Figma

What is Figma?

Figma is a browser-based design tool used for creating user interfaces, prototypes, and design systems. It runs in the browser — no installation required — and supports real-time multiplayer collaboration, meaning multiple people can work on the same file simultaneously. It's become the dominant tool for product and UI design teams.

Components and design systems

Figma's component system lets you define reusable UI elements — buttons, inputs, cards, navigation patterns — and use them across designs. Changes to a component propagate to every instance. This makes it practical to maintain a design system that stays in sync as the product evolves, rather than manually updating copies of the same element across dozens of files.

Prototyping

You can link frames together to build interactive prototypes without writing any code. Transitions, overlays, and scroll behaviour can all be configured to simulate how the final product will behave. These prototypes can be shared via a link, which makes user testing and stakeholder review easier — no screen sharing required.

Developer handoff

Figma generates CSS, iOS, and Android code snippets from designs, and developers can inspect spacing, colours, and typography values directly in the browser. The Dev Mode view makes this cleaner, showing exactly what's been marked ready for implementation and what's still a work in progress.

Pricing

Figma has a free tier that covers unlimited personal files and up to three collaborative projects. Paid plans remove those limits and add version history, advanced prototyping features, and admin controls. It's worth checking current pricing as the free tier has changed over the years.