Figma

Figma is a cloud-based tool for UX/UI design and interface collaboration. In one space create mockups, prototypes, design systems and pass them to development, working in the browser or desktop applications.

What you can do in Figma

The platform covers the entire cycle of interface creation - from an idea to a finished layout and specifications for developers.

• Designing screens of websites and mobile applications, working with grids and frames.
• Interactive prototypes with transitions, gestures and Smart Animate animations.
• Component-based, variant-based, and variable-based design systems.
• Real-time teamwork with commenting and version history.
• Prepare assertions and specifications for iOS, Android and Web.

Design and prototyping

The working canvas is built on frames and autolayout - this speeds up the layout of interfaces and maintains uniform indents. Prototypes demonstrate the logic of scenarios and transitions before development begins.

• Auto Layout - Adaptive blocks, buttons and lists adjust to the content.
• Components and variants - single buttons, fields, cards with linked states.
• Variables - colors, sizes, tokens, and themes to quickly change the design state.
• Interactive components and Smart Animate - realistic behavior and micro-interactions.
• Presentation of the prototype at the link, viewable on desktop and mobile devices.

Vector and image manipulation

The editor combines vector tools and basic bitmap processing sufficient for layout.

• Pen, pencil, shapes, Boolean operations, rounding, and exact alignment.
• Export SVG, PNG, JPG, PDF with customization of scales and densities.
• Basic effects for images - Fill, Crop, Tile, exposure, contrast, saturation adjustments.
• Background removal is not available in the base editor - this task is solved by plug-ins and test AI functions.

Collaboration and transfer to development

Figma simplifies communication between designers, managers and developers by concentrating all project artifacts in one place.

• Real time - several participants edit the same file, see each other's cursors.
• Comments and mentions - fixing decisions right on the layout.
• Versioning - change history, in advanced rates branching and merging.
• Developer Mode - Inspection of sizes, indents, variables, styles and code for Web, iOS and Android.
• Export assets and access component libraries by reference or within the workspace.

FigJam and Slides

Figma offers FigJam and slides for strategy sessions and presentations.

• FigJam is an online board for brainstorming, experience maps, diagrams and retrospectives, with link access and templates.
• Slides - creating presentations based on layouts and components, a unified visual language with product design.

Layout organization tools

A clean structure speeds up team performance and reduces errors.

• Grids and Guides - customize columns, rows, indents, pixel grid.
• Layers and pages - clear names, groups and hierarchy.
• Styles - typography, colors, effects as single presets.
• Components - reuse and bulk edits without the manual routine.
• Auto Layout and variables - adaptability and quick theme switching.

How to get started

Registration takes a couple of minutes, after which you are immediately taken to the workspace.

1. Click Get started for free, log in by mail or Google.
2. Answer short questions about the role and tasks, invite colleagues if necessary.
3. Create a New design file and start with frames, grid and style library.

Plugins and community

Plug-ins extend the functionality of the editor and save time on typical tasks.

• Unsplash is a quick selection of stock images right in the layout.
• Magic Cut - automatically removes backgrounds from images.
• Charts - generating charts from data.
• Table Creator - create tables for interfaces and presentations.
• Mockup - trying on designs on realistic media.

AI in Figma

Artificial intelligence helps speed up routines and solutions. As of July 2024, the features are in beta testing, are not available to everyone and may not work properly.

• Search for similar images and layouts within the team.
• Auto renaming and organizing layers by context.
• Generating and replacing texts to suit the task and language.
• Instantly remove background from images.
• Translation and restatement of texts with tone selection.
• FigJam AI - summarizing, sorting and visualizing ideas into diagrams.

Some AI features are available in Figma Design, FigJam and Figma Slides. After the beta, a paid usage model may appear.

Tariffs and prices

The plans differ in teamwork capabilities, administration, and development tools.

Who can benefit from Figma

The tool is not only handy for designers - it covers the needs of the entire product team.

• Designers - prototypes, visual design, design systems and icons.
• Developers - Developer Mode, specifications, exports and variables as tokens.
• Bloggers and SMM - templates for posts, storis and presentations.
• Managers - roadmaps, flowcharts and diagrams in FigJam.
• To editors - moodboards, diagrams and illustrations for materials.

Advantages

Figma accelerates teamwork and reduces the cost of approvals.

• Working in the cloud - access from anywhere, automatic saving.
• Performance - modern browser is enough, fast response in typical projects.
• Low entry threshold - easy to understand interface and shortcuts.
• Interactive prototypes - easy customer presentations and scenario testing.
• Plug-ins and templates - quickly expand capabilities for specific tasks.
• Cross-platform - browser plus apps for Windows and macOS.

Limitations

Like any professional tool, Figma has a scope of application.

• Dependence on the Internet - operation and synchronization are difficult when the network is unstable.
• Raster editing is basic - complex photo processing will require third-party software.
• Plugins may break after updates - compatibility check is required.
• Inspection of complex layouts with overlapping layers sometimes requires manual inspection.
• Typography covers basic needs - fine print layout options are limited.

Exports and formats

Finished screens and assets are exported in one click with the desired densities and formats.

• Formats - PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF for individual layers, components and frames.
• Batch export - size presets for different platforms and pixel densities.
• Export presentations - frames to PDF for printing and demonstrations.