Atarapi

Overview

From June to November 2023, for about six months, I completed a long-term internship at Figma Japan as the first intern from the Asia region. I worked on creating and managing Figma's community contents using social media.

About My Internship

• Creating Community Content

  I researched the needs of Figma users through social media, and created and posted daily content on X (such as Figma Tips and announcements of updates).

• Supporting Community Events

  I participated in and supported the organization of events related to Figma, and invited students to hold study sessions at the office.

I mainly worked with Designer Advocates at Figma Japan. Since the role of a Designer Advocate is not very common in Japan, it was refreshing and a great learning experience to work closely with them and observe them firsthand.

Environment

The office at Figma had a fun atmosphere that truly reflected the company's culture. The meeting rooms had interesting names, and the office was decorated for Halloween. There was also a creative event called MakerWeek, creating an exciting environment. The team at Figma Japan was very approachable and always checked if I needed any help, for which I am very grateful. I had a great time going to karaoke and BBQs with everyone, making my experience beyond work very enjoyable. I am sad that the internship is coming to an end. Employees from the San Francisco headquarters and from Singapore and the UK often visited the Japan office, allowing me to participate in various initiatives to improve Figma. After work, we would go bowling or out for dinner, and everyone treated me as an equal despite being an intern, creating a very global and fun environment. I was especially happy to have a conversation with Yuki-san, Figma's CPO, when he visited the Figma Japan office.

Challenges & Learnings

During my internship at Figma, my main focus was on creating content that would attract users' attention while maintaining Figma's brand image, and disseminating information on social media. I meticulously researched the information that Figma users sought daily and dedicated myself to accurately conveying the appeal of Figma, while being mindful of our numerous followers. In each post, I carefully chose words to preserve the brand image and strived to align with Figma's style. Additionally, I conducted thorough checks on details and planned posts strategically to prevent mistakes and effectively reach a wide audience without compromising the brand image. Being able to see from within Figma how the team supports a product loved by many, and how they build a community, was an exciting experience for my career as a designer. After the internship, my desire to create products that are loved by many people has grown stronger.