Figma is a cloud-based design tool that is related to Sketch in functionality and features, but with big variations that make Figma better for team collaboration. For those suspicious of such claims, we’ll explain how Figma templates clarify the design process and are more efficient than other programs at supporting designers and teams work together efficiently.

Figma Works on Any Platform

Figma operates on any operating system that works on a web browser. Macs, Linux machines, Windows PCs, and even Chromebooks can be worked with Figma. It is the only design means of its type that does this, and in shops that use hardware covering different operating systems, everyone can still open, share, and edit Figma files.

In many companies, designer’s use Macs and developers to manage Windows PCs. Figma supports bringing these groups collectively. Figma’s universal nature also stops the annoyance of PNG-pong (where refreshed images are bounced back and forth between design team orders). In Figma, there is no requirement for a mediating tool to make design work available to everyone.

Collaboration in Figma Is Easy and Familiar

Because Figma is browser-based, companies can collaborate as they would in Google Docs. People seeing and editing a file are shown at the top of the app as round avatars. Each person also has a specified cursor, so tracking who is doing what is simple. Clicking on someone else’s avatar zooms to what they are observing at that time.

Real-time file collaboration benefits mitigate “design drifting”—defined as either misunderstanding or straying from an agreed-upon design. Design drifting normally happens when an idea is considered and quickly performed while a project is in progress. Unluckily, this often leads to varying from the established design, creating friction and re-work.

Using Figma, a design element can check in to see what the team is designing in real-time by just opening a shared file. If a designer anyhow misinterprets the brief or user narrative, this feature enables the design lead to intervene, right course, and save countless hours that would have differently been wasted. 

Figma Uses Slack for Team Communication

Figma manages Slack as its communication channel. When a Figma channel is created in Slack, any explanations or design edits made in Figma are “slacked” to the company. This functionality is important when designing online because modifications to a Figma file will update every other instance where the file is set (a possible headache for developers). Modifications to a mockup, warranted or not, are quickly vetted, and the feedback channel is live.

Figma Sharing Is Uncomplicated and Flexible

Figma also provides permission-based sharing of any file, page, or frame (called an artboard in other drawing tools). When a shared link is designed to a frame on a page, the person clicking on that link will open a browser account of Figma, and a zoomed-in view of the frame is placed.