Figma is one of the most important technologies I’ll be using for a successful UX/UI project.

Specifically, I’ll be using a design file on Figma. Unlike traditional design software, like Adobe Illustrator or Adobe XD, Figma operates entirely in the cloud.

Features to master

To use Figma’s features most effectively, I recognize the importance of first mastering a few design concepts.

  1. Typography: The typeface decisions impact how a user feels about a product. To create a positive user experience, I’ll need to master font selection, hierarchy, and readability in my prototype.
  2. Layout design: The structure of visual elements on a page can draw attention to what’s important, enhancing the app’s function. I’ll have to master UX best practices to create a visually appealing and functional app.
  3. Prototyping/interactivity: Figma’s ability for prototyping allows for me to test different user flows and interactions. Before creating the screen designs, I’ll have to have a mastery of the steps that a user will take to accomplish their desired results on the app.

Social

Figma’s ability to easily share designs makes it a social technology.

  1. Real-time collaboration: Multiple people can work and edit the same design file.
  2. Feedback mechanisms: Figma’s great benefit, to me, is allowing people to access the live prototype. I’m planning on having people test versions of my prototype and interview them as they walk through the different screens of the app. Figma also allows guests to comment on certain elements of the design.
  3. Community collaboration: Figma projects can be shared on the platform, and some users provide free elements for public use (like buttons, icons, etc.)

Cultural values

Figma also reflects cultural values, particularly in its opposition to Adobe products.

  1. Emphasis on Collaboration: Though I’m not necessarily planning on inviting anyone to collaborate on my app design, Figma allows for collaboration on the same design file, unlike many Adobe products.  It’s like the Google Docs to Microsoft Word.
  2. Accessibility and Inclusivity: Figma is free! It breaks down barriers to entry in the design world.
  3. Emphasis on Community: Figma’s easy sharing allows designers to easily access one another’s work on the same website they’re designing on. It reflects the cultural value of sharing knowledge and building a design community. Users can also ask questions or “share an idea.”

Affordances

Figma’s technology affords me certain abilities that will lead to a successful app prototype.

  1. Rapid iteration: The app screens, especially before being upgraded to high-fidelity designs, can be easily modified based on user feedback.
  2. Plugins: I haven’t experimented with Figma plugins yet, but I think this could be a good means of testing even more capabilities of Figma. For example, I found a Grammarly extension for checking text.
  1. Version control: While researching Figma features, I found that Figma auto-saves earlier versions of your work, so I don’t have to be worried about accidentally deleting any important elements.

Limitations

Figma’s technologies are arguably limited, however, and deliver certain constraints to my project.

  1. It’s not a developed app: Though Figma provides information for developers to create the same designs, the prototyping and interactivity are limited to just testing, not actual app functionality.
  2. Requires internet: Figma is in-browser, requiring an internet connection. Though I mostly always have access to an internet connection, I can think of certain times when I’d be prevented from working on the Figma files due to lack of service.
  3. Learning curve: It’s hard for me to think of limitations to Figma! However, I realized that I still haven’t mastered every feature, despite having worked on multiple projects on the platform before. A limitation is that it’s not always intuitive and requires research or experience with other design software.

In conclusion, Figma is a technology with great affordances that will guide my design process.