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Figma

Figma
Figma
A design platform for teams who build products together. Create, share, test, and ship better designs from start to finish.
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Published: January 19, 2024

What is Figma?

Imagine a digital platform where designers and teams can collaborate on various projects seamlessly.

Figma offers a web-based interface design tool that enables real-time collaboration across teams. It allows for designing, prototyping, and receiving feedback in one integrated environment, facilitating a cohesive workflow for product design and graphic work. This platform supports a wide range of design tasks, from creating user interfaces to building rich interactive prototypes, all accessible through a browser or desktop application.

Figma stands out for its emphasis on team-based design processes and user experience optimization.

Figma Demo Video

Who is Figma best suited for?

Figma is best suited for a wide range of users, particularly those involved in web and interface design, such as UX/UI designers, graphic designers, and product teams. Its collaborative features make it ideal for teams working on digital projects, enabling real-time feedback and design adjustments. Figma also caters to project managers and stakeholders who need to oversee and contribute to the design process. The tool’s accessibility and ease of use make it suitable for professionals and design students.

Notable Features

Figma offers a range of products and features, including:

  • Design: Tools for interface and graphic design.
  • Prototyping: Features for creating interactive prototypes.
  • Design Systems: Tools for creating and maintaining design consistency.
  • Development: Resources for developers to implement designs.
  • Downloads: Availability of various assets and resources.

Additionally, Figma’s companion tool, FigJam, provides:

  • Online Whiteboarding: For brainstorming and idea visualization.
  • Strategic Planning: Tools to facilitate planning and strategy development.
  • Team Meetings: Features to enhance collaboration in meetings.
  • Diagramming: Tools for creating diagrams and flowcharts.

Pros and Cons

Top 5 Pros of Figma:

  1. Collaboration: Figma allows multiple users to work on a design project simultaneously, making it easy for teams to collaborate and provide real-time feedback.
  2. Cloud-based: Figma is a cloud-based design tool, which means that all design files are stored online and can be accessed from anywhere, making it convenient for remote teams.
  3. Prototyping: Figma offers powerful prototyping capabilities, allowing designers to create interactive and animated prototypes to showcase their designs.
  4. Version control: Figma automatically saves design versions and allows users to easily revert to previous versions, ensuring that no work is lost and providing a seamless workflow.
  5. Developer handoff: Figma simplifies the process of handing off designs to developers by providing them with design specs, CSS code snippets, and assets, making the development process smoother.

Top 5 Cons of Figma:

  1. Internet dependency: Since Figma is a cloud-based tool, it requires a stable internet connection to access and work on design files. This can be a limitation in areas with poor internet connectivity.
  2. Limited offline access: Figma’s offline capabilities are limited, as it primarily relies on an internet connection. Users may face difficulties accessing their designs when offline.
  3. Learning curve: While Figma is generally user-friendly, it still has a learning curve for beginners who are new to design tools. Users may need some time to familiarize themselves with its features and interface.
  4. Limited customization options: Figma’s customization options for design elements and components are not as extensive as some other design tools, which may limit the creative freedom of designers.
  5. Pricing: While Figma offers a free plan, some advanced features and functionalities are only available in the paid plans. This can be a drawback for individuals or small teams with limited budgets.

Price

Figma’s pricing and packaging include different tiers to cater to various needs:

  1. Free Plan: Offers essential features for individuals or small teams.
  2. Professional Plan: $12 per editor/month billed annually. For teams needing more advanced features and collaboration tools.
  3. Organization Plan: $45 per editor/month billed annually. For organizations requiring advanced security, administrative tools, and collaboration across multiple teams.
  4. Enterprise Plan: $75 per editor/month billed annually. For enterprises needing dedicated workspaces, advanced design systems, guest access controls, etc.

Please note that software pricing is subject to change. It’s recommended to visit their site for pricing and contact them for more information.

Customer Success Stories

Here are several Figma customer success stories:

  1. Datadog 
    • Use Case: Datadog’s whole product team (product managers, designers, and engineers) collaborate using Figma and FigJam throughout their product development process.
    • Main Result: Saved 100 hours a week.
    • Use Case: Stripe used FigJam for a remote design sprint on Stripe Radar, adapting to remote work challenges.
    • Main Results:
      1. Engaging Warm-Ups: Activities in FigJam for team engagement and tool familiarity.
      2. Focused Brainstorming: Structured brainstorming in FigJam led to focused solution discussions.
      3. Rapid Prototyping: Ideas from FigJam were developed into wireframes and design mocks in Figma.
  2. Stripe
    • Use Case: Stripe used FigJam for a remote design sprint on Stripe Radar, adapting to remote work challenges.
    • Main Results:
      1. Engaging Warm-Ups: Activities in FigJam for team engagement and tool familiarity.
      2. Focused Brainstorming: Structured brainstorming in FigJam led to focused solution discussions.
      3. Rapid Prototyping: Ideas from FigJam were developed into wireframes and design mocks in Figma.
  3. Notion
    • Use Case: Notion’s co-founders used Figma for a critical redesign of their app amidst financial and technical issues.
    • Main Results:
      1. Team Collaboration: Leveraging Figma’s features for joint brainstorming and design.
      2. Variation and Selection: Creating multiple design variations for optimal solutions.
      3. Comprehensive Design Records: Maintaining design histories in Figma for organizational learning.
      4. Successful Relaunch: The redesign led to Notion’s significant growth and acclaim in the productivity space.

Figma Reviews

Read the best Figma reviews by verified users here:

Note: review counts as of January 13th, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Figma compatible with both Mac and Windows?

Yes, Figma is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.

Can I collaborate with others in real-time using Figma?

Yes, Figma allows real-time collaboration, making working with team members or clients easy.

Does Figma offer a free version or is it only available through a subscription?

Figma offers a free version with limited features, but also provides subscription plans for more advanced functionality.

Can I export my designs from Figma to other design tools?

Yes, Figma allows you to export your designs in various formats, making it easy to transfer them to other design tools if needed.

Is Figma suitable for both UI/UX design and prototyping?

Yes, Figma is a versatile tool that caters to both UI/UX design and prototyping needs, providing a comprehensive solution for designers.

Still have questions? Get in touch

Learn More About Figma

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Author

  • Joe Kevens

    I'm the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of B2B SaaS Reviews. I'm also the Director of Demand Generation at PartnerStack, the #1 platform purpose-built for partner management and affiliate marketing in B2B SaaS. Before PartnerStack, I worked for other go-to-market B2B SaaS companies: Influitive (Advocate Marketing designed to generate more reviews, references, and referrals), LevelJump (Sales Enablement) (acquired by Salesforce) and Eloqua (Marketing Automation) (acquired by Oracle).

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