Why Figma plugins are the new junior designers

Last week our team did a simple check — everyone listed the plugins they use in their daily workflow. The result was eye-opening.

Think about it.

• There’s a plugin that rewrites your copy.
• A plugin that turns meeting notes into prototypes (WixPilot — I use it every day, highly recommend).
• A plugin that generates piles of K-visuals.

What used to be the job of a junior UI, illustrator, or graphic designer is now heavily automated.

I looked at my own setup. Each month I spend around $105 on plugins. It’s worth every cent. Here’s my quick test:

• If you spend $0 — your design process is probably stuck.
• $20–30 — you’re just starting.
• $100+ — you’re building with serious speed.

I’m still waiting for the plugin that automates half my workflow. Until then, we also look at plugin use when hiring. If a candidate doesn’t use any, it’s usually not a good sign.