Candid with Index: In Conversation with Figma's Dylan Field

As Figma celebrates its IPO, we're taking a look back at a Candid with Index episode featuring our partner Danny Rimer in conversation with Dylan Field, Figma’s co-founder and CEO.

Dylan shares his journey from a high school student passionate about computer science and math to becoming one of the most visionary founders in design software. Early internships at LinkedIn and Flipboard exposed him to exceptional product thinkers and sparked his belief that entrepreneurship could be a real path forward.

At Brown University, Dylan met Evan Wallace — a serendipitous encounter that would lead to Figma’s founding. What started as casual conversations about the potential of early WebGL technology quickly evolved into a bold idea: what if design tools could live entirely in the browser, and what if collaboration was a core feature, not an afterthought? That question became the foundation for Figma.

Over the past thirteen years, Dylan’s understated but intentional leadership has shaped Figma’s product, culture, and community. In the episode, he reflects on some of the key lessons he’s learned — from embracing reverse mentorship and building deep team trust to staying close to customers around the world.

Danny and Dylan also revisit critical moments in Figma’s early go-to-market journey, including why the product stayed free for longer than generally accepted and how feedback from both users and board members helped catalyze the shift toward monetization.

From product vision to scaling an organization, Dylan’s story is a powerful example of how clarity, timing, and trust can build enduring companies.