UX Tools: Hands on with Figma
Updated: Figma now has a desktop app that includes offline access. Nice!
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Like I’ve said before, Figma is gunning to be the Google Docs of design. Because it’s still in Beta, some of their more advanced features (like symbols) have yet to reach customers. It’s also only currently available in Chrome to my knowledge (other browsers coming soon). I’ll be sure to update you through the UX Tools Newsletter when updates arrive.
Icon Design
If you haven’t seen Figma’s post about vector networks, you should check it out. Coming from the video game industry, one of their developer’s completely rethought path construction and created an enjoyable, seamless vector editing experience. These vector networks still export to SVG and behave the same way you would expect any other icon to behave. Drag and drop any SVG from your desktop and you’re ready to go.
The same path combining options are available in Figma that you’re used to in Sketch (these are like the “Pathfinder” options from Illustrator).
Keyboard Shortcuts
The team at Figma have prepared a nice starting document called “Keyboard Shortcuts.” Here they outline a quick reference for getting up and running with the Figma interface. Spoiler alert: the shortcuts are very similar to Sketch (who’s complaining?). I was able to comfortably start building an interface within seconds of arriving (especially thanks to the cmd+arrow behavior for resizing containers).
Constraints & Grids
The Figma responsive resizing is, I might even dare say, better than Sketch. It affords for better resizing by allowing constraint settings for both x and y. I quickly see this becoming the standard for all design products, and I expect Sketch to catch up soon.
Templates & Resources
Figma allows files to be saved out as a .fig format. I never realized it until now, but I borrow heavily from other existing documents and templates to steal material design and iOS components. Not having these can slow me down as I rebuild assets that already existed in Sketch. Looking for a good side project? Start making Figma sticker sheets and resource documents: you’ll be ahead of the curve.
Import from Sketch
I initially tried copying and pasting from Sketch. Nothing happens. However, you can import entire Sketch files into Figma! Warning: it imports each page as a new file (I tested it with a 30+ page file and regretted it). It handled the content very well, however, and I feel confident I could pick up and keep working after importing.
Exporting Artwork
Figma does a good job of saving out to SVG, as well. Most of the same Sketch export options seem to be here (including multiple simultaneous exports).
Sharing Documents
The Figma team put a lot of thought into the creation of teams, and decided that Figma teams can be created on top of Slack teams. Teams can also be created the traditional way, and documents can be simply be shared via email (like Google Docs).
Collaboration & Handoff
Once you’ve invited your team or collaborator you can enter documents together and collaboratively create your designs. There are diverse opinions about the utility of live collaboration, but I think we all had those same concerns when Google Docs came out. Even being able to be on a different page of the same document is a monumental benefit!
Figma takes it one step further by allowing multiple people to edit point on the same shape! Pretty wild.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Figma is shaping up to be everything I hoped it would be. Figma is already a robust design application despite being in its infancy. The new offline access makes this a complete team player for me.
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