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The Most Commonly Used Product Design Tools in Korea

When it comes to product design in Korea, one tool dominates the scene: Figma.

While some teams still use Adobe XD or other alternatives, the industry is shifting toward tools that offer seamless collaboration, prototyping, and design workflows.

But there’s a new player in town—Framer.

In this post, we’ll break down the most commonly used product design tools in Korea, the emerging trends, and how product teams are adapting.

Figma: The Industry Standard

If you’re working in a Korean tech company, there’s a 90% chance your team is using Figma.

Why?

  • ✅ Cloud-based collaboration – No more file versioning nightmares
  • ✅ Real-time co-editing – Designers, PMs, and engineers can work together
  • ✅ Built-in prototyping – Many teams now use Figma for both UI/UX design and prototyping

Figma has become the go-to tool for design teams looking for speed, flexibility, and team collaboration.

💡 Check out Figma here.

Adobe XD: Slowly Fading Out

At one point, Adobe XD was a serious competitor to Figma (Maybe about 7~8years ago).

But today? It’s fading fast.

Why are companies moving away from Adobe XD?

  • ❌ Less flexibility – Lacks the powerful collaboration features of Figma
  • ❌ Figma is dominating – Most teams have already switched
  • ❌ Fewer updates & improvements – Adobe isn't pushing XD forward as aggressively

Some legacy teams still use XD, but most companies are actively transitioning to Figma.

💡 Check out Adobe XD here.

The Rise of Framer

While Figma remains the king, Framer is gaining traction.

This shift is largely due to Toss, one of Korea’s most influential fintech companies. Toss has been vocal about Framer’s advantages in prototyping and designing simultaneously, making it an attractive alternative for teams that prioritize **interactive product experiences**.

Why some teams are trying Framer:

  • ✅ Prototyping & design in one – No need to jump between tools
  • ✅ Highly interactive UI design – Ideal for motion-heavy products
  • ✅ Strong developer handoff features

It’s still in the **early adoption phase**, but its potential in Korea is growing.

💡 Check out Framer here.

Prototyping: Figma vs. ProtoPie

Since Figma now offers robust prototyping features, many teams use it for both design and prototyping.

But for more advanced micro-interactions, some companies still rely on ProtoPie.

Why ProtoPie?

  • ✅ Complex interactions – Supports advanced animations and transitions
  • ✅ Hardware integration – Useful for IoT or mobile-first teams
  • ✅ Korean teams are familiar with it – Many local designers have experience using it

💡 Check out ProtoPie here.

How Product Teams in Korea Choose Their Tools

Unlike communication tools, where different platforms are used across teams, Korean companies tend to follow industry leaders when choosing design tools.

  • 🎯 Startups & mid-sized teams → Figma is the default
  • 🏢 Large tech companies → Experimenting with Framer & ProtoPie
  • 📜 Legacy teams → Some still use Adobe XD but are transitioning

If history repeats itself, Framer could see more adoption in the coming years, but for now, Figma reigns supreme.

Related Post: How Korean Tech Companies Communicate

Design teams don’t work in isolation—they collaborate with PMs, engineers, and business teams. So, how do Korean tech companies handle communication?

📌 Check out my post on Communication & Project Management Tools in Korean Tech Companies.

Conclusion

  • ✅ Figma is the undisputed standard
  • ❌ Adobe XD is slowly disappearing
  • 🚀 Framer is emerging, mainly because of Toss, the leading tech company in Korea.
  • 🎯 ProtoPie remains relevant for advanced prototyping

As product teams in Korea evolve, we can expect faster adoption of new tools—especially AI-powered design automation and development-integrated solutions.

Stay tuned for more insights on how Korean tech teams work! 🚀

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