Time to Move Beyond PowerPoint? Figma Slides Officially Released, Ushering in a New Era of Presentation Design

Introduction

Microsoft’s office suites, Canva, Adobe, or others. And now, Figma, a favorite among web designers, has officially launched Figma Slides on March 19 (local time).

As someone who always tests out new tools, I have to say this is an update I’m personally excited about! Having used the beta version, I was eagerly awaiting the official release—and now, it’s finally here!

Figma Slides is a brand-new feature that allows users to create presentation slides directly within Figma. The biggest appeal? You can now handle everything from design to presentation creation within a single platform.

Key Features & Updates

PowerPoint Compatibility

One of the most anticipated updates, Figma Slides now supports importing and editing existing PowerPoint (.pptx) files. Even better, you can export your slides back into PowerPoint format. This means you can continue using your existing workflow while taking advantage of Figma’s powerful design capabilities. For those who’ve been waiting for this functionality, it’s finally here!

Component-Based Design

Figma’s well-loved component system is now available in Slides. This allows you to maintain a consistent design throughout your entire presentation effortlessly.

For instance, you can register commonly used elements—such as logos, dates, or client names—as components. Once a component is updated, all slides using that component are automatically updated too, eliminating inconsistencies like “Oops, this slide has the wrong date!”
PowerPoint does have a similar feature called Slide Master, but it’s not the most intuitive. Personally, I find Figma’s approach much more user-friendly and efficient.

Object-Level Animations

You can now add animations to individual objects (text, shapes, images, etc.) within your slides. Whether it’s a slide-in effect or a fade-in transition, these animations help create more engaging and dynamic presentations without requiring external tools.

Enhanced Video Functionality

Figma Slides now allows you to play and edit videos directly within your slides. You can apply effects like blur, adjust playback speed, and make other refinements—all without leaving the platform. This makes it incredibly easy to create visually rich and interactive presentations.

Final Thoughts

Figma Slides has truly exceeded expectations. Not only does it offer the creative freedom Figma is known for, but it also brings in PowerPoint import/export compatibility, animation capabilities, and video editing tools, making it an incredibly powerful presentation tool.
If you’ve ever felt that PowerPoint or Google Slides just don’t offer enough design flexibility, Figma Slides might be exactly what you’re looking for. The feature is now available to all users—so why not give it a try for free?

Reference links:

How teams tap into the power of design with Figma Slides, https://www.figma.com/blog/how-teams-tap-into-the-power-of-design-with-figma-slides/, [Viewed on 3/21/2025]

Updates to Figma Slides, https://www.figma.com/release-notes/?title=slides-is-out-of-beta, [Viewed on 3/21/2025]