Digital Washi Tape Finds a Permanent Home
Figma and FigJam users who enjoyed last April's limited-time "washi tape" feature will be pleased to know it's back for good. The company first introduced the decorative tape tool during its annual April Fun Day event, giving users a way to add colorful, patterned strips to their files. What started as a playful 24-hour experiment has now become a permanent feature, complete with new pattern options and the ability to upload custom designs.
The feature's origin story traces back to a community member's tweet suggesting that "digital washi tape should be a thing." Figma's team took that idea and ran with it, prototyping a digital version of the Japanese decorative masking tape. The response was immediate and enthusiastic: within a single day, users created 224,000 "rolls" of tape across their files.
From Industrial Tape to Creative Staple
Real-world washi tape has a surprisingly similar origin. In 2007, the Japanese industrial tape manufacturer Kamoi Kakoshi received an unusual request from three women in Tokyo who had been using the company's specialty masking tapes for collage and art books. They asked if the company would consider adding more colors to its product line. Kamoi Kakoshi was so taken with the idea that they launched an entirely new category of tape called mt, short for masking tape, with 20 unique colors.
The company also invested heavily in what they call "just-right adhesion"—a delicate balance that allows the tape to stick firmly to surfaces without damaging them. Nina Allen, the official US distributor for mt tape, explains that the tape can be applied to a wall without harming the paint, torn easily by hand, written on, and layered. If you own some, you've likely got more than a few rolls lying around.
A Two-Way Exchange of Inspiration
Just as the women's art inspired the original product, Figma is taking cues from the way users engage with its digital counterpart. During the initial April event, users found creative applications, from making sticky notes more visually distinct to sending enthusiastic requests to make the feature permanent. The feedback loop is a core part of the design ethos, and the company plans to keep expanding the washi tape offering based on how people use it.
The feature joins a lineup of other playful additions to FigJam, including cursor chat updates and new sticker packs from partner artists. And if Allen's take is any guide, there's real staying power in this approach: "It's this value of 'adding a little color to your life,' which is a great way to look at it because nothing is not improved by a little bit of tape."
