Figma has taken the design world by storm. Everyone from novices to advanced designers and developers can take the time to learn this incredibly handy tool to enhance their UX/UI Designs.
Here, I’ll discuss various tips, tricks, and resources that will assist you in levelling up your Figma game, enriching your design process and paving the way to Figma careers.
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Post Contents
Understanding the Figma Interface
The first lesson of Figma is the tools of this program. The interface that Figma has is user-friendly, but when new to it, a user may feel dizzy. Here’s what you need to know:
- Frames and Artboards: These are the containers where your designs live and areas that need thoughtful attention to evolve properly. It is best to look at them as your virtual work environment.
- Layers and Groups: Store your elements efficiently for easy access. It can support a group of components that can be either stacked or interrelated to one another.
- Tools Panel: You can use basic tools like pencil, shape, and text
Just run your mouse through Figma’s interface and try to see where everything in Figma is located. You’ll be glad you did it when the time comes to present it.
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Applying Components for its Reusability
Components are one of Figma’s greatest assets. Reusable design elements enable designers to be consistent with their work across the project.
- Create Master Components: Design and use it in your project over and over again.
- Variants: If you require a different state for a button or an icon, you can use variants in handling such cases efficiently.
Overall, by achieving mastery of the components you will find the design more manageable and efficient, it will not be cluttered or messy and the changes can be quickly exerted.
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Plugins for enhanced capabilities
Just like Sketch, Figma’s plugin ecosystem is vast, and using the right ones can make your Figma careers much easier. Here are a few that are worth considering:
- Unsplash: To get instant free high-quality images.
- Iconify: Get tons of icons for your designs, in this library.
- Autoflow: Quickly create flow diagrams and wireframes to map out your design.
You can find hundreds of plugins out there that can help automate tasks.
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Prototyping in Figma: Transform designs into interactive experiences.
One of the greatest advantages of using it is its ability to create prototypes. With only a few clicks, you can turn your static designs into interactive prototypes.
- Linking Frames: From the “Prototype” tab, frames can be linked and you can ensure proper usage of transitions between the frames.
- Animation and Transitions: To stand out, add subtle animations to make your designs feel more polished.
- Preview Mode: Verify your prototypes in real-time precisely within the Figma platform without destabilizing the prototypes.
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Learning Shortcuts for Speed
The more you become familiar with Figma, the more swiftly the project is going to be completed. One of the wonders of optimization on a computer is the mastering of special codes of a keyboard that would enable one to reduce the time used on the design.
- V – Move tool
- T – Text tool
- R – Rectangle tool
- Ctrl + D – Duplicate of the selected items
Using these shortcuts will enhance your productivity especially when working on complicated projects.
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Exporting Designs Efficiently
After you create your design, exporting your work follows the next process. Another good thing when using Figma is that it is easy to export assets to various formats such as PNG, JPG, SVG or PDF whatever your clients need.
- Batch Exporting: You can choose multiple layers and export them in one go, saving time.
- Export Settings: Regarding resolution, file format, and quality, you should decide on what you require.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or you want to become a professional, there is always something to discover in Figma. As the need for qualified UX/UI designers grows, learning Figma will expand your possibilities and as Figma careers you will find interesting.
