How to Use Figma AI for Content Creation

Step 1: Access Figma AI Features and Set Up Your Workspace

First, ensure you're using Figma's web app or desktop application—mobile apps don't support AI features yet. Open a new or existing Figma file. I recommend starting with a clean file to avoid distractions. In the top toolbar, you'll see the AI features integrated throughout the interface. The most important for content creation are in the Text tool and the Assets panel. Create a basic frame (press F) for your content area. Before generating anything, go to File > Settings > AI Features and ensure all AI tools are enabled. What surprised me was how seamlessly these features integrate—there's no separate 'AI mode' to toggle. You should see AI suggestions appear contextually as you work.

Step 2: Generate UI Copy with the Text Tool AI Assistant

Select the Text tool (press T) and click anywhere in your frame. Instead of typing, right-click and select 'Generate with AI' from the context menu, or use the keyboard shortcut Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + A. A panel will appear on the right with several options. For UI content, I always start with 'UI copy' as it's optimized for interfaces. In the prompt field, describe exactly what you need—for example, 'error message for invalid email input' or 'call-to-action button for a premium subscription.' Be specific about tone: add 'friendly,' 'professional,' or 'urgent.' Click Generate, and Figma will provide 3-5 options. You'll see the generated text appear directly in your text layer, which you can then edit normally.

Step 3: Create Custom Icons from Text Prompts Using Make Designs

This is my favorite feature. Go to the Assets panel (Shift + I) and click the '+' icon. Select 'Make Designs' from the dropdown. In the prompt field that appears, describe the icon you need in detail. For example, 'a simple calendar icon with a checkmark' or 'a minimalist shopping cart icon for an e-commerce app.' You can specify style: 'line icon,' 'filled,' 'outline,' or 'two-tone.' Click Generate, and Figma will create multiple icon variations as vector shapes. These appear as components in your Assets panel. Drag them directly onto your canvas. What amazed me was the quality—these aren't generic icons but custom vectors you can immediately ungroup (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G) and edit like any other shape.

Step 4: Generate Realistic Placeholder Content for Prototypes

For longer content like product descriptions or blog excerpts, use the 'Placeholder text' feature. Create a text box, then right-click and select 'Fill with AI' > 'Placeholder text.' Choose between 'Paragraph,' 'List,' or 'Title + Paragraph' formats. In the advanced options, specify word count and content type—'technical,' 'marketing,' or 'casual.' I use this constantly for client presentations because it looks more professional than 'lorem ipsum.' For data-heavy interfaces, generate realistic numbers and dates by typing a pattern like '[1-100]' and letting AI complete it. You'll see coherent, context-aware text that actually makes sense, which is crucial for usability testing. The content appears directly in your text layer, fully editable.

Step 5: Refine and Edit AI-Generated Content for Consistency

AI generates great starting points, but you must refine it. Select any AI-generated text and use the Text panel on the right to adjust font, size, and spacing to match your design system. For tone consistency across multiple pieces, I create a 'Content Style Guide' frame and paste all AI outputs there first. Read through everything—sometimes AI repeats phrases or uses slightly different terminology. Use Find and Replace (Cmd/Ctrl + F) to fix inconsistencies. For icons, select the generated vector, go to the Design panel, and adjust stroke weight, corner radius, and colors to match your icon set. This step is where I spend most of my time, transforming good AI output into great, intentional content.

Step 6: Create Reusable Content Components and Variables

Turn your best AI-generated content into reusable assets. Select a text layer with perfected copy, right-click, and select 'Create component' (Cmd/Ctrl + Alt + K). Name it descriptively like 'CTA Button - Premium Subscription.' Do the same for generated icons. For content that changes across screens (like user names or product prices), use Figma Variables. Go to the Local Variables panel (in the Design panel group), create a new String variable, and paste your AI-generated content as the default value. Then apply this variable to your text layers. I've built entire design systems this way—when I need to update content, I change the variable once, and it updates everywhere. This creates incredible efficiency for large projects.

Step 7: Export and Share AI-Enhanced Designs with Stakeholders

Once your content is complete, use Figma's built-in presentation and export features. For client reviews, I use Presentation Mode (Shift + P) which hides the interface for a clean view. Enable 'Show comments' so stakeholders can provide feedback directly on AI-generated content. To export content for development, select frames and go to File > Export. Choose PDF for content reviews or SVG for icons. What I love is that AI-generated text exports as actual text, not images. For handoff, use the Inspect panel to show developers the exact content values. Finally, share your file via the Share button in the top-right—set permissions to 'Can view' for clients or 'Can edit' for team collaboration. The entire workflow stays within Figma.