- We rebuilt our agency site using Figma + Claude Code + Figma MCP + Sanity instead of pure Framer
- AI development lets us iterate in minutes through prompts instead of hours of clicking and configuring
- Framer remains our go-to for client projects that need structured, easy-to-update systems
- The gap between visual builders and custom code has disappeared with AI assistance
- The future is hybrid: using the right tool for each specific need rather than one-size-fits-all
Preface: How We Got Here
We love Framer. As enterprise partners, we've built countless client sites on the platform and have always championed its speed and design-forward approach. Framer changed the game for us — the ability to go from concept to polished, production-ready website faster than ever before was genuinely exciting. And even as flashy new tools seem to drop every other week, Framer remains the trusted choice for clients who need a structured, intuitive system for keeping their site fresh.
But here's the thing about working in digital: the moment you find the fastest workflow, something comes along and makes it look slow.
For us, that something was AI-powered development.
Where AI Development Changes Everything
What started as a curiosity — let's see what these new tools actually do — turned into one of the most eye-opening workflow shifts we've experienced. When it came time to rebuild our own agency site, we made a deliberate, slightly uncomfortable decision: instead of defaulting to Framer (the tool we know cold), we committed to something new.
Our new stack:
- Figma for design
- Claude Code for development
- Figma MCP for bridging design and code
- Sanity for CMS and content infrastructure
The result? We're building faster and better than we ever have.
Design in Figma. Execute with Claude Code.
Our workflow is almost absurdly efficient now:
- Design exactly what we want in Figma — no compromises for the builder
- Tell Claude Code what we need
- Fine-tune live in minutes, not hours
What used to mean hours of clicking, configuring, and wrestling with visual builder constraints now happens through a few well-crafted prompts. Claude Code understands design intent, implements functionality, and handles the technical details — freeing us up to focus on what actually matters: the creative and strategic decisions.
The Stack, Broken Down
Claude Code
This isn't autocomplete — it's a development partner that actually understands context. We can describe complex interactions, reference our Figma designs, and Claude Code builds it. Correctly. On the first try more often than you'd expect.
Figma MCP
This is where the magic happens. The Figma MCP connects Claude Code directly to our Figma files, giving it real-time access to design specs, layout data, component structures, and styles. We're not describing our designs to Claude Code — we're handing them over directly. The gap between design and implementation has essentially closed.
Sanity CMS
Structured, flexible, and a genuine pleasure to work with. Sanity handles our content and database needs with a developer experience that integrates seamlessly into an AI-first workflow.
Figma
Unlimited creative freedom. No constraints from a visual builder. We design what we actually want — not what the tool allows.
When the Tool You Love Isn't the Right Tool
This transition taught us something important: being a platform expert doesn't mean that platform is always the right choice — even for your own work.
Framer is still fast. For many projects, it's still our first recommendation. But with AI development tools hitting their stride, we can now:
- Implement complex custom functionality without the wrestling match
- Iterate on designs without rebuilding components from scratch
- Scale our development speed past what any visual builder allows
- Maintain total creative control from first pixel to final deploy
We Still Love Framer (Genuinely)
Let's be clear: Framer isn't going anywhere for us. For many clients and project types, it remains the perfect solution — and we're proud enterprise partners. That isn't changing.
What has changed is our instinct to reach for it by default. This experience reinforced what we tell clients all the time: use the right tool for the job, even when that means stepping outside your comfort zone.
For our agency site, the right tool was an AI-first development workflow. And honestly? We've never built faster.
The Future Is Hybrid
We're not abandoning Framer. We're not going all-in on AI development for everything. We're doing something smarter — building a hybrid approach that plays to each tool's strengths:
- Framer for rapid marketing sites and the right client projects
- AI-powered development for complex functionality and our own products
- Figma for unrestricted design exploration
- Sanity for robust content management
The tools keep evolving. Our job is to evolve with them — and sometimes that means the tools we love step into new roles so the work can reach a new level.