Figma Acquires Payload: What It Means for Website Design & Development

Why This Acquisition Matters

When Figma announced the acquisition of Payload CMS, it confirmed something we’ve believed for years: the future of the web is headless, developer-first, and open source.

For agencies and businesses in Australia — especially those investing in Brisbane website design — this marks a shift that’s hard to ignore. Figma reshaped collaboration in design. Payload is doing the same for content management. Together, they signal a future where design files flow seamlessly into structured content and production code.

BFJ Digital backed Payload early, using it for our own site and client builds. This acquisition reinforces our strategy: choosing a stack that’s modern, scalable, and built for the future.

What Is Payload?

Payload is a TypeScript-based, open-source headless CMS. It doesn’t force a front-end framework — instead, it provides a flexible backend developers can connect to any modern stack such as React, Next.js, or Vue.

Why BFJ Backed Payload Early

– Open source: no licensing or vendor lock-in.

– Aligns with our technical strengths.

– Integrates with AI workflows, HubSpot, and attribution models.

– Faster, leaner builds compared to legacy CMS platforms.

Open Source: WordPress vs Payload

Traditional CMS platforms like WordPress can become bloated and costly. Payload offers a lightweight, flexible architecture with clean APIs, modular content structures, and full code ownership — critical for long-term scalability and performance.

Payload vs Other Headless CMSs

Payload stands out as open-source, developer-first, and framework-agnostic. For agencies, this means maximum flexibility and maintainability across client builds.

Why Designers Should Care

Designers working in Figma think in components, styles, and reusable systems. Payload now bridges design and development more cleanly, reducing friction during handoff and preserving design integrity.

Impact for BFJ Clients

– Faster development cycles.

– Future-proof architecture for integrations and growth.

– Better performance and maintainability.

– Strong support for AI, CRM, and modern front-end frameworks.

Real-World Payload Use

BFJ uses Payload internally and for select clients. The results: reduced development time, leaner codebases, and improved flexibility.

FAQs

Q: Is Payload open-source?

A: Yes, 100%.

Q: Can we still use WordPress?

A: Yes, but Payload is ideal for performance, scalability, and custom integration needs.

Q: Does Figma’s acquisition change anything?

A: Yes — it validates developer-first CMS workflows.

Q: Will Payload remain open-source?

A: Yes, confirmed by the Payload team.

Summary

Figma acquiring Payload highlights the future of web design: headless, open-source, and developer-focused. Combining Figma’s design ecosystem with Payload’s flexible CMS architecture creates faster workflows, more scalable websites, and a more unified design-to-code pipeline.

For more information about BFJ Digital, visit https://bfj.digital/ today.

You can also connect with BFJ Digital through these channels:

BFJ Digital
BFJ Digital
+61 7 3483 0922