Figma is a popular user interface (UI) design tool. Its greatest advantage is that it is browser-based and collaboration-focused, allowing teams to work together on the same design file. It is not the universal standard for UI, as some designers use Adobe XD, Sketch or a combination of different tools. However, demand for designers with Figma skills is increasing. If you are unsure that learning Figma is right for you, consider reading on to learn more about the myriad uses of Figma tools and techniques. Not only will learning Figma open up a number of new career opportunities, but it also has a lot of potential personal uses. 

What is Figma?

Figma is a user interface design tool. Designers work on shared documents to build interactive webpage prototypes. Then, users can test these prototypes to ensure the designs meet all requirements. This makes Figma ideal for building complex and accessible webpages. 

Figma is also a vector graphics design tool, meaning all designs produced are resizable and replicable. This is important for optimizing layouts across devices and platforms. Since Figma prides itself on its collaborative community, there are many readily available plug-ins, templates, and widgets that make designing interfaces easier. 

Read more about what Figma is and why you should learn it.

Professional Uses for Figma

As a professional tool, Figma is most useful for User Experience (UX) Designers, Web Designers, and Front End Developers. Teams within these fields use Figma to work collaboratively on their projects. UX Designers can create wireframes, mockups, and prototypes for user testing in Figma, while Web Designers can craft an attractive UI in the program. The program also allows Designers to share their prototypes or previews with Front End Developers who will then be responsible for implementing those designs.

Creating Wireframes and Mockups

Figma is not just useful for creating a final user interface design. It also makes it possible for UX Designers to create what are called wireframes, that is, basic illustrations of a potential interface that allow teams to visualize the basic functionality of a design without getting into the visual details like colors and fonts. One level up from the wireframe is the mockup, which is a rough draft of the design to be discussed within the team before it is refined for the purpose of user testing. A mockup will have colors, fonts, and images, but it won’t be a fully developed prototype.

Prototyping for User Testing

Figma does also allow UX Designers to create a prototype for user testing. Once the team reviews a mockup and decides what changes are needed, the designers create a more fully developed version that will be user-ready. When the design is complete, they use Figma’s prototyping functionality to make all the buttons and links within the design actually usable, leading to the page that they should lead to within the final site or app. The goal of prototyping is to make it possible for users to interact with a realistic version of the design that they can then give feedback on. 

In the Figma app, a designer can set up an app prototype to behave like the real thing while the user is inside the Figma app. The same is true of Figma on desktop for webpages. It is also possible to use Figma to prototype at an earlier stage, such as with a wireframe or mockup. By doing so, designers can test the functionality of a design before putting in many hours to create a polished product that may not be as useful as they expected.

Crafting an Attractive UI

On a more basic level, Figma allows designers to craft an attractive user interface in a program that is both visually focused and intended for the creation of interactive designs. This is a better tool for UX design or web design than a traditional graphic design program. Traditional programs assume in their functionality that you are designing a static image, not an interactive one. Figma provides tools and components that are tailor-made for interactive designs.

Sharing Designs with Developers

Due to its browser-based nature and focus on collaboration, Figma is an excellent way to share completed UI designs with Front End Developers. The prototyping feature allows designers to show a fully functioning draft of a site or app to those who will be responsible for implementing it. Figma’s comment function also facilitates collaboration. It allows Developers to ask questions and give feedback on designs without needing to edit the designs themselves.

Using Community Assets

Figma has a large community of users who have created extensive libraries of assets that you can freely use in your designs. From buttons and icons to whole layouts, these assets can save you time as you design. You won’t have to create these features from scratch yourself. Figma allows for efficient importation of components from pre-existing libraries, and you can easily modify the appearance of these components to suit the needs of your design.

Other Uses for Figma

Personal Creative Projects

Sometimes one just wants to make something for one’s own purposes outside of work. Maybe you think the web interface you and your friends use to play games could be improved upon. Or maybe you want to tell an interactive story that people can access through a website. Whatever your personal project may be, Figma is a great way to put that design together and get it out there for people to test.

Developing Your Online Presence

If you’re an aspiring UX or Web Designer, your online presence is part of what you’re selling. Figma can help you make your personal website more attractive and user-friendly. A great website and portfolio get a hiring manager excited about a candidate, and using Figma may help you get there.

Advertising Your Design Skills

Because Figma is browser-based and collaborative, it allows you to provide anyone with a link that can take them to a tangible example of your design skills. If you’re trying to acquire freelance design gigs (or even if you just want cousin Beth to let you design prettier invitations for her wedding) you can use Figma to show potential clients what you’re capable of. 

Learn Figma Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop holds Figma courses at their Manhattan campus and online. With small classes, students receive focused attention from experienced instructors in real-time.

Noble’s Figma Bootcamp teaches students to build professional-quality web designs using Figma. They create vector illustrations, optimize across devices, and export designs for prototyping.

Noble’s UX & UI Design Certificate program teaches students user experience design practices. They research user behavior to make informed decisions about their Figma interface designs.

Noble’s Web Development Certificate program teaches students the technical side of webpage design. Students use HTML/CSS and JavaScript to turn Figma designs into functioning user interfaces.

Key Takeaways

• Figma is a browser-based user interface design tool that facilitates collaboration among team members
• UX Designers or Web Designers can use Figma to:
• Create wireframes and mockups
• Make prototypes for user testing
• Craft an attractive UI
• Share designers with Front End Developers
• Make use of community assets within the program
• Outside of work purposes, Figma is also helpful for:
• Personal creative projects
• Developing an online presence
• Advertising your design skills
• You can receive comprehensive in-person or online training in Figma through Noble Desktop