Figma for Mobile App Design
1 Introduction to Figma
1-1 Overview of Figma
1-2 Figma Interface Basics
1-3 Setting Up a Figma Account
2 Understanding Mobile App Design
2-1 Introduction to Mobile App Design
2-2 Key Principles of Mobile Design
2-3 Understanding User Experience (UX)
2-4 Understanding User Interface (UI)
3 Setting Up Your Figma Workspace
3-1 Creating a New Project
3-2 Organizing Layers and Frames
3-3 Using Templates and Plugins
3-4 Customizing Workspace Settings
4 Designing Mobile App Layouts
4-1 Creating Wireframes
4-2 Designing Navigation Patterns
4-3 Working with Grids and Layouts
4-4 Prototyping Navigation Flows
5 Typography and Text Styling
5-1 Choosing the Right Fonts
5-2 Setting Up Text Styles
5-3 Aligning and Justifying Text
5-4 Using Variable Fonts
6 Color Theory and Application
6-1 Understanding Color Theory
6-2 Creating Color Palettes
6-3 Applying Colors to Elements
6-4 Using Color Variables
7 Icons and Graphics
7-1 Importing and Using Icons
7-2 Designing Custom Icons
7-3 Working with Vector Networks
7-4 Using Plugins for Icon Design
8 Designing Interactive Elements
8-1 Buttons and Clickable Elements
8-2 Forms and Input Fields
8-3 Sliders and Switches
8-4 Dropdowns and Menus
9 Prototyping and Animations
9-1 Creating Interactive Prototypes
9-2 Adding Animations and Transitions
9-3 Testing Prototypes on Mobile Devices
9-4 Sharing and Collaborating on Prototypes
10 Responsive Design for Mobile Apps
10-1 Understanding Responsive Design
10-2 Designing for Different Screen Sizes
10-3 Using Auto Layout
10-4 Testing Responsiveness
11 Collaboration and Version Control
11-1 Collaborating with Team Members
11-2 Using Comments and Feedback
11-3 Managing Versions and Revisions
11-4 Integrating with Version Control Systems
12 Exporting and Sharing Designs
12-1 Exporting Assets for Development
12-2 Creating Design Systems
12-3 Sharing Designs with Stakeholders
12-4 Preparing for Handoff to Developers
13 Advanced Figma Techniques
13-1 Using Advanced Selection Tools
13-2 Mastering Boolean Operations
13-3 Creating Custom Plugins
13-4 Automating Design Tasks
14 Case Studies and Best Practices
14-1 Analyzing Real-World Mobile App Designs
14-2 Applying Best Practices in Figma
14-3 Learning from Design Critiques
14-4 Building a Portfolio of Mobile App Designs
15 Final Project and Certification
15-1 Planning and Designing a Mobile App
15-2 Implementing the Design in Figma
15-3 Prototyping and Testing the App
15-4 Submitting the Final Project for Certification
Exporting and Sharing Designs in Figma

Exporting and Sharing Designs in Figma

Key Concepts

1. Export Settings

Export settings in Figma allow you to customize how your designs are exported. This includes selecting the file format, resolution, and naming conventions. Proper export settings ensure that your assets are optimized for their intended use.

Example: Setting the export resolution to 3x for high-resolution displays and naming the file "logo@3x.png" to indicate its purpose and resolution.

2. Export Formats

Figma supports various export formats, including PNG, SVG, JPG, and PDF. Each format has its own advantages and is suitable for different use cases. Choosing the right format ensures that your designs are rendered correctly and efficiently.

Example: Exporting icons as SVG for scalability and logos as PNG for transparency.

3. Exporting Assets

Exporting assets involves selecting specific elements within your design to export. This allows you to extract only the necessary components, such as icons, buttons, or illustrations, for use in other projects or platforms.

Example: Exporting a set of buttons from a design system to use in a new mobile app project.

4. Sharing Links

Sharing links in Figma allows you to create a shareable URL for your designs. This link can be sent to team members, clients, or stakeholders for review and feedback. Sharing links enables real-time collaboration and quick access to your designs.

