What is Figma?

What is Figma?

What is Figma and what does it do? Figma is a user interface design software that runs on the web and desktop with lots of amazing tweaks to improve a design system. It's in fact the best team-based collaborative design tool for designers. Let me take you through what figma is.

Before taking a look, I want you to know that, I wrote this article because I want to understand the core in-depth of Figma and as well help you understand what Figma is. People say if you want to master a skill, you should teach it and that's exactly what I'm going to do here, so let's proceed.

Figma is widely used across the world for designing UI and UX of websites, apps including desktop apps. It gives you all the necessary tools you need to design a full-fetched app including vector tools which are capable of designing illustrations as well as prototyping capabilities.

The most interesting thing about Figma is that, it runs online and allows you and your team to work real-time on a project and at the same time.

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Figma Runs On Browsers

The Figma design tool can be accessed online using any of your browser. It also can be downloaded as a desktop application and is available for both Windows and Mac OS. Download the Figma desktop app for macOS or Windows as well as the font installer and device preview apps by clicking here .

Collaboration

Like I said previously. The best thing that interest me about Figma is the fact that more than 1 person can work on a project at the same time and I do not need to save or send export to fellow team mate to see and make corrections. All changes on a project are real-time on the Figma desktop app or browser; whichever you are using.

This made me come to a conclusion that Figma is indeed, a very flexible and interactive design tool.

The fact that Figma is completely free, blows my mind!

blow my mind

This also means you can jump on a design anywhere you are at the same time with you client. It doesn't matter whether you're in the rest room with your laptop, on the sea surfing or in the park with your dog. Figma gives you the opportunity to interact and your client can make suggestions which can be implement real-time, right there and then.

blow my mind

Please do not try this at home, haha!

On top of all these live collaboration tools you can also leave comments directly on the canvas.

Component Libraries

Just like the way developer use components in web and app development, designers use components too and the reason why we use components is to be able to re-use them.

Figma allows you to build up packs of reusable components which your design team can have access to. Components help you get jobs done faster because it gives designers an head start on any existing design systems, and when a component is updated in the central library those changes are made across all designs for everyone who has access to your design and can edit.

Prototyping and Code Output

I've heard about prototyping a lot. In fact, I'm stuck with designing a prototype for an app since last week. I should get that done today and probably explain how to prototype with Figma in my next article.

So prototyping basically allows you to create a user flow diagram that shows a user how to use your system from A - Z. For the coding phase Figma can generate SVG code, CSS, and iOS and Android code.

Conclusion on What Figma Is

Figma is a browser oriented UI and UX design software, with easy to use interaction tools that allows you to build stunning UI, prototype and generate code. No one will argue with you if you tweet, Figma to be the best leading UI design tool with robust features that supports remote collaborations.

If you haven’t already, try it today!

Follow me on Twitter @ theayooladaniel for more interesting UI/UX related content.