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Play of the Week newsletter by Chris
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Newsletter issue: #165
Read time: 1m 33s
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Figma just went public.
And holy shit, the numbers are wild.
40x oversubscribed.
$1.2 billion raised.
Stock popped 333% on day one.
This IPO just validated everything we’ve been saying about design!
I’ve been screaming into the void for years that design is the future. While everyone was obsessing over crypto and AI, I was watching Figma quietly become the backbone of every design team on earth.
Now Wall Street agrees.
Design isn’t just “making things pretty” anymore.
It’s strategic. It’s valuable. And now it’s worth billions.
Quick backstory:
In 2015, I was teaching public speaking for $35/hour (peak glamour, I know).
Nobody gave a shit about UX design. HR couldn’t even pronounce it. “You-ex what now? Is that like… graphic design?”
*screams internally*
Fast forward to 2025: Figma’s IPO just made design tools sexier than Tesla stock.
So what this means for your career?
- Design space is about to explode. When VCs see billion-dollar exits, they start throwing money at the space.
- More design tool startups will get funded. Expect a Figma competitor gold rush.
- Enterprise design budgets will grow. CFOs just watched design software create generational wealth.
The validation factor is massive.
When a design tool can command this level of Wall Street attention, it means companies finally understand: good design = good business.
But here’s my controversial take…
This IPO wasn’t about raising money for Figma.
It was a massive cash-out party for insiders.
- CEO Dylan Field walked away with $62 million.
- VCs like Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins cashing out millions in shares each.
Don’t get me wrong.
Figma deserves every penny.
They built an incredible product that literally changed how we work.
But if you’re a designer thinking “I’m late to the party”…
You’re not.
You’re just getting started.
This IPO signals the beginning, not the end. Design is finally being recognized as the strategic advantage it’s always been.
The next decade belongs to designers who understand business.
Who can speak both Figma AND finance.
Who see themselves as problem-solvers, not pixel-pushers.
That’s your opportunity.
Here's my analysis of what Figma’s IPO means for the industry ↓