Example: Sending a shareable link to a client for feedback on a new app design.

5. Collaboration and Feedback

Collaboration and feedback in Figma involve using the sharing link to gather comments and suggestions from others. This feature allows team members to leave comments directly on the design, making it easy to pinpoint specific areas that need improvement.

Example: Inviting team members to leave comments on a prototype, ensuring that feedback is centralized and easily accessible.

6. Version Control

Version control in Figma helps manage different versions of a design. It allows users to track changes, revert to previous versions, and compare different iterations. This feature is crucial for maintaining a history of design decisions and improvements.

Example: Reverting to a previous version of a design after a major change is not well-received by stakeholders.

7. Presenting Designs

Presenting designs in Figma involves preparing your design for presentation to stakeholders or clients. This includes creating a polished and interactive prototype that can be shared and presented during meetings or demos.

Example: Creating an interactive prototype of a mobile app and presenting it during a client meeting to showcase the user flow and interactions.

8. Exporting Prototypes

Exporting prototypes in Figma allows you to create a clickable prototype that simulates the user experience. This prototype can be exported as an HTML file or a video, making it easy to share and present to stakeholders.

Example: Exporting a prototype as an HTML file and presenting it during a client meeting, allowing the client to interact with the design in real-time.

9. Exporting for Developers

Exporting for developers involves preparing your design assets for handoff to the development team. This includes exporting assets in the correct formats and providing detailed specifications and annotations for implementation.

Example: Exporting icons as SVG and providing a style guide with color codes and typography specifications for the development team.

10. Exporting for Print

Exporting for print involves preparing your designs for physical media, such as brochures, posters, or business cards. This includes exporting assets in high-resolution formats and ensuring that the design is optimized for print quality.

Example: Exporting a poster design as a high-resolution PDF and ensuring that all text and images are crisp and clear for print.

11. Exporting for Social Media

Exporting for social media involves preparing your designs for online platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. This includes exporting assets in the correct dimensions and formats for optimal display on these platforms.

Example: Exporting a social media post as a square JPG and ensuring that the image is optimized for high engagement on Instagram.

12. Best Practices

Best practices for exporting and sharing designs in Figma include organizing your assets, using consistent naming conventions, and providing clear documentation. These practices ensure that your designs are easy to manage, share, and implement.

Example: Organizing exported assets into folders based on their purpose (icons, buttons, illustrations) and providing a README file with instructions for use.

Examples and Analogies

Export Settings: Think of export settings as the settings on a camera. Just as you adjust the camera settings for different lighting conditions, you adjust export settings for different use cases.

Export Formats: Consider export formats as different types of paint. Each paint type (format) has its own properties and is suitable for different surfaces (use cases).

Exporting Assets: Imagine exporting assets as picking out ingredients from a pantry. You select only the necessary ingredients (assets) for your recipe (project).

Sharing Links: Picture sharing links as sending an invitation to a party. The link is your invitation, and the design is the party everyone gets to enjoy.

Collaboration and Feedback: Consider collaboration and feedback as a brainstorming session. Everyone can contribute ideas (comments) to improve the design.

Version Control: Think of version control as a library's catalog system. Each book (version) has a record of its changes, allowing you to find and compare different editions.

Presenting Designs: Imagine presenting designs as a theater performance. You prepare a polished and interactive show (prototype) for your audience (stakeholders).

Exporting Prototypes: Picture exporting prototypes as creating a dress rehearsal for a play. The rehearsal (prototype) allows you to practice and perfect the performance (design).

Exporting for Developers: Consider exporting for developers as packing a toolkit. You provide all the necessary tools (assets and specifications) for the job (implementation).

Exporting for Print: Think of exporting for print as preparing a canvas for painting. You ensure the canvas (design) is ready for the final artwork (print).

Exporting for Social Media: Imagine exporting for social media as creating a billboard. You design the billboard (post) to attract attention and engage viewers (followers).

Best Practices: Think of best practices as the rules of a recipe. Just as following a recipe ensures consistent results, following best practices ensures a consistent and effective design process.