Any app or website you use has likely undergone some level of prototyping in its design process. Prototyping helps designers test ideas and workflows to see what works best for users before coding begins. It’s a crucial step in the design process and can be easily accomplished with Figma. Figma is a vector graphics editor and prototyping tool. It is not only used for designing the look of an app or website but also for testing out how users will interact with it.
We know many people may ask, how much does it cost to build a Figma prototype? And the answer is that it’s FREE. With the Figma free version, you can create unlimited prototypes for any project, big or small. Now that we know a little more. In this blog post, I’ll guide you about how to design a Figma prototype step-by-step. So, let’s dive into it.
Choose A Template Or Start From Scratch
We have seen many people face hardships about how to hire app developer for designing prototypes, but with Figma, it is pretty simple. The first step to designing a prototype is to choose a template or start from scratch.
If you are starting from scratch, you will be presented with a blank canvas. You can add any components to your design, such as headlines, text boxes, buttons, and images.
If you choose to use a template, Figma has a variety of templates for different types of projects. For example, there are templates for mobile apps, websites, and even email newsletters.
Once you select a template, you can customize it to fit your needs. Sometimes it’s helpful to start with a template because it can give you an idea of where to place some aspects of your design.
Add Your Screens To The Prototype
Once you have your template or a blank canvas, it’s time to add your screens to the prototype. To do this, drag and drop your screens onto the canvas. You can add as many or as few screens as you want to your prototype.
If you are working on a mobile app, add a splash screen, a home screen, and a few other screens showing different app features. If you are working on a website, add a landing page, an about page, and a contact page.
It’s up to you how many screens you add to your prototype. Ensure you add enough screens to show your design’s features and functionality. Many businesses require only a handful of screens to show the full extent of their design, while others may need many more.
Add Interactions To Your Prototype
Every Figma prototype needs interactions. Interactions make your prototype come to life and give it that “wow” factor. Without interactions, your prototype is just a static image.
You can add two types of interactions to your prototype: screen transitions and component actions. Screen transitions define how one screen changes to another, while component actions define how users interact with a specific element on a screen.
Screen transitions are relatively easy to add. To add a screen transition, click on the screen you want to transition from and drag your mouse to the screen you want to transition to. An arrow will appear, and you can then release your mouse button to create the transition.
Connect Layers With Interactions
Layers are the building blocks of your design. In Figma, you can think of layers as containers for other elements. Layers can contain other layers, vector shapes, bitmaps, and even frames.
You first must select both layers to create an interaction between the two layers. To do this, hold down the Shift key and click on both layers. Once both layers are selected, you can create an interaction between them by clicking the “Create Interaction” button in the toolbar.
This will bring up a dialog box where you can specify the type of interaction you want to create. Connecting layers with interactions is a great way to add some life to your prototypes and make them more interactive.
Preview Interaction And User Flows
Once you’ve added some interactions to your prototype, you can preview them by clicking the “Preview” button in the toolbar. This will open your prototype in a new window, and you can use your mouse to click around and interact with it.
You can also preview how your users will flow through your prototype by clicking the “User Flows” button in the toolbar. This will open a new window where you can see all the possible paths your users can take through your prototype.
Test Your Prototype For Usability
After you have done designing all the interactions and user flows, the most important thing is to test your prototype for usability. The best way to do this is to get some people unfamiliar with your design and have them use your prototype.
Ask them to think aloud as they use it and observe their behaviour. Converting Figma to HTML can be a crucial step in the development process, especially when you’re looking to translate your prototype into a live website. Please take note of any areas where they seem to be struggling or having trouble understanding. These are areas you need to work on.
Designing a usable Figma prototype takes work, but it’s possible with some effort and planning. By following these tips, you should be able to create a user-friendly and interactive prototype.
