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
Designing Navigation Patterns in Figma

Designing Navigation Patterns in Figma

Key Concepts

1. Hierarchical Navigation

Hierarchical Navigation organizes content into a tree-like structure, where each level of the hierarchy represents a different category or sub-category. This pattern is ideal for apps with a deep content structure. In Figma, you can create hierarchical navigation by using frames to represent different levels of the hierarchy and linking them through buttons or icons.

For example, in a news app, the top level might be categories like "World," "Sports," and "Technology." Clicking on "Sports" would take you to a second level with sub-categories like "Football," "Basketball," and "Tennis."

2. Flat Navigation

Flat Navigation presents all primary navigation options at the same level, making it easy for users to access different sections of the app without going through multiple layers. This pattern is suitable for apps with fewer sections or where users need quick access to various features. In Figma, you can design flat navigation by arranging buttons or icons horizontally or vertically on the screen.

For instance, a social media app might use flat navigation with icons for "Home," "Notifications," "Messages," and "Profile" placed at the bottom of the screen.

3. Faceted Navigation

Faceted Navigation allows users to filter content based on multiple criteria simultaneously. This pattern is useful for apps with complex content that can be categorized in various ways. In Figma, you can create faceted navigation by designing filters or dropdown menus that users can interact with to refine their search results.

For example, an e-commerce app might offer faceted navigation where users can filter products by category, price range, brand, and customer rating.

4. Contextual Navigation

Contextual Navigation changes based on the user's current context or location within the app. This pattern provides relevant navigation options dynamically, enhancing the user experience. In Figma, you can design contextual navigation by using conditional logic to show or hide navigation elements based on the user's actions or location.

For instance, in a music streaming app, the navigation options might change from "Home," "Search," and "Library" to "Play," "Pause," and "Skip" when a user is listening to a song.

Examples and Analogies

Hierarchical Navigation: Think of a library with sections, sub-sections, and books. Each level of the hierarchy helps you narrow down your search, much like how hierarchical navigation guides users through different levels of content.

Flat Navigation: Imagine a restaurant menu with all dishes listed on one page. You can quickly see and choose what you want without flipping through multiple pages, similar to how flat navigation provides quick access to different app sections.

Faceted Navigation: Consider a clothing store where you can filter items by size, color, and style. Each filter narrows down the options, making it easier to find what you need, just like faceted navigation helps users refine their search.

Contextual Navigation: Picture a GPS navigation system that adjusts its directions based on your current location and destination. The navigation options change dynamically to provide relevant information, akin to how contextual navigation adapts to the user's context within the app.