Experts have long pointed out that the idea that the world’s greatest minds accomplished their feat solo also known as the “lone genius” is a myth. In many cases, great ideas come from collaboration. Take for example Albert Einstein whose name is synonymous with genius, he developed the theory of relativity with the help of his friends and colleagues.
In the field of business, hyper-individualistic brings nothing but disaster. Yes, some individuals are born with “natural talent” but success is not a solo pursuit. It is collaborative and cumulative. Many people who succeeded in business were sparked by interactions with other people who in some ways may have inspired them, brought up a great idea, or triggered their creative thinking.
This applies true to a digital landscape where collaboration and efficient workflows are paramount to achieving outstanding results. And in this blog, we will introduce the most acclaimed platform for collaboration – Figma. Let’s explore the exploring its highlighted features, the benefits it brings, and the impact it has on the design process.
In today’s digital design landscape, collaboration and efficient workflows are paramount to achieving outstanding results. That’s where Figma, an established cloud-based design and prototyping tool, gains the spotlight. With its great features and collaborative capabilities, Figma has garnered worldwide acclaim, transforming the way designers and design teams work.
What is Figma?
Figma is a browser-based tool with a collaborative user interface design that enables people to produce colorful, interactive prototypes. Figma has gained popularity since its release in 2016 among users of both online communities and the web design business. Users from all over the world can work together and exchange widgets, designs, and templates.
The people behind the success of Figma are the creative minds of Dylan Field and Evan Wallace. They aim of revolutionizing the design process and enabling seamless collaboration among designers. It serves as a versatile solution for crafting captivating user interfaces, web designs, mobile app designs, and various other visual creations. This collaborative platform enables multiple team members to contribute simultaneously, fostering efficient teamwork. Figma stands out with its extensive feature set, encompassing design components for reusable elements, responsive design capabilities for adaptability, and interactive prototyping for bringing designs to life.
Key Features and Benefits
Figma is a cloud-based design and prototyping tool that offers an extensive selection of features to help teams collaborate on designing user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX). It is widely used in the fields of product design, web design, and app development. Here are some of the key features and functionalities offered by Figma:
Real-time Collaboration
Top on the list would be Figma’s real-time collaboration feature which allows multiple users to work on the same design file simultaneously. This allows you to see the changes made by others in real-time, making it easy to collaborate, provide feedback, and iterate on designs together. Additionally, Figma’s shared design libraries empower designers to create and maintain design systems. By defining reusable components, styles, and assets, consistency and efficiency are promoted across projects, keeping templates up to date.
Design and Prototyping
This is why app users would say Figma is the Game-changer for UI and UX designers. Its impressive design and prototyping platform empower its users to craft captivating interfaces. From designing screens and customizing UI elements to arranging components, Figma lets you achieve visually stunning results. You can also create interactive prototypes with seamless links and smooth transitions to simulate user flows and interactions. With Figma’s comprehensive revision history, designers can easily review and compare different file versions. The ability to restore previous versions and track changes made by specific contributors enhances transparency and promotes fluid collaboration during the design process.
Reviews and Feedbacks
Figma is adaptable and functions as a group whiteboard, making it easier to sketch out early ideas and then continuously build various design phases, from wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes. Reviewing or giving input on UI/UX design projects is as simple as calling a team meeting when using Figma.
While delivering reviews, team members can work together on a single screen, record all input, and fix issues using the same Figma design frame. Feedback on the design elements and core components can be provided by the project managers, product managers, SEOs, digital marketers, and UI/UX designers. Every suggestion and comment is saved in Slack.
Plugins and Integrations
Figma offers an extensive range of plugins that expand its functionality and capabilities. These plugins seamlessly integrate with other tools and services, automating tasks and elevating your design workflow. You’ll find a diverse selection of plugins catering to different needs, including icon libraries, color palette generators, accessibility checks, and more. They empower you to enhance your designs and streamline your creative process with ease.
Variants, Bullets, and Numbers
Another term for the Figma components library is variants. It is a tool for managing components. You can eliminate the duplicate variations of a component and group those copies together to create a library.
To store an array of comparable components, you can also utilize a single container. During group web design projects, variations help team members locate the areas they are looking for. By modifying the properties and values of variants, you can remove the element of guesswork from the design system.
Furthermore, with Figma’s upgraded feature, you may now add numbered and bulleted lists to your User Interface (UI) or User Experience (UX) web design projects. In vector design, lists assist designers in organizing data appropriately and concentrating on related information. You can insert up to five indentations using this functionality. Use of various text colors, fonts, and effects, and visual color alteration is also feasible.
Multiple Figma Account and Instant Swap Menu
Figma simplifies access to multiple accounts and community profiles by consolidating them on a single screen. You can conveniently log in and remain logged in to up to 10 Figma accounts, with the account switcher easily accessible in the top-right corner. Navigating between workspaces is effortless, thanks to the seamless process located at the top-left corner of the account screen.
In 2020, Figma introduced enhancements to the Instance Swap Menu, incorporating a push-style menu system. This improvement allows designers to smoothly browse through components, ensuring a seamless experience.
Moreover, Figma provides a dropdown selector for effortless navigation between team libraries, complemented by sleek thumbnails that offer a preview of the components at a glance.
User Experience with Figma
Figma has received numerous positive reviews, with many users praising its capabilities and referring to it as “The UI Wizard.” The platform has garnered strong recommendations from a wide range of users. Some of these users have even taken the time to share their thoughts and feedback about Figma through vlogs and video testimonials. These positive reviews and recommendations highlight the satisfaction and enthusiasm among users for Figma’s design and collaboration features.
Pricing Model
The free plan is suitable for individuals and small teams as it allows you to create 3 projects with an unlimited number of collaborators. However, expect that some advanced features and functionalities are not available.
In addition to a free plan, Figma offers the Figma Professional, this plan is designed for individual users and costs $12 per editor per month when billed annually, or $15 per editor per month when billed monthly. By opting for this plan, you get unlimited projects, version history, and the ability to create design systems and access advanced prototyping features. You’ll get to save $36 per editor when chose to be billed annually.
For larger teams and companies seeking additional features, control, and administration options, the Figma organizational plan is highly recommended. The price is $45 per editor per month on an annual billing only.
Lastly, Figma now offers Figma Enterprise at $75 per editor per month. This is available upon request and varied based on the size and needs of the organization.