The vector graphics editor and prototype software Figma is excellent for creating websites. Figma is a SaaS UI design tool that enables visual project collaboration simpler than before. Because it’s cloud-based, users may continue working from any computer or device with an internet connection, anywhere in the globe.
In order to allow team members to analyze designs, make modifications, and provide comments in real time, project owners can grant them varying levels of access. The tool’s ease of use makes onboarding new contributors simple and hassle-free. These and other features let Figma quickly supplant Adobe XD and Sketch in the hearts of many designers over the past few years.
So, how can we create a website in Figma? And is figma good for web design?
In this article, we offer a practical process created by Empire Pixel’s own UI designers. It has been tried and tested throughout time, and it works well and is simple to use. Take notes as you read on!
1. Types of Websites
In order to better understand how to utilize Figma for web design, let’s first take a closer look at the most typical websites and what makes them unique:
Business: Corporate websites typically have fewer pages or are even sometimes created as single-page websites. Empire Pixel has skilled web developers you can hire if you’re interested in creating a one-page website.
Product: Similar to company websites, but with more emphasis on marketing and sales. So, when creating such a website, layout and graphic inventiveness are encouraged. Product websites can be standalone or linked to an eCommerce store with many different products. Apple’s website is a good illustration of one such website.
News and Blogs: These websites receive daily traffic from a wide range of users, so style and design guidelines must be strictly followed. Additionally, web-portals that allow users to tailor the content according to their preferences, like Wired and Yahoo, also fall into this category and call for a particular strategy.
Web Apps and SaaS: Such products typically have extensive ecosystems of applications and capabilities on their websites. You can drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to develop new products by having a well-organized design system that adheres to the atomic design principles. A well-thought-out structure and the use of reusable components and libraries are also crucial for the efficiency and caliber of the development process. These websites promote better productivity and teamwork, thus it’s critical that they are planned and constructed to function smoothly. In this category, Facebook, Asana, Discord, Slack, and Figma itself all serve as excellent examples.
Online Stores: One of the first forms of web content were e-commerce websites. The information on these websites is abundant, much as the information on the first two. Nonetheless, they also have a huge number of product pages that are (nearly) identical. The solid and clean back-end programming that keeps the entire system up and running is more crucial in this case than the front-end and design. Amazon, Etsy, AliExpress, and other well-known eCommerce sites are some examples.
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2. What Are the Steps in Designing a Website?
Whether you are using Figma to design a website or another technology, your task while designing a website is to take a straightforward brief—be it a few lines or an entire page of research—and give it visual life. An idea is the first step in the process, which leads to a structural plan and an information architecture.
Imagine it as the concrete foundation and supporting columns of a building; without the structure, the entire thing will collapse.
You can sketch down a few ideas with no fidelity or detail after deciding on the layout of the individual pages and the general content. These are known as wireframes. You can create custom wireframes with Figma or use pre-made templates that go with your design. Whatever the situation may be, these will enable you to obtain a clearer idea of everything before you start working on your fantastic new design.
After you and your project manager or customer have decided on the layout, you can begin refining these basic concepts by turning them into a mid-fidelity prototype. If your layouts repeat frequently, you just need to design them once, then duplicate and modify them as necessary.
Please take note that the actual material and amazing visuals are still not available at this time. Before you devote time to creating a pixel-perfect final version, the design of the website must be well specified. Also, it’s crucial to avoid wasting developers’ time by asking them to work on unfinished projects. Always ask for input and reviews from your team at each stage to make sure the outcomes meet the requirements.
3. Grid and Layout
In regards to grid and layout, Figma’s “snap to grid” option is really helpful. The vertical column grid system is the ideal and most widely used design principle. It enables you to arrange the design’s pieces consistently and maintain a layout that is easier on the eye for team members who are reviewing the material.
The ideal setting is 12 columns, each between 50 and 100 pixels wide. Several gutters may be present between them. Moreover, it’s a good idea to divide everything by 8 or 10. Always leave white space between pieces and adhere to the grid’s limitations and padding, allowing the content to stand out clearly.
4. What Are the Components of a Website?
The next step in prototyping a website in figma is to concentrate on the individual elements. Set up your displays first. Work within a 1920 pixel wide frame. Then, you may begin including:
A Header Area or Navigation Bar
Simple, readable, and the same size on all pages should be the header and navigation bar section. It contains the company logo, the menu buttons, occasionally an address, social media icons, etc. The most typical arrangement is to add the logo first, followed by the other pieces, since people tend to read from left to right. Depending on the particular sort of business or the preferences of the client, this can be different.
