Is Figma Actually Good? A Designer Shares Their Real Experience
Have you ever had this experience — you finish a design, send it to a colleague, they ask for changes, you revise it and send it back, and then they ask for more changes… back and forth via file transfers, losing track of versions, until you don’t even know which is the latest?
I used to be like this in my design team. We used Sketch for design, files were stored locally, and we shared files via WeChat or cloud drives. The worst time was when two colleagues edited the same file simultaneously, each saving different versions — merging them was an absolute disaster.
Then our team switched to Figma. Honestly, it felt strange at first since we’d used Sketch for years. But after a month, our entire team couldn’t go back.
What is Figma? One Sentence to Explain
Figma is an online UI design tool where designers can create interface designs and interactive prototypes, and team members can edit the same file simultaneously. The biggest difference from Sketch and Adobe XD is — no installation needed, just open a browser, and everyone can work on the same file at the same time.
What Problems Can It Actually Solve?
Problem 1: Team Collaboration, Version Confusion
Our old workflow went like this: Designer A creates the first draft, exports the file and sends it to Designer B for edits, Designer B revises it and sends it back… if the product manager also needed to see it, we’d have to send another copy. Files flying back and forth, version numbers all mixed up.
After switching to Figma, we all collaborated on the same file directly. Designer A creates the first draft, Designer B edits online in real-time, the product manager reviews online — who changed what is displayed in real-time. You can even add comments, like “Should we change the color of this button?” Designer A sees the comment and replies “Done.”
No more “sending files back and forth.”
Problem 2: Making Interactive Prototypes Required Extra Tools
Before, when creating product prototypes, static images weren’t intuitive enough — clients couldn’t understand them. To make interactive prototypes, we had to use Axure or other tools, which were a pain to learn.
Figma has built-in prototyping and interaction features. You finish your design, switch to prototype mode, set page transitions and animations, and generate a clickable, interactive prototype. Clients receive a link, open it, and can experience it just like a real product.
No need to learn extra tools — Figma does it all.
Problem 3: Switching Computers Meant Resyncing Design Files
The most annoying thing about using Sketch was switching computers. Design files were on the old computer, and the new computer had nothing. Either sync via cloud drive or use a USB drive — such a hassle.
Figma is cloud-based — all files are stored online. You go to any computer, open a browser, log into your account, and all your design files are there. Switching computers? Doesn’t exist.
Is It Easy to Get Started? Takes a Bit of Learning
- Register on the official site (figma.com), free version available
- Click “New File” to create a new file
- Use the left toolbar to draw, similar to Sketch and XD
- To add interactions, switch to prototype mode and set transitions
- To collaborate, click “Share” and invite colleagues
If you’ve used Sketch or Adobe XD, picking up Figma is quick — the interface logic is similar. If you’ve never used a UI design tool before, it might take a few days to get familiar.
How Does It Compare to Similar Tools?
| Aspect | Figma | Sketch | Adobe XD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | User-friendly, easy to learn | More complex features | Needs familiarity with Adobe ecosystem |
| Team collaboration | Real-time collaboration, very strong | Limited collaboration | Basic collaboration |
| Prototyping | Feature-rich | Basic interactions | Powerful interaction features |
| Cross-platform | Web + desktop, both work | Mac only | Multi-platform |
| Price | Free version sufficient | Paid | Paid |
My advice: If you’re a solo designer, Sketch or XD works fine. But for team collaboration, Figma is the better choice. And it’s free — the personal version is more than enough.
What Do Other Users Say?
@Design Team Xiaoli: “Figma’s real-time collaboration feature is amazing! Team members can edit simultaneously, no more worrying about version confusion.”
@Product Manager Xiaowang: “Creating prototypes with Figma is so convenient. Clients can experience them directly, and communication has improved significantly.”
@UI Designer Xiaozhang: “Figma’s component system and auto-layout features have greatly improved my design efficiency.”
Summary
Figma isn’t some mysterious tool, but it does solve some real problems — team collaboration and prototyping.
For design teams, it’s one of the most worthwhile tools to use. And the free version already offers a comprehensive feature set, more than enough for individual users.
Official site: https://www.figma.com/ Safety tip: Register and use through the official site, be mindful of protecting your account information. Price: The free version is already very comprehensive, more than enough for individual users. Teams can consider the paid version.