It’s no secret—over the last few years, the UX design field has experienced a significant increase in popularity. Such a surge in popularity isn’t a coincidence.
Given the value of user-centricity in today’s digital landscape, both UX and UI design have evolved. Now, the design process behind the digital products we use and enjoy has one primary goal. This goal refers to the UX/UI designer’s mission to optimize the user’s experience.
To assist them in their mission, UX/UI designers employ the use of design tools. One design tool that has taken the world by storm is Figma.
‘What does Figma do?’ You may wonder. If this is the case, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s guide, we shall address the ins and outs of Figma. From its functions to its origins to how to use it, we’ll explore it all and so much more.
By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll become a Figma expert!
So, What Does Figma Do?
Naturally, if you’ve never come across Figma before, you may wonder what Figma actually is.
Figma is a helpful design tool that is primarily targeted toward user-centric designers.
Figma will allow you to design, prototype, develop, share, and test designs for digital products. It’s essential for all designers to create realistic prototypes. Without it, you couldn’t test an accurate representation of your user’s experience. Figma will not only enable you to create realistic prototypes but also to receive more accurate feedback sooner.
In actuality, however, Figma allows for so much more, including real-time collaboration. Figma functions on any operating system that can run a web browser. Consequently, your designs will become accessible to everyone in your design team—even web developers. Everyone has the power to share, open, and edit Figma design files.
By allowing you and fellow designers to co-create in one space, Figma offers a certain edge over other design tools. With Figma, the collaborative design process has never exhibited such transparency and efficiency.
Providing features that allow for component libraries, Figma has effectively scaled the design process.
Ultimately, Figma is a valuable design tool that recognizes and accommodates the importance of a seamless design process.
When Did Figma Come Out?
We recognize that, as a designer, you would want to use a reliable design tool.
You would expect to use a design tool that has adopted the iterative improvement principle that exists within UX design. For this reason, it’s understandable to want to use a tool that has years of experience and development behind it.
So, with that in mind, it’s likely that you’ve pondered the question, ‘When did Figma come out?’
Figma’s founders established the company in 2012, but they officially launched it in 2016. When Figma was founded, UX designers had little more than Photoshop to assist them. This fact alone indicates that Figma aimed to revolutionize the way designers approached the design process.
One thing is for sure—from its inception, Figma has focussed heavily on collaboration in real-time.
Stemming from this integral tenet, Figma has since evolved, adapting to the need for responsive design and synchronized components.
Who Owns Figma?
Again, for the sake of reliability, it’s essential to know the innovative minds behind your new go-to design tool.
So, who owns Figma?
At Brown University, Dylan Field specialized in computer science, where he met his TA (and soon-to-be co-founder) Evan Wallace. Evan Wallace specialized in graphics and would go on to become Figma’s CTO.
This is where Dylan Field and Evan Wallace first started to experiment with design tools. With funding from a Thiel fellowship, the pair would create the most dominant interface design tool in the industry.
How Much Is Figma?
Undoubtedly, you’ll have an eagerness to try Figma out for yourself. Before you start designing, Figma has a tiered pricing system that you should know about.
With that being said, how much is Figma to use? There is no definitive answer to that question; it depends on which features you wish to access.
However, to help you make a well-informed decision, we’ll explore the differences between each of Figma’s price tiers.
1. The Starter Tier
Cost: Free.
Features:
- 3 Figma and 3 FigJam files.
- Unlimited personal files and collaborators.
- Access to plugins and templates.
- Access to the mobile app.
2. The Figma Professional Tier
Cost: $12 per month/Free for students and educators
Features:
- Unlimited Figma files and version history.
- Access to shared and private projects.
- Access to team libraries.
- Access to advanced prototyping and Dev Mode.
3. The Figma Organization Tier
Cost: $45 per month
Features:
- Access to org-wide libraries and design system analytics.
- Branching and merging.
- Centralized file management.
- Unified admin and billing.
- Access to private plugins.
- Single sign-on.
- Access to Dev Mode.
4. The Enterprise Tier
Cost: $75 per month
Features:
- Access to dedicated workspaces and advanced design systems.
- Guest access controls.
- Role setting via SCIM.
- Idle session timeout.
- Enforced password links.
- Network access restrictions.
- Onboarding and account support.
- Expiring public links.
- Access to Dev Mode.
How To Use Figma for Web Design
Now that you know Figma’s features, functions, and origins, it’s time to take the next step! You must know how to use Figma for web design.
Below, we’ve provided a step-by-step walkthrough to help you utilize Figma for web design.
Step One: Familiarizing Yourself With Figma’s Interface
After setting up your Figma account, you should familiarize yourself with Figma’s interface.
In particular, you should practice using Figma’s interface and its main components.
Practice with the following:
- Menu
- Tools
- Actions
- Collaborations and viewing options
- Layers
- Canvas
- Properties
Step Two: Starting Your Design
Now that you have practiced, it’s time to start designing. Click the menu button (Figma’s logo), select File, and click ‘New design file.’
From here, you need to create your first Frame. You can click the Frame tool icon in the toolbar at the top of the screen.
Alternatively, you can create a Frame by clicking and dragging in the Canvas area or selecting a pre-set Frame. You can find pre-set Frames in the Properties panel on the right-hand side of the screen.
Step Three: Creating Text Layers
Now, it’s time to create some text to add to your design. You can do this by pressing T on your keyboard to select the Text tool.
Then, simply add the text you wish to incorporate into your designs.
Note: You can use this tool to add text that the user will see on buttons they can interact with.
Once your text is aligned appropriately, you can choose to adjust the colors and fonts in the Properties panel. We encourage you to experiment with the text’s weight, color, font, and size.
After deselecting all of your elements, you can rename your design file, and there you have it! You’ve just created a solid foundation for your web design!
