the biggest 2023 Webflow CONF UPDATES

A celebration of 10 years of Webflow

Webflow is celebrating 10 years and this year’s Webflow CONF marked some of the biggest changes to the platform since its founding in 2013. Webflow announced new product features and capabilities that empower us to design and develop the future of the World Wide Web, in an even more exciting way.

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Webflow Reimagination or how Rebranding should be done

Webflow is announcing a New Era for Web Design and Development, a landmark moment for one of the greatest rebrands in the 21st century. The rebrand, Webflow’s new features, and updates were seamlessly planned, and even better executed and are a prime model for how a Global Business should create a great moment that elevates its mission and announces the future of its purpose.

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Webflow’s new identity and updates testify to their strong commitment to being the go-to choice for Web Design and Development of the future. As Webflow rebranded we can only applaud, while remembering the ongoing transformation of Twitter to X and how a Global Business crippled one of the biggest brands in the 21st century. Webflow’s new logo is bold, while still resembling the prior one in a way that is unmistakable and that gives people the opportunity to still connect to the newly updated brand.

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A new Webflow UI

Webflow updated their UI and the most notable changes are the addition of variables in the navigation bar, and the movement of the Style Selector inside the navigation bar to the left. Webflow also introduced a new “quick find” feature, that enables users to easily locate divs, elements, symbols, pages, CMS content, and more without leaving their keyboard.

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The new updated Webflow Experience also created changes to the way we work with Clients, giving us options to assign different user roles (Editor, Commentator, Designer, and Admin) and giving users the option to comment on our designs directly inside of Webflow. Webflow streamlining the collaboration between creatives and professionals means having a more smoother and efficient way of progressing through Web Design projects.

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Exciting News, New Features and Updates to Webflow

Webflow CONF 2023 brought us a long list of new exciting updates, including a proper Rebrand, a new UI, Spline 3D integration, Webflow Localization, Webflow Variables, Custom CSS Properties, Better Components, New Webflow User Roles and The Expansion of the Webflow Ecosystem with Webflow Apps.

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3D has never been more accessible with Spline 3D Integration

Webflow announced a NEW and very exciting feature that allows Designers even without the knowledge of JavaScript, Three.js, or WebGL to create stunning 3D animations directly inside of Webflow's Designer via Spline API integration. This means that you can create any 3D experience inside of Spline and animate it directly inside of Webflow's Interaction Panel while referencing any object/data inside of Spline. This gives you the opportunity to create advanced animations while keeping your website lightning fast.

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The PROS and CONS

Not everything is great. The Spline integration comes with a monthly subscription plan, if you want your 3D Experience not to be branded with Spline's Logo. Nowadays more and more businesses are creating subscription-based solutions, which in the long-term overprice their solution, therefore investing in a proper 3D experience built with JavaScript, THREE.js, and WebGL is an investment worth considering.

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Global Localization Feature with Webflow

Webflow introduces a new SEO feature called Localization, enabling you to create localized/multilingual web experiences directly inside of Webflow. This new feature is at the frontier of Webflow's agenda to become a global platform for creating digital experiences. Localization enables businesses of all sizes to move into the International Markets, without losing it's voicing in translation. With this feature, all the customization capabilities, automatic translation options and advanced SEO optimization, Webflow makes third-party multilingual integration obsolete.

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Webflow Localization Pricing

Not everything is fun and roses. The Webflow Localization Feature comes in at a monthly cost, as you pay +$12 per local/monthly in the Essential Plan, +$35 per locale/monthly in the Advanced Plan, and ?$ in the Enterprise Plan. With this said, Localization still enables you to approach global markets in a way, unimaginable till now.

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The all NEW Webflow Variables Feature

With announcing its new Feature, Webflow elevates the way we design and build websites. Design systems, global components and symbols help you create more efficient websites, that are easier to edit and publish. Reusability and multipurpose components help your clients, with the help of Style Guides, to create more consistent experiences for your users.

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Variables help you store values like colors, fonts, sizes, borders radiuses and even more. When editing a variable the changes cascade across your entire project, allowing you to make changes fast and with ease. Figma released Variables earlier in 2023 at Figma Config and Webflow follows, giving us excitement about the future and how Webflow and Figma will integrate even more.

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Custom CSS Properties and Even More Powerful Components

Webflow is adding Custom CSS Properties, to have even more control over the way you style things inside of Webflow. Custom CSS Properties are embedded within classes and tags, assuring extreme scalability for web design projects.

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Webflow Collaboration options and NEW User Roles

Webflow adding new user roles is one of the greatest overlooked features of this year's Webflow CONF. Now Studios, Agencies, and Freelancers are capable of assigning different key roles to Webflow Projects. A dream come true for Project Managers, Designers, and Developers, as it adds versatility to how you experience Webflow. Either you're a third-party commentator, an editor, a designer, or an admin, Webflow has you covered, ensuring smooth collaboration and project execution.

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The Expansion of The Webflow Ecosystem with Webflow Apps

Just a few weeks ago Webflow introduced a new generation of Webflow Apps. These apps allow users to create even better online experiences while leveraging third-party software connected via Webflow's API. Apps help supercharge any Webflow project workflow by adding new functionalities and capabilities directly inside of Webflow's designer.

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Webflow Updates Recap

We are excited about what the future holds for Webflow, its Community, and its Clients, as Webflow rebranded and announced quite a few impactful features. To recap, Webflow:

• rebranded
• redesigned their Designer
• redesigned their Dashboard
• added Spline 3D Integration
• added Localization Feature
• is adding Custom CSS Properties
• added new User Roles
• expanded their APPS Marketplace