goals and the community’s interests. Here are some popular formats we love, each offering a unique way to engage the audience:
Panel Discussions: A moderated conversation with 2–5 panelists (plus a moderator) discussing a specific topic. Panels bring together diverse perspectives – for example, a discussion on Design Systems might include a startup designer, a big tech design manager, and a freelance expert. The moderator (often one of our organizers or a partner representative) guides the conversation through prepared questions and audience Q&A. Panels are great for exploring a topic broadly and hearing multiple viewpoints in one session. Talks & Fireside Chats: This could be a guest speaker giving a talk or a one-on-one “fireside chat” style interview. For instance, we might have a presenter share their journey or demo a new feature. A fireside chat feels like an informal interview, making the audience feel included in a personal conversation. Hands-on Workshops: Interactive sessions where attendees learn by doing. Workshops typically focus on skill-building – e.g. a prototyping workshop, a UI animation class, or a design critique session. The presenter might walk through a tutorial or prompt the group with an exercise. Attendees often bring laptops (if it’s a digital skill) or join group activities. This format is highly engaging and gives participants tangible outcomes (like a prototype they built, or feedback on their portfolio). It’s perfect for partners who want to teach a specific skill or methodology in a collaborative way. Lightning Talks: A high-energy format featuring a series of short, 5-10 minute presentations back-to-back. We invite multiple speakers (often community members or employees from the host company) to each share one quick idea, tip, or project. For example, a lightning talk night might include one speaker’s favorite Figma plugin, another showing a neat UX research finding, and another doing a live demo of a small app. This format keeps things lively and varied, and it’s a fantastic way to involve many voices. The rapid pace holds audience attention, and it often spurs lots of conversation during the networking portion afterward. Networking Mixers: Sometimes the best value is simply connecting people. A networking-focused event is more casual: we provide a venue, light refreshments, maybe some music or an ice-breaker activity, and let designers mingle. We often include a very short program (like a 5-minute welcome, or a couple of lightning talks to kick it off), but the majority of time is unstructured so attendees can meet each other. These mixers are great for community-building – designers swap stories, share job opportunities, and make new friends in the industry. If a partner’s goal is to meet local talent or just give back to the community by hosting a social, this format works well. Creative Jams or Hackathons: For partners interested in a more project-based event, we can organize design jams. In a Design Jam (hackathon style), attendees form small teams and work on a fun challenge for a few hours – for example, “Redesign a famous app in Figma with a new twist” or “Design a solution for a given social problem”. It ends with quick presentations of each team’s concept. This format is highly engaging and lets participants flex their creative muscles. Partners might provide the challenge theme (perhaps related to their domain) and even mentors or judges. It’s a bit more complex to run, but can be incredibly rewarding and generate buzz (and cool prototype ideas!). …And more! We’re not limited to the above. From AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions with experts, to show-and-tell demos, to even collaborative design critique circles, we’re open to whichever format best achieves the event’s goals. We can also combine formats – e.g. a short talk followed by breakout discussions. Our priority is making the content engaging and valuable for attendees. If you have a format in mind, we’re excited to explore it!
Interactive Elements
To make each event memorable, Friends of Figma NYC loves to incorporate fun and creative touches. Beyond the core content, these engagement elements add energy and encourage attendees to participate. Here are some ideas we often use (and we can mix & match based on the event):
Giveaways & Swag: Everybody loves freebies! We often bring Figma-branded swag (stickers, T-shirts, etc.) to give out to attendees. Partners can join in too – for example, a tech company host might offer branded merchandise. Community Contributions: We sometimes like to involve attendees directly in the content. For example, having a feedback wall or idea board where people can stick notes about what they learned or suggest future topics. Or running a contest like “Best redesign idea” during a design jam and having the audience vote for the winner. These elements turn passive listeners into active contributors. As a partner, if you have an idea like a small contest or a collaborative art wall, we’d love to incorporate it. It makes the event feel co-created by everyone there. Overall, the goal of these fun elements is to create a warm, welcoming vibe and to reinforce that Friends of Figma events are by the community, for the community. Learning and networking feel effortless when people are enjoying themselves. We encourage our partners to suggest any creative engagement strategies that align with their brand or the event theme – the more imaginative, the better!
Open Possibilities – Tailoring Events to Your Vision
While we have many tried-and-true formats and ideas, we want to stress that Friends of Figma NYC events are very customizable. We see our collaboration with event partners as a creative partnership. Do you have a unique idea for an event? A special goal you want to achieve with the design community? Let’s make it happen together!
When brainstorming events with partners, we start with an open mind. For example, if a partner is a financial tech company, we could craft a panel or workshop around design in fintech or data visualization design, tapping into the partner’s domain expertise. If the partner is an educational institution, maybe we co-host a student portfolio review night or a mentorship mixer connecting students with design mentors. Perhaps the partner simply has an amazing rooftop space and wants a casual summer design mixer under the stars – that’s fantastic too! We’re happy to deviate from our usual formats and try something new.
