When Adobe’s proposed acquisition of Figma fell through, businesses that depend on design software were left with a practical question: what changes for their teams now? The immediate answer is that both companies continue to offer their own products, but the failed deal renewed attention on how design tools fit into a company’s workflow, budget, and long-term plans. For teams already using Adobe Creative Cloud, the episode is a useful prompt to review needs rather than assume a merger—or a sudden product change—is coming.
The agreement, announced in 2022, would have brought Figma into Adobe’s portfolio. It ended in 2023 after regulatory scrutiny in the United States and abroad. The outcome and its implications are discussed in this look at Adobe and Figma after the failed acquisition. For customers, the key point is that Figma remained an independent company, while Adobe continued developing its existing design and collaboration tools.
Why the deal mattered to design teams
Figma built its reputation around browser-based design and real-time collaboration. Multiple people can work in the same file, comment on designs, and share prototypes without relying on a handoff between separate applications. That approach is especially useful for product teams where designers, developers, and stakeholders need to review work together.
Adobe, by contrast, offers a broad collection of creative applications used for tasks such as image editing, illustration, video, and publishing. Its tools are familiar to many creative professionals and can support detailed production work across different formats. The proposed acquisition raised questions about competition, product choice, and whether a major creative software company might control more of the design process. Its failure means customers can continue comparing the companies on their actual strengths and current offerings.
What businesses should evaluate now
There is no universal winner. The right choice depends on what a team produces and how it works. A marketing department creating campaign assets may prioritize image editing, brand consistency, and compatibility with existing files. A software company designing an app may place more weight on shared prototypes, feedback, and developer collaboration.
Before changing subscriptions or moving a team to a new platform, consider a few practical factors:
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Workflow fit: Map the steps from initial concept through review, approval, and final delivery. Look for bottlenecks rather than choosing software based on a feature list alone.
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Collaboration: Check how easily colleagues, clients, and developers can access work, leave feedback, and understand which version is current.
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File compatibility: Identify which formats your team receives and delivers. A switch can create extra work if files need frequent conversion or important details do not carry over.
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Total cost: Compare subscription requirements with the number of people who need access and the tools they actually use. Include training and migration time in the calculation.
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Ownership and access: Establish who controls team files, how permissions are managed, and what happens when an employee or contractor leaves.
A short pilot can reveal more than a broad software comparison. Choose one real project, involve the people who will use the tools, and measure review time, revision cycles, and handoff quality. This makes the decision more grounded in business outcomes than in brand preference.
How software decisions affect a website project
Design software is only one part of launching or refreshing a business website. A project also needs clear goals, written content, a visual direction, development, testing, and approvals. If a company is choosing tools while planning a new site, it should define who is responsible for each stage and how files and feedback will move between contributors.
Timeline expectations vary with the site’s size, the quality of the initial brief, and how quickly stakeholders make decisions. A simple informational site is different from a custom service platform with integrations and multiple rounds of review. This guide to how long a business website takes to build can help teams think through the stages involved. Osdire, a freelance marketplace covering areas including programming, design, writing, and marketing, is one option businesses may consider when they need outside help for particular parts of a project.
Whether work is handled internally or by freelancers, a clear scope reduces delays. Set priorities for launch, identify who approves the design, and agree on how revisions will be handled. Those decisions matter as much as the software selected: a capable tool cannot compensate for missing content, unclear ownership, or feedback arriving too late.
Plan for flexibility, not a merger
The failed acquisition did not eliminate the need for businesses to make thoughtful design-tool choices. Instead, it leaves organizations with separate products that can be assessed against their own requirements. Teams should avoid making long-term plans around assumptions about a future merger, bundled products, or a particular feature roadmap. Review current capabilities, test the workflow, and keep project files organized so that the business is not unnecessarily locked into one process.
For many organizations, the most useful response is a modest one: audit current software, ask users where work slows down, and trial alternatives only where there is a clear need. That approach helps control costs while preserving the tools and skills that already serve the business. The broader lesson is that software decisions are operational decisions. A good fit supports collaboration, protects continuity, and helps teams deliver creative work on schedule.