This redesign is a part of a weekly UX challenge hosted by UXHack.
As a daily user of Figma, one thing that had always irked me was the home screen. There was always something that felt off about it. Many times, I would open the prototype file thinking it was the design file. While there is a ‘Shared Files’ tab, I often wondered if these were files shared by me or files shared with me. In short, I consistently struggled to find the specific file I wanted to open. It all seemed a little confusing and cluttered.
So, when I learned about the Figma home screen redesign challenge by UXHack, I was determined to take a stab at it.
Identified issues and related solutions are related to the free Figma account. For the challenge, the user persona that needed to be focused on was individuals (and not teams or organisations).
Here are some aspects and features that, in my opinion, elevate the overall experience for Figma users.
- Clear indication of file type:
How often have you intended to open a design file only to find yourself opening the prototype file instead? The primary reason behind this confusion lies in the absence of clear indications of the file type, be it a design file, Figjam, or prototype, on the project cards displayed on the home page. While the hover state of the project card addresses this issue, it renders the initial quick scan inefficient. This confusion results in an additional step, disrupting the seamless user task of opening the correct file.
Fix: Introducing icons for the file types in the normal or steady state of the project card can mitigate this challenge. This enhancement will streamline the scanning process, enabling users to quickly identify and open the desired file right from the home screen.
2. Categorisation for organising:
Apart from a ‘Recents’ tab in the left panel, and the option to favourite a file, there is no other category group that gets created for the user. Neither is there an option to create a custom category or library. There are a lot of projects that a Figma user works on at any given point of time, such as passion projects, multiple projects for different clients, job assignment projects, and the likes. In this case categorisation can help with finding and viewing the right set of files.
Fix: Two new sub panels can be introduced in the left panel. One ‘Files’ and the other ‘Your Library’.
Files panel can be the one where you can hop between pre-made system generated categories like ‘Recently Used,’ ‘Frequently Used,’ ‘Owned by You,’ and ‘Shared with You.’ Adding frequently used files tab is a game-changer because, let’s face it, we tend to live in a few select files for a while.
Now, that ‘Shared files’ tab? It’s a bit of a head-scratcher. Does it mean files you shared or ones shared with you? Let’s clear that up. Introduce two categories that speak for themselves — ‘Owned by You’ and ‘Shared with You.’
The other set of sub panel for file categories can be the library that the user can custom create for themselves which also includes the files they have added under favourites. This can help the user organise all their files based on their respective purpose. I’ve swapped out the ‘Favorite’ star button for a ‘+’ button so you can add a project into a category or create a fresh one on the fly.
3. File filters:
The existing design does include these file filters, but they don’t stand out as much as I, as a user, would prefer. With the feature tucked away in a small dropdown, it feels somewhat hidden. Specifically, for filtering between design, Figjam, and prototype files, a more dedicated filter could make it easier for users to swiftly narrow down file types.
Fix: I introduced a distinct button filter section, allowing users to switch between ‘All’ or any specific file type. I changed the file organization view into a three-dot kebab menu CTA to avoid clutter and choice overload.
4. AI search bar
These days when I open Figma, an AI section appears for creating particular templates for design files or figjam files. The thing is, it hogs quite a bit of space, so I usually hit cancel right away. However, there are times when I actually need a hand creating a new document. The snag is, once I’ve hit cancel, I can’t seem to find the option to tap into that AI feature.
Fix: I simply introduced an AI search bar on the top centre. Along with this I added relevant UX writing that would help the user write their prompts and accompanied the ‘Go’ button with the standard AI icon of sparks.
Not every aspect of the current Figma needs a makeover or enhancement, so I retained the features that I, as a user, find valuable.
- The CTA for new design or Figjam file and the accompanying ‘Import’ CTA are very handy when it comes to creating new files, so I retained them in their original position.
- The teams section in the side panel is useful to switch between teams so I kept the same with only a change in the icons next to them. I replaced the team color boxes with the signature Figma bubble.
- I maintained the individual card UI as it was minimal and didn’t clutter the space. I only made the mentioned changes with the steady state file type icon and the categorising ‘+’ CTA.
- I also tried to maintain the overall UI so as to not completely overhaul the home screen but to add subtle changes that would help improve the overall user experience.
Post Challenge Introspection
I completed the design challenge within a few hours, and as is common with any design task, ideas continued to flow post-completion. In retrospect, I realized there were additional aspects that could further broaden the scope of the redesign.
One could be particularly in differentiating between two major categories — ‘Edit’ and ‘References’. Either a user is editing a file or referencing a kit or a design system. Enhancements to the file view and search experience could be implemented for these two categories, as users often have reference files that are primarily used for viewing rather than editing.
Additionally, while I included the standard greeting of ‘Hello John!’, I believe it could be replaced with the organization dropdown featured in the current design’s file selection filter section. This adjustment would offer users greater clarity about which organization’s files they are currently viewing.
All said and done, the experience got me pondering over the enhancement that I as a designer would like to see in further Figma updates. Diving into this challenge was a blast, and my redesign did end up receiving a special mention by the organisers!