Kris Rasmussen believes that product design is meaningless if it never makes it to production. As Chief Technology Officer at Figma, he has led efforts to streamline the transition from concept to execution, ensuring that designers and developers work more seamlessly together. With a focus on removing roadblocks, he has championed AI-driven automation to expedite mundane tasks, allowing teams to work faster and with greater precision. Under his leadership, Figma has become more than just a design tool—it’s an essential bridge between creativity and engineering, redefining how modern teams collaborate.
Born and educated in the U.S., Rasmussen earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UCLA before embarking on a career that spanned consulting, entrepreneurship, and software engineering. His early roles at Microsoft, Aptana, and RivalSoft shaped his technical expertise, while his tenure at Asana deepened his understanding of scalable collaboration. He joined Figma in 2016, initially as Vice President of Engineering, playing a pivotal role in its growth. By 2021, he stepped into the role of CTO, overseeing the company’s engineering and AI initiatives while ensuring its web-based platform remains at the forefront of performance and usability.
Rasmussen believes that the most effective engineers aren’t just technical experts—they are problem-solvers who embrace challenges and adapt quickly. His work at Figma reflects this philosophy, pushing the boundaries of web-based design tools and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. By focusing on automation, real-time collaboration, and thoughtful engineering, he continues to shape the future of digital product development, ensuring that design and execution remain in perfect sync.