The key is that events can be shaped to fit the partner’s vision and community goals. We’ll work with you to ensure the event aligns with your brand values and objectives. Want to highlight your company’s design team? We can feature them as speakers. Aiming to attract UX designers specifically? We can tailor the topic and promotion to that demographic. Interested in a small, intimate gathering with high-level design leaders? We can make it invite-only and focused. Or looking to make a big splash in the community? Let’s plan a larger meetup or even a mini-conference.
Nothing is off the table. Friends of Figma NYC is here to provide a framework and an audience, but the content and style can be as unique as you are. Our past events have ranged from formal panels to creative hack nights – and we’re excited to keep innovating. So, consider this document a starting point. We hope it sparks ideas, but it’s not a rigid recipe. We’ll adapt to make sure the event we create together is one that excites you, serves the community, and meets our shared goal of celebrating design.
Event Planning Framework
To help you get from an initial idea to a concrete event plan, we use a simple event ideation and planning framework. This is a step-by-step guide that ensures we cover all the bases – from choosing a great topic to nailing down speakers and format. Think of it as a collaborative checklist we go through with you. Here’s how it typically works:
Define Goals and Audience: First, we’ll chat with you about why you want to host an event and who you want to reach. Are you looking to share knowledge on a certain subject? Showcase your company’s culture? Recruit designers? Perhaps just give back to the community? Defining the primary goal will guide all other decisions. We also consider the target audience – e.g. design students, UX researchers, product designers in a certain industry, engineers, PMs, etc. Knowing the “who” and “why” helps us tailor the event idea for maximum impact. Brainstorm Topics and Themes: Next, we generate ideas for what the event could be about. This is a fun brainstorming phase where no idea is too big or small. We’ll consider the partner’s expertise and the community’s interests. Sometimes a theme jumps out from the goals (for instance, if the goal is to discuss emerging technology, the theme could be Designing with AI). We usually come up with a shortlist of possible topics or titles. For example, we might list ideas like “Design Systems at Scale,” “Accessibility in Design,” or “Creative Collaboration Techniques” – then discuss which resonates with us and would attract the intended audience. Select an Event Format: With a topic in mind, we decide on the best format to deliver it. We’ll revisit the types of events (panel, workshop, talk, etc.) and choose one that suits the content and audience engagement level. For instance, if the chosen topic is very hands-on (say, a new Figma prototyping feature), a workshop or live demo might be ideal. If it’s multifaceted and benefits from multiple viewpoints (say, the future of UX in VR), a panel might work better. We also consider the practical aspects: what format is the partner most comfortable with? What space and resources are available? By the end of this step, we’ll have something like “Panel discussion on Design in Fintech” or “2-hour workshop on Designing for Accessibility” as a clear direction. Identify Speakers and Contributors: Now we figure out who will lead the conversation or activity. This could include: partner representatives (e.g. a design manager at your company), FoF NYC community members (we have connections with many talented designers in our network), and possibly external experts or Figma team members if relevant. We’ll work with you to create a wishlist of speakers/panelists. For a panel, we might aim for 3-4 panelists with diverse backgrounds. For a workshop, we confirm the instructor/facilitator (maybe someone from your team who is a subject matter expert, or we can bring one). At this stage, we’ll start reaching out and securing these participants, jointly with the partner. Outline the Agenda and Format Details: With topic, format, and speakers set, we’ll outline the event flow. This includes timing (e.g. 6:00-6:30pm arrival & networking, 6:30-7:30pm panel discussion, 7:30-8:00pm Q&A + closing), and any specific content to prepare (slides, discussion questions, workshop materials). We create an agenda that we’ll share with all presenters and the partner for feedback. Everyone will know what to expect: how long each segment is, when breaks happen, etc. If any interactive components or fun elements (as discussed earlier) are planned, we slot those in. This framework ensures the event has a logical flow and balances content with networking. Logistics & Promotion Planning: In parallel to content planning, we iron out logistics. This is where the Event Planning Essentials (venue, A/V, etc.) are finalized. We’ll set the date and time in coordination with you and the speakers. FoF NYC will handle setting up the event page on our platform (friends.figma.com) and design a simple promo graphic. We’ll also coordinate on promotion: Friends of Figma will announce the event to our community (via Instagram, Linkedin, FoF email list), and we encourage partners to spread the word through their channels as well. A clear timeline is established – for example, send invites 3-4 weeks ahead, a reminder a few days before, etc. We’ll manage the guest list and keep you updated on the headcount. Execution and Follow-Up: Finally, the framework carries through to the event day and beyond. We usually arrive early to help with setup (rearranging chairs, setting up the projector, placing swag, etc.) and ensure all tech is working. During the event, FoF organizers will emcee or moderate as planned, and we’ll have volunteers to assist (handing out mic during Q&A, taking photos if allowed, managing the check-in table). After the event, we like to do a quick follow-up: thanking attendees and partners on social media, sharing any slide decks or resources, and gathering feedback. This wrap-up step closes the loop and often sparks ideas for future collaborations.
Inspiration, not Obligation: Remember, this framework is a guide, not a rulebook. If you already have some of these steps figured out (maybe you know exactly what topic and format you want – great!), we can jump right in and focus on the remaining pieces. Or if you prefer a more spontaneous approach, that’s okay too; we can streamline the planning. Our goal is simply to ensure that by the time event day arrives, everyone is on the same page and excited!
Friends of Figma NYC
