# Why roles are not rules

DevFeed: [Why roles are not rules](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/why-roles-are-not-rules-10254.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.figma.com/blog/why-roles-are-not-rules/>)

Author: Kris Rasmussen

Published: 2023-06-20T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Figma Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/figma-blog.md>)

Topics: [Figma](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/figma.md>), [web applications](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/web-applications.md>), [WebAssembly](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/web-assembly.md>), [WebGL](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/webgl.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>)

Tags: [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [collaboration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/collaboration.md>), [development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/development.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [figma](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/figma.md>), [web](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/web.md>), [web-browser](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/web-browser.md>), [webgl](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/webgl.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains how engineering roles at Figma can remain collaborative without becoming rigid rules. It discusses working across code boundaries, balancing independent work with feedback and iteration, and the technical and cultural changes that enabled Figma's collaborative web-based tool, including WebGL and WebAssembly.

## Source excerpt

Product development is increasingly collaborative. But what does it mean to be collaborative as an engineer? It starts with thinking across code boundaries, and beyond the limits of our roles and responsibilities. Here's how we've found our own collaborative sweet spot on the engineering team at Figma, and the principles and processes that help define our work.