As the curtain closes on another remarkable year for Sketch, we're taking a moment to reflect on the incredible features and updates that have revolutionized our app development experience. With so many exciting changes, we can't help but look forward to what's next in store.
New Tools to Elevate Your Prototyping Experience
One of the biggest areas we've focused on this year is improving our prototyping capabilities. Our new prototype player has been a game-changer, allowing you to create and share prototypes with ease. To take it to the next level, we introduced Smart Animate – a powerful tool that enables you to add animations to your prototypes and make them feel more lifelike. With features like duration and easing controls, you can fine-tune interactions to exactly match your vision.
We've also expanded our hover and press interaction options, giving you even more ways to trigger overlays and create engaging experiences. Additionally, we've added custom layer visibility, enabling you to show or hide specific layers, groups, or Symbols as needed. And when it comes to sharing prototypes, we've streamlined the process with client-friendly views, comments, and organized feedback.
Streamlining Your Workflow with Command Bar and Minimap
This year, we've also worked on two new features designed to make your workflow faster and more efficient: Command Bar and Minimap. The Command Bar gives you quick access to any action in Sketch by pressing ⌘K, including actions from plugins. It's like having a personal assistant at your fingertips! Plus, it learns your preferences over time and prioritizes results accordingly.
The Minimap provides an instant overview of your Canvas, making it easier to navigate large documents, visualize your design, and stay oriented. It's the perfect tool for those times when you need to jump from one part of your design to another quickly.
Enhancing Your Handoff Experience
On the web app side, we've focused on creating a better experience through a major UI redesign. Our goal is to put the design at the forefront, reduce noise, and make navigating the web app feel less overwhelming. We've achieved this by simplifying the sidebar, improving notifications, and streamlining information hierarchy.
We've also improved the handoff experience for developers, making it easier to grab what they need. You can now easily download any layer in any format or share design tokens via link. And when inspecting a design, you'll get the full Canvas view, providing all the context you need to understand how things work.
What's Next in Sketch 2026
As we look ahead to the new year, there are plenty of exciting developments on the horizon. While we can't reveal everything just yet, we can say that our next big release will be packed with even more innovative features and updates. Stay tuned for more information!