Basic Figma Tools for Design Critiques

1. Frames

Frames in Figma are the foundational building blocks for any design. They act as containers that hold other elements like text, shapes, and images. When conducting design critiques, understanding how to use frames effectively is crucial. Frames can represent different sections of a webpage, such as headers, footers, or content areas. By organizing your design into frames, you create a structured layout that is easier to critique and modify.

Examples and Analogies

Think of frames as the walls of a house. Just as walls define the different rooms in a house, frames define the different sections of your design. For instance, a header frame might contain the logo and navigation menu, while a content frame might hold the main body text and images. This clear separation makes it easier for reviewers to focus on specific areas and provide targeted feedback.

2. Layers Panel

The Layers Panel in Figma is a powerful tool that allows you to manage and organize all the elements within your design. It displays a hierarchical view of your design, showing how different elements are nested and grouped. During design critiques, the Layers Panel helps in identifying and isolating specific elements for discussion. You can easily toggle visibility, lock elements, or reorder layers to facilitate a smoother critique process.

Examples and Analogies

Imagine the Layers Panel as a filing cabinet where each drawer contains different documents. Just as you can pull out a specific drawer to access its contents, you can select a layer in the Layers Panel to focus on that particular element in your design. For example, if you want to discuss the typography in your design, you can isolate the text layers and hide other elements, making the critique more focused and efficient.