Prototyping and Interactions in Figma

Key Concepts

• Triggers
• Actions
• Animations
• Auto-Animate

Triggers

Triggers in Figma are events that initiate interactions. Common triggers include clicking a button, hovering over an element, or scrolling. For example, a "Click" trigger can be set on a button to navigate to another screen, while a "Hover" trigger can change the appearance of a menu item.

Think of triggers as the starting point of a chain reaction. Just as pressing a button on a remote control triggers a TV to turn on, a trigger in Figma starts a series of actions that simulate user interactions.

Actions

Actions are the outcomes of triggers. They define what happens when a trigger is activated. Common actions include navigating to a different frame, showing or hiding layers, or playing an animation. For instance, clicking a "Submit" button might trigger an action to show a confirmation message.

Consider actions as the effects of a cause. Just as flipping a light switch turns on a light, an action in Figma executes the desired interaction, such as moving to a new screen or revealing hidden content.

Animations

Animations in Figma add motion to interactions, making prototypes feel more dynamic and realistic. Animations can include transitions between frames, object movements, and changes in opacity or scale. For example, a menu might slide in from the side when a button is clicked.

Think of animations as the movement in a movie. Just as a character moves across the screen, an animation in Figma brings elements to life, enhancing the user experience with smooth transitions and visual effects.

Auto-Animate

Auto-Animate is a feature in Figma that automatically creates smooth transitions between frames with minimal setup. It detects changes in position, size, rotation, and other properties to generate animations. For instance, moving a button from one place to another in a sequence of frames will automatically animate the movement.

Consider Auto-Animate as a smart assistant that simplifies the animation process. Just as a GPS automatically calculates the best route, Auto-Animate in Figma automatically creates fluid animations based on changes in your design.

Examples and Analogies

Triggers Example

Design a navigation menu where hovering over a menu item triggers a dropdown list to appear. This interaction uses a "Hover" trigger to initiate the action of showing the dropdown.

Actions Example

Create a form submission process where clicking the "Submit" button triggers an action to show a loading spinner and then navigate to a confirmation page. This sequence uses multiple actions to simulate a real-world form submission.

Animations Example

Design a product showcase where clicking on a thumbnail triggers an animation that zooms in and centers the selected product image. This interaction uses animations to create a visually engaging experience.

Auto-Animate Example

Create a slideshow where each slide automatically transitions to the next with a fade-in effect. Using Auto-Animate, you can set up the transitions with minimal effort, allowing the feature to handle the animation details.