Claude Code + Figma MCP vs. Professional Design Agency

A hands-on experiment using Claude Code with the Figma MCP to generate complete mobile app UI designs from requirements, then comparing the results against designs produced by a professional design agency. The workflow involves generating a design system first (colors, typography, components), then producing editable Figma screens for each milestone of a step-tracking app. The AI-generated designs were produced in roughly one hour and compared favorably to agency work, with only minor UX issues noted. A key limitation is that the Figma MCP is mostly read-only, so design changes require regenerating frames rather than editing in place.