User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are now buzz words in the design world. Many new tools and techniques have emerged to make this more accessible, faster, and better. One of those tools is Figma, a somewhat new device, first released in 2016. This article will see the many reasons that make Figma your best call when designing websites and app interfaces.
What is Figma Anyway?
Figma is an online cloud-based interface prototyping and designing tool ideal for teams that want to work collaboratively. It includes many different features that make the process of creating collaboratively much easier.
Figma makes the whole process from brainstorming, diagramming, wireframing, prototyping to designing, one where people can interact and come up with their dream design, all from the comfort of their web browser.
Collaboration is key
The crucial difference between Figma and other design tools is its collaboration functionality. It was specifically designed to be used by teams so that their creative process can run smoother and they can all feel involved. The ability of everyone to log in and see what’s happening with their team’s project is ideal as it not only makes everyone involved, it reduces the amount of time sending huge files back and forth. Work of many professional UI/UX design agencies now is connected with Figma.
When working on the same project simultaneously as one of your co-workers, your cursors will be shown in different colors with your names on them so that you can keep track of who is doing what.
Additionally, Figma lets you write in-project comments and have in-project discussions without needing to leave the program or install any plug-ins. Everything is integrated already to make things simpler for your team.
Speed matters, and Figma is speedy
A great thing about Figma is that it does not require you to have either an 8GB RAM or the best graphics card. But, at the same time, it allows for a tremendous capacity, working with multiple people and files without lagging out or freezing.
In today’s world, speed is essential. New apps and websites are emerging every day, and if you can do anything for your team to work faster and better, it will put you at an advantage.
The Components feature: A godsend
In UI/UX design, consistency is mandatory. You want your users to feel like they are on the same brand all the time. Not that once they move to another screen, everything is so different that it feels unconnected. That is why Figma has created a Components feature.
The components feature allows you to use the same element in your pages to maintain this consistency. And even better yet, your details will be connected to a master component. This means that once you decide you want to change something on the element, you only need to do it once at the master component, and all the ones connected to it will be updated. This saves you the time-wasting need of going to tweak the same thing over and over again. Of course, if you only want to change one of the copies instead of the master component, you can do so without any problem.
Exporting Elements is a possibility
Any web designer will tell you that they wish to choose any element of the interface and export it into a file as quickly as possible. Well, Figma heard the prayers and has allowed designers to do precisely that. Even better, they can change the element’s size when exporting it, making it bigger or smaller than it appears in the prototype, making them suitable for high-resolution screens.
Vector Networks
Figma uses vector networks and allows more than two connections to one point. This means that its users can do almost anything with vector images without needing to use complicated manipulations. The user can create complex shapes, change colors, reshape, edit, and move lines by dragging them without any extra steps. This is ideal for creating logos and icons without needing to import SVG images from elsewhere.
Multiple fonts available
As Figma likes to give you everything you need without having to download or install anything else, you have the entire Google Fonts library available to use, and all for free. However, if you want to upload a font of your creation, you can get it without any problem. More importantly, they will always be displayed correctly on any computer because Figma uploads them from the library right into the project.
It Is a Cloud-Based Solution
As we’ve repeatedly said throughout this article, one of the most significant advantages of using Figma is a cloud-based solution. This means that all you have to do is go to Figma.com, register, and that’s it. You can start creating, designing, and managing projects anywhere you want as long as you can connect to the internet. Figma not only can be used cloud-based, but it doesn’t lose speed or quality over this, despite what you might think.
If you would like to have an app version of Figma, it can be used on any device, but be warned that it is different from the browser version.
From Sketch to Figma
The creators of Figma know precisely to whom they have designed this solution. This means that they have made it easy to transfer projects from Sketch (another designing solution) to Figma without losing spaces, layers, groups, boundaries, elements, etc. However, you can not yet copy a component from Sketch and paste it directly into Figma.
Tech support
Figma wants to be there for its users, and to do this; it has outstanding tech support. They provide a live chat to help you address any problem you might be having or listen to your feedback or bug reports.
It has a free version
Although you can get the subscription plan ($12/month) with all its functions, this is a better option for corporate clients or big studios. But, if you want to have all the functionality to design a webpage, try up to three simultaneous projects and collaborate with one partner, the free version is what you need. It even allows you to save your project history for up to 30 days.
Figma has proven to many designers that it has the right balance between features, functionality, and performance. It makes the whole process of brainstorming, creating, prototyping, and designing websites and apps easier and simpler. It helps teams work better and faster, giving designers and project managers a better understanding and management of their work.