Summary: Figma is a collaborative interface design software that has taken the design industry by storm. But do you know how to use Figma? Let’s discuss what Figma is, its features and how to use this tool.
In September 2022, Adobe bought Figma for $20 billion, making it one of the most expensive acquisitions in the world.
Figma has changed the way designers create, share, and test designs for digital products and experiences. It has become a go-to software for designing teams worldwide. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an experienced graphic designer, Figma can significantly enhance your design workflow and productivity.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the ins and outs of using Figma. We will look at how to use Figma, what features and functionalities it offers and a step-by-step guide on how to create your first design on it.
Figma is cloud-based collaborative interface design software, which allows multiple users to work on a design project in real-time. It is primarily used for interface designs such as websites and mobile apps.
Figma is known for its collaborative features that allow multiple users to work on the same design simultaneously, making it particularly useful for design teams and product managers to collaborate seamlessly.
Figma is a design software that focuses on collaboration and development. It offers features for designing, prototyping, wireframing and more. Here are some of the features of Figma to look at:
Getting started with Figma is super simple. Go to their official website (www.figma.com) and you will see a Get Started icon.
Click on it to set up your account. You can purchase any paid plan or continue with the free option. Once you have created an account with Figma, it will guide you through your screen and what it offers.
The Figma interface looks a bit warm and minimal, but it comes with powerful features. Here’s a breakdown on what it offers:
As stated, you will find a blank canvas on your interface where you can make all your design, even a website. Let’s discuss how to design a website in Figma.
Go to your interface and click on the menu button on the top left corner, then go to “Files” and click on “New Design File.” When you click on it, you will be redirected to a new file with an empty canvas in a new tab on your browser.
Once you are redirected to the new canvas, you have to select a frame size. Simply click the F button to access the frame tool option. Alternatively, go to the top left corner and select the Frame icon as shown in the above picture.
When you click it, a variety of options will open in the right-side panel. You can select Desktop for the website.
Now that you have created a frame, it’s time to harness the power of grids and layouts. You will find multiple options for layouts and grids in the right sidebar. You can edit the layout manually or use the Auto Layout feature to create flexible and responsive elements that adapt to different screen sizes.
Once you are happy with your layout, it’s time to add design elements to your design. You can insert different shapes, images, text that align with your branding needs. We advise you to build your texts, shapes, typography, images and other graphics prior to designing your website.
Technically, this should be the first step when designing website-design reusable content. Create designs such as buttons, headers, or navigation bars that repeat throughout your website. Moreover, turn these elements into components (or move to library) to ensure consistency and easy editing.
Once you have added the visual or design elements, create frames for different screen sizes (mobile, tablet) to ensure your design adapts responsively. Apply constraints (Shift + Alt + C) to specify how elements should resize and reposition on different devices.
Now that you have built your website that aligns with your branding, you can link your designs to actions. Which means, you can create a set of rules that states what will happen if a user does any certain actions on your website.
For example, if a visitor clicks on the register now button, he will be redirected to the Signup page.
Once you have successfully created a prototype of your website, it’s time to share it or hand it over to the developer team to make it a fully functional website. Developers can collaborate to view, comment, and edit your designs in real-time.
Moreover, you can also export assets such as images, CSS styles, code snippets to hand off your designs to developers for implementation.
That brings to the end of How to use Figma for website design. Figma’s easy to handle interface, its powerful design and collaboration features, helps both beginners and experienced designers alike. By reading this guide, you can navigate the Figma interface seamlessly, create responsive layouts, and prototype interactions for websites efficiently.
Whether you opt for the free starter plan or invest in advanced features with the professional or organizational plans, Figma proves to be a versatile and indispensable tool in the evolving landscape of digital design. Embrace the Figma experience and revolutionize your design journey today.
Figma is to develop, share, and test designs for websites, mobile apps, or similar digital products.
No, you can use Figma to create website’s prototypes and designs.
Yes, Figma is free to use within its free plan. However, for more advanced features, you can upgrade to its paid plan.
To design a website, you need to create a prototype and add visuals and branding elements into it. Next, you can adjust its colors and customize elements. Once done, your website design is ready to export.
To design an app’s UI, you need to create a basic wireframe of your app. Next, you can customize it with grids and elements and add branding elements. Next, define user interactions like button clicks, swipes, etc. Once completed, the app design is ready to share and export.
First, build up the UI Prototype and organize your layouts. Next, Design individual elements and create interactive prototypes. Next add visual elements and branding icons. Lastly, you can share the UI if you are satisfied with the design.
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