A free multimedia design tool
Figma is a free digital design and prototyping tool for both UI and UX design. Its primary use is for the creation of websites, apps, and small user interface components as they integrate with other projects. Similar to other multimedia apps such as Adobe XD and Sketch, Figma is a vector-based tool with cloud storage.
What makes Figma stand out, however, is its capacity for group collaboration in real-time. Updated images can be bounced back and forth between creators until something sticks. This also makes it easy to share designs, opening them up to critique and feedback. Multiple people can view and files at the same time, even cross-platform. Figma works on Linux, Mac, Chrome, and Windows operating systems.
Collaborative UI and UX design
No matter the user’s experience level, creating with Figma on Windows is easy. Its intuitive interface can get novices and veterans alike up and running in minutes. Newer designers often struggle to turn their creative vision into a reality, having to lean on expensive software or extensive experience to get their ideas off the ground. Figma’s intent is to thin the gap between visualizing an idea and turning it into something tangible.
In this way, Figma helps transform ideas into products. It expedites the process by being optimized for collaboration in a single, free, web-based design tool. Able to help in both a UX and UI setting, this graphic design tool allows the entire team to see and interact with the latest designs, all via one live accessible URL. Just drop the link in your team chat, and anybody can view your work in real-time.
Being able to immediately view each other’s progress is great for last-minute tweaks, and is absolutely essential when it comes to agreeing on the final outcome. These collaborative links allow the team to be confident that they are always seeing the most up-to-date design. Multiple people can also view and edit any given file either simultaneously or asynchronously, eliminating the need for tedious file transfer.
Anyone on the design team can leave feedback directly on the prototype through comments. In this way you can create unique graphics and still get contextual feedback all through sharing one easy link. Figma is laden with features to ease and enhance the look of your work.
One of Figma’s standout features is its components library. Users can create a library with reusable components, and then make it accessible for the whole team. This is a convenient way to share objects, images, or color tones that you’ve made, but still allow for others to manipulate them in new, creative ways. Component libraries also eliminate the irksome caveat of having to recreate someone else’s original idea by hand. Instead, just open the folder, extract the component, and retool it as you see fit.
Another of Figma’s more useful features is vector networks. These allow you to attach multiple segments to any node on a vector rather than just the standard two. This feature synergizes with the component library, creating an environment where people can create complex ideas, save and store them, and then share them with other designers to perfect their mutual vision into a reality.
Figma vs Adobe XD
Figma is far from the only design app available on Windows, but Sketch and Adobe XD are two of the biggest alternatives on the market. Compared to Sketch, Figma is the more complete package. To outfit Sketch with the same features already native to Figma, you would need to additionally install InVasion, Abstract, or Zeplin. Figma is also backed by the mighty 2D WebGL rendering engine, allowing for more accurate and meticulous performance.
Compared to Adobe XD, Figma offers more cloud space. While both options are free, Adobe XD only supports 2 GB of cloud storage. Figma, on the other hand, has unlimited cloud space. Figma also goes the extra mile when it comes to collaboration. With it, you can update shared assets more succinctly and efficiently than Adobe XD. Lastly, of the two, only Figma is supported on Chrome OS and Linux platforms.
Team-oriented graphic design
Figma is a promising app for graphic creation online, both for UX and UI design. It has all the elements needed to create outstanding logos, presentations, websites, and social media graphics. You can use it for free to access hundreds of shapes, colors, and fonts, creating gorgeous effects and visuals to help your product stand out in the ever-growing culture of the Internet. Enjoy high fidelity mockups tempered by real-time collaboration, and guide your vision into a reality.