How to Prototype in Figma
In order to reap all of the benefits of using Figma, you must also know how to prototype in Figma.
We’ll now explore how to create and test prototypes in Figma.
Step One: Switching to the Prototyping Settings
While you’ve been working on your designs, you would have been working exclusively in the Design tab.
Needless to say, when creating prototypes, you’ll need to switch to the Prototype tab in the Properties panel.
You’ll find the Properties panel on the upper right-hand side of the window.
Step Two: Renaming the Frames
Before you start creating prototypes, you must remember to rename your Frames. We recommend giving your frames distinctive names.
In order to rename a Frame, you must double-click its label at the upper left-hand corner of each Frame. You will then type in the Frame’s new name and click Enter.
Step Three: Setting a Starting Frame
You need to establish a starting point for the user’s experience.
Click on the first Frame you designed. For most designers, this page serves as the ‘Login Screen’ page. After clicking on the page, you’ll see the options change in the Prototype tab of the Properties panel.
From here, you should click the plus icon to the right of the phrase ‘Flow starting point.’
Step Four: Creating Connections
Select Frames or elements within your Frames while the Prototype tab is open. In doing so, a circular handle will appear on the right-hand side of every object.
This handle will allow you to alter which screen that object leads to when interacted with. This is how you make a connection.
Select the element in your first Frame that you’ll make a connection with. From here, you’ll click and hold on that circular handle and drag an arrow over to the second Frame.
Lastly, this is an iterative process. Make as many connections as necessary to see how your users will navigate through your product.
Step Five: Testing and Sharing Your Prototypes
After you’ve created all of the necessary connections and Frames, you can launch your prototype.
You can present your prototype by clicking the Present button at the upper right-hand side of the screen.
In doing this, you can test to see how fluid your connections are. From here, you can share your prototype.
To share your prototype, copy the link from your browser bar while in Present mode. After doing this, you can send your prototypes via email/instant messaging and start acquiring feedback!
How to Export From Figma
Lastly, you should know how to export from Figma. Of course, once you complete your designs, you’ll need to export them in an array of formats.
You can export your designs in all of the typical image formats (JPEG, PNG, PDF, SVG, and so on). What’s more, you can utilize a preview of your designs, making it incredibly helpful when sharing said designs with developers.
Now, we’ll uncover how to use Figma when it’s time to export your designs.
Step One: Selecting Content
The first step is to decide which content you wish to export. From Figma, you can export layers, frames, sections, groups, or components. Additionally, regarding canvases, you have two choices.
You can either export a portion of your canvas using the Slice tool, or you can export the entire canvas. Lastly, you can choose to export the entire design file.
Step Two: Selecting the Part of Your Design to Export
If you have editing access to a design file, you can use the Slice tool to export a portion of your canvas.
You can find the Slice tool under the Regions tool dropdown menu in the toolbar.
Once you’ve resized and positioned the slice in an appropriate place, you can apply export configurations to it.
Step Three: Locating the Export Settings in Design Mode
Speaking of export configurations, you can create such configurations using the settings in the Export section.
It’s worth noting that the location of the Export section may differ depending on the mode you use.
If you’ve chosen to work in Design Mode, this step will prove rather helpful to you.
In Design Mode and with editing access, you’ll find the Export section at the bottom of the right sidebar.
However, if you possess only viewing access, you’ll find the Export section under the Export tab in the right sidebar.
Step Four: Locating the Export Settings in Dev Mode
In Dev Mode, you will find the Export section located in the right sidebar.
You’ll have noticed that the Export section is in the same place as in Design Mode. Thus, you may have wondered why we have addressed the two modes respectively.
There is a crucial difference for those wanting to locate Figma’s Export settings in Dev Mode. Specifically, the Export section is only visible when you have an object selected.
Step Five: Adding an Export Configuration
Now that you’ve selected your content and located Figma’s Export settings, it’s time to add export configurations.
In this section, you’ll choose the file format and export settings of your design.
You start by selecting the layers you want to export. Then, you’ll click the plus button in the Export section to add your export configurations. From here, you’ll configure your export settings and click Preview to see how your design will appear.
After having done that, all you have to do is click Export.
What Is FigJam?
Touching back on Figma’s tiered pricing system and available features for each tier, you’ll have noticed the mention of FigJam.
So, what is FigJam?
FigJam is a collaborative digital whiteboard for design teams. FigJam will allow you to brainstorm and diagram ideas in an interactive manner.
FigJam also comes equipped with handy AI features that help you generate an automatically designed template.
FigJam allows you to use sticky notes and shapes to share ideas and feedback. Additionally, you can annotate the screen or react with stickers/stamps to showcase your reaction to an idea.
Essentially, FigJam makes collaboration within a design team’s ideation phase seamless!
Design Tools: Making the Design Process Seamless and Efficient
While experimenting and familiarizing yourself with design tools like Figma, it’s imperative that you remember your primary goal—user-centricity.
Design tools allow for the utmost creativity and collaboration, but their most valuable features ultimately enhance the user’s experience. Always keep the user in mind while you try new design tools, and you can’t go wrong.
Speaking of user-centricity, it’s time to get some inspiration to help with your design process. Meet Page Flows.
With over 4,200 recordings of tried and tested products, our designs reflect our professional prowess.
With Page Flows, you’ll learn what it looks like when designers effectively use cutting-edge design tools.
From finance to fitness, we have perfected our craft to offer you an abundance of user flow inspiration!
Now, when a fellow designer asks you, ‘What does Figma do?’ You’ll answer the question with confidence. It’s time to start collaborating and reshaping the norm for high-standard user experiences.
Get started today to access our growing library of user flow recordings and finally stay up-to-date with current design trends.
