Since its launch in 2016, Figma has become a go-to design tool, and with good reason!
The platform is well known for being fast, easy to use and constantly adding new features to ease collaboration between designers and teams.
Yet, what are the advantages and disadvantages of Figma as of today? And how much have things changed since the Figma acquisition by Adobe in 2022?
Without further ado, let’s explore everything you need to know about this remarkable digital solution!
What is Figma?
Let’s start this journey by answering, “What is Figma?” Figma is a cloud-based collaborative tool harnessed by teams of all sizes for Product Design and UX prototyping.
With its many features for wireframing, prototyping and high-fidelity design, it became the #1 tool for Design teams to create beautiful User Interfaces and Experiences.
Its collaborative spirit makes it great for users to work on the same project in real time, which makes it ideal for team members of UX/UI Design and Product Development teams.
Likewise, as it is cloud-based, users can access projects from everywhere with support for all Windows Mac OS systems. Nonetheless, this feature also makes it difficult to work offline.
As a result, Figma is a go-to tool for teams and companies to bring their ideas to life in an efficient way.
What is Figma used for?
The short answer is that Figma is used to design Graphical User Interfaces, User Experiences and interactive prototyping in Product Design.
However, being a strongly developed tool also allows users to build wireframes and detailed mockups to showcase how digital products will operate in different scenarios.
Moreover, Figma HQ also enhances the design of collateral materials like marketing assets and brand elements to ensure consistency in workflow diagrams and user journeys.
With features such as real-time commenting, Figma eases feedback and allows teams to iterate interfaces and experiences faster than with back-and-forth emailing.
Because Figma is collaborative, it's especially useful for design teams and product developers who need to work together in real time, gather feedback, and iterate quickly.
But don’t worry! Figma’s version control system allows teams to keep track of each version so they’re aware of all versions while working on a project.
Who uses Figma?
While Figma’s users are highly diverse, from students to professionals, it has several amazing features for UX and UI Design and Product Development.
For instance, its Dev Mode adds structure to facilitate handoffs and ensure all specifications are taken into account to create beautiful digital products.
Figma Key Features
Several qualities have made Figma a go-to tool for converting design processes into outstanding digital solutions. Some key features include:
1. Figma Collaboration
Figma is key to enhancing brainstorming, as it allows different team members to present their ideas on shared pages and canvases while sharing thought processes.
This feature is especially relevant for processes such as Design Sprints in UX/UI Design, in which users dedicate whole days to crafting ideas from zero before fully designing them.
2. Figma Iteration
When building a digital product, you’ll need to start somewhere. With the collaboration features mentioned above, Figma enhances shared creativity.
In this scenario, Figma supports team workflows to design UIs and creative flows with its many community-made libraries.
3. Figma Customization
Likewise, Figma has several plugin APIs that are easily customizable.
Developed with a REST API structure, the Figma API supports authentication via OAuth2 and access tokens and allows read access and interactions with Figma files.
Teams can harness its Application Programming Interface to connect designs to other applications and expand the outcomes of the digital solution development process.
With this Figma HQ feature, companies can rest assured that their products will, for instance, be available on user-facing screens to tackle test-driven development.
5. Figma Handoff
A key component of seamless teams is design handoff for development teams, and Figma eases the process to create beautiful experiences at all stages.
Not only does Figma offer tools like Dev Mode, but it also has several features that add info and measurements to design files for higher clarity in design handoffs.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Figma
Pros of Figma
- Collaboration: Figma allows members to work together on projects simultaneously, a key feature for remote or distributed teams to promote faster design iterations.
- Access: Since it operates entirely in the cloud, Figma users can access their projects from any device, from iOS and Android apps to Windows Mac OS desktops, with no need to manually sync files.
- Intuitivity: Figma has an easy-to-understand interface for both newbies and pro users to create beautiful interfaces and strong workflows without manageable learning curves.
Cons of Figma
- Customization: While Figma offers several plugins, and its library is constantly updated, it’s also true that those are less customizable when compared to rising UI tools.
- Functionality: Another huge drawback is that Figma heavily relies on an internet connection, making it hard for users and teams to work offline. The platform has some offline capabilities, yet this con can hinder productivity.
- Performance: Large projects with several components and interactions can result in slower performance, especially in simpler browsers or devices.
The Impact of Figma
Not only did Figma impact design processes, but it also revolutionized the business landscape.
Figma for Business
A measurable impact of Figma was its ability to recast procedures to design, develop and maintain websites and mobile apps.
By boosting productivity and enhancing iteration in Product Development, companies were able to speed up procedures to deliver user-centered solutions.
Figma for Designers
Likewise, Figma was key for User Experience Designers worldwide to get a visual representation of screens and pages within a project to ensure consistency.
Its component features allow teams to easily translate design-based concepts into the different steps of a user journey for intuitive and pleasing digital solutions.
Figma vs Adobe XD vs Sketch
Beyond discussing the advantages and disadvantages of Figma as a tool, it’s also key to consider its pros and cons when compared to other tools.
As mentioned, Figma is well known for its collaborative approach that allows team members to work on the same file in real time.
Likewise, while it’s hard to work offline, Figma is also accessible from a wide range of devices and browsers with no need to install specific software.
On the other hand, Adobe XD has risen to prominence due to its being part of the Adobe Creative Cloud.
With dedicated animation features, Adobe XD allows for advanced transitions and animations, making it a robust choice for complex prototyping.
Last but not least, Sketch, one of the first tools created to allow digital interface design, remains popular, specifically for those who prefer macOS.
With a more extensive library of plugins, it has better customization yet lacks the cross-platform collaboration feature that Figma offers.
While Sketch offers some collaboration features, they’re often only available through external applications like Zeplin.
In the end, the selection between Figma vs AdobeXD vs Sketch relies on the requirements and priorities your project has.
Conclusion
From vector design to prototyping and iteration, Figma allows users, teams and companies to expand their creative possibilities with several Product Design frameworks.
There’s always something new in Figma to explore, and it can be what you’re looking for to take your design projects to the next level!