A “Hero” Section
Any well-designed website’s real estate is in the hero section! Here is where you set the tone for the conversation. Often, it can be a photo with a brief, catchy description of the company or a full-width image. Keep all of your crucial components in the hero image above the fold (the imaginary line at the bottom of the screen). Should be sufficient is 800-900px. Think of several picture sizes and test how the image will be cropped or sized on various screen sizes.
The use of 3D visuals and interactive, simple graphic components that respond to hover is currently popular. Try to steer clear of stock photos and still illustrations while selecting the images for this area.
Text, Fonts, and Sizes
The actual written content on the web is one of its most crucial components. Each and every piece of typography must be readable and legible. Your section headings can have font sizes ranging from 40 to 60 pixels, while the body text can be as small as 16 to 18 pixels. But always remember to adhere to the rules. Recently, Google introduced its Fonts Knowledge, which may be useful for developing your skill set.
Forms and Input Fields
Input fields and forms are made for situations where a visitor must write something down and communicate with the website via text. Use no more than two columns, and make sure to always position these to the left (try to stick to one).
Arrange your fields from “easier” to “harder” for a better user experience, and create summary notifications and assistance boxes to direct the user. Longer forms with several fields may also benefit from adding progress bars so that users can see how far along they are and how many steps are left.
Buttons and Controls
A button may open a new page or pop-up window for the user. Buttons can be used in many different ways, but what makes them unique is that they must always be striking. The so-called call-to-action button should be your main point of attention (CTA). This button is the focal point of the entire landing page when it comes to landing pages. It needs to be clickable and consistent with the other content on the page.
Tables
In web design, tables are frequently viewed as a major difficulty, particularly in mobile layouts. They frequently serve as a means for users to compare information side by side and present text-heavy material. Making tables in Figma is simple. You may design and visualize the information more quickly by using the table maker plugin. Consider using a marginally different background fill for every other line to improve user experience, and stay away from borders as they add extraneous clutter to your table.
Cards
Blogs and online retailers are where cards are most frequently utilized. Often, a design’s elements consist of a picture and a succinct title or description. They act as access points to other, new pages with more in-depth information. You can use shadows to simulate the component’s interactivity. Moreover, be sure to group your elements carefully, adhere to your foundation grid, and always keep the hierarchy in mind.
Modals or Pop-Up Dialogs
Windows that float above the main website’s window are called modals and pop-up dialogs. They can include warnings about cookies, error notices, exclusive offers, and more. You should think of them as a floating card with a crucial CTA while evaluating the design. To enable the user to dismiss the pop-up and continue to the main content, make sure a button is readily accessible. Otherwise, the user experience would be awful.
5. Tips for Effective Use Figma
Here are a few more helpful hints for utilizing Figma for website design:
Use Auto-Layout: Maintain a solid functioning order and hierarchy for your frames and use as much auto-layout as you can. In this manner, your team members, developers, and any other collaborators will have simple access to your design work. Also, give your frames and layers appropriate, identifiable names so that everyone on your team knows where to go and what needs to be done next.
Compress Your Images: Please keep in mind that Figma performs some general compression when importing raster pictures. Do not overstuff your page with JPGs and high-resolution screenshots. Yes, a moodboard and a snapshot of a paper sketch may be helpful, but keep in mind the users of older computers and GPUs as well.
Use the Comments Function: Real-time team collaboration is made simple using Figma’s comments. You can leave messages for them to respond to in order to get their thoughts on important matters, look over their comments on the designs, and follow up on any queries that might arise.
Avoid Placeholder Text: LOREM IPSUM, sometimes known as placeholder text, is frequently used in design, particularly when employing templates and stock images. But, if there are any traces of it in the final design, the user experience could be incredibly bad. Use texts from Wikipedia that are relevant to the topic or context as an alternative. There is a Figma plugin that enables you to swiftly populate your pages if you are pressed for time.
Conclusion
One of the most user-friendly and adaptable UI design tools available right now is Figma. It promotes more productive web development processes by facilitating better team collaboration for both stationary and remote teams.
The workflow outlined offers a summary of the procedures required in building a web project and can be used as a comprehensive and simple-to-follow Figma guide for beginners. By doing these, you can not only create a website in figma but also advance your abilities during the process.
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