adding an up vote for layers as a new feature. Would be very helpful for a ton of use cases. Groups would be helpful as an alternative or additionally.

Mostly it would be great to be able to hide parts of a document when desired.

@Conor, you hit the point :)

I am fine if there is a layers panel. People can decide to use them or not as we always want options.

As for linking smart objects... it doesn't necessarily has to be from another application, maybe make them master objects similar to a master page on PPT? That will work for common content which I think is already in production for XD.

I am sure XD will become better as time goes by. Right now is a new application and I can't complain if everything we want is not there yet. We will have to wait and see how good this application will get.

@Diego - Layers are extremely useful and save loads time and money when developing any digital experience (websites, mobile or desktop apps, iOT products). If Adobe wants to compete with Sketch as a design and prototyping tool they will need this along with Zeplin integration.

Since XD is a vector based tool, there would be no need for linked smart objects as that would create a significant back and fourth between two programs with is not an ideal user experience. By adding a layers panel with the ability to group, rename, and reorder layers is all that is needed to resolve this. If you don't want to see the layers just close or hide the panel.

I am waiting for this to make the decision to stay with sketch or move back to adobe.

Even though layers are very useful on other adobe applications... I feel that grouping elements is enough even on large projects. Maybe in addition to that add a navigator thumbnail to select artboards as the scrolling can get tiring.

Maybe I still don't see the advantage and value of having layers on this application. Don't get the wrong idea but when I started testing this application without layers after using layers since Photoshop 7, I feel very productive.

This is just my personal opinion.

Its Simple - If you want my business - Let me know when you add layers -

This is a must.

Lol, seriously people? You're ok with no layers? I get that your workflow can become a hot mess of untitled layers, but that responsibility is on the designer, not the software. It's a useful, if not necessary feature. If you can work without out, good for you. But it's inclusion wouldn't hinder your ability to not use it.

A Sketch.app layer panel with hierarchy is most certainly needed. I agree with the minimalist style of XD but currently I find myself feeling claustrophobic when attempting to organize layers, especially ones with varying levels or opacity.

Also a export artboard from Sketch option would make this easier for a lot of people.

I can see myself using layers like I do in Illustrator; as broad helpers for separating obviously different elements, ie. Backgrounds, Grid, Content etc, rather than a million layers for each little thing in the document ala PS.

That being said, layers are needed if we're ever to have Framer compatibility.

I agree that Layers should be an optional thing. I'm working with XD in production and I have barely missed layers.

it is perfect without layers hover effect is more than enough.

agree with Brian completely. Three months ago, I'm not sure I would have, but on my ninth project in Xd and if you get to know other features like lock/unlock and grouping, you will be just fine without hundreds of untitled layers.

Noooo please don't add layers... I've 25 years looking at lazy designers PSDs with 'untitled layers'.... I've been using since XD since release and not having a layers panel has been most refreshing and saves time. I would prefer to see interactions... :)

My preference would be a default of "Notes layer" and "Design layer" with hotkey or button to show/hide notes.

Add the option to add custom layers, and most people are happy.

Maybe something like "sketch" layers would be great. Divided by pages, groups and layers.
I am anxious for this update.

Despite the intent of the comments, serious beta testers saying "I've gotten used to it and have come up with workarounds" is not an endorsement of layerless design. My assumption has been that the lack of layer support is a developmental artifact, not a design decision.

I totally agree with this: https://adobexd.uservoice.com/forums/353007-adobe-xd-feature-requests/suggestions/13623612-layer-stacks

After using XD for a few months now, I'm not bothered by the absence of layers, but more by the fact that the groups I create are unorganizable on certain levels. For example, when I have a locked object, because it is not listed somewhere, it becomes clickable as any other group, except that no changes are applied to it. But it creates confusion when it comes to selecting other objects.

With a layer stacks panel, I think it could be totally blocked, and unlockable from that panel, as well as the option of hiding a group of layers (that we currently can't do).

It would also be useful in the cases where you have groups of objects completely overlapping smaller ones, that may have been forgetten there, or to clean out stuff behind a navigation drawer. They can't be selected without moving everything on top of it, then putting or pasting it back. Not very productive.

This is my view on this.

I totally agree with this. After using XD for a few months now, I'm not bothered by the absence of layers, but more by the fact that the groups I create are unorganizable on certain levels. For example, when I have a locked object, because it is not listed somewhere, it becomes clickable as any other group, except that no changes are applied to it. But it creates confusion when it comes to selecting other objects.

With a layer stacks panel, I think it could be totally blocked, and unlockable from that panel, as well as the option of hiding a group of layers (that we currently can't do).

It would also be useful in the cases where you have groups of objects completely overlapping smaller ones, that may have been forgetten there, or to clean out stuff behind a navigation drawer. They can't be selected without moving everything on top of it, then putting or pasting it back. Not very productive.

This is my view on this.

We tried having our design team switch to XD, but we can't without layers. Not every design can work easily with just "move to back and forth", and not every design is for mobile. Happy it's coming along :) Loving it so far.

is this up yet? Can't survive without that function...

Layers or item lists with NAMED ITEMS is essential to organize a document, find items and export them without renaming each exported item independently. Currently elements have no names, so changing a repeating asset over a 200+ screen document is tedious.