Designing Interactive Elements in Figma

Key Concepts

• Interactive Elements
• States of Interaction
• Visual Feedback
• Consistency in Interaction
• Microinteractions
• User Flow
• Accessibility in Interaction
• Prototyping Interactions

1. Interactive Elements

Interactive elements are components in a mobile app that users can interact with, such as buttons, sliders, and toggles. These elements are crucial for user engagement and navigation. In Figma, you can design interactive elements by creating components that can be reused across different screens.

Example: A button is an interactive element that users can tap to perform an action. By designing a button component in Figma, you can ensure that all buttons in your app have a consistent look and feel.

2. States of Interaction

States of interaction refer to the different visual states an element can have based on user actions. Common states include default, hover, active, and disabled. Designing for these states helps users understand the status of an element and provides feedback on their actions.

Example: A button might have a default state with a solid color, a hover state with a slight color change, an active state with a darker color, and a disabled state with a grayed-out appearance.

3. Visual Feedback

Visual feedback is the visual response an element gives when a user interacts with it. This feedback helps users understand that their action has been recognized and can guide them through the interface. In Figma, you can use animations, color changes, and other visual effects to provide feedback.

Example: When a user taps a button, the button might change color and slightly enlarge to indicate that the action has been registered.

4. Consistency in Interaction

Consistency in interaction means using the same interaction patterns and visual feedback across similar elements throughout your app. This creates a predictable and intuitive user experience. In Figma, you can achieve consistency by using components and styles for interactive elements.

Example: If you use a specific color change for hover states on buttons, ensure that all buttons in your app follow the same pattern.

5. Microinteractions

Microinteractions are small, detailed interactions that occur in response to a user's actions. These interactions can enhance the user experience by providing subtle feedback and guiding users through the interface. In Figma, you can design microinteractions by creating animations and transitions for interactive elements.

Example: When a user swipes to delete an item from a list, a small animation can indicate the deletion and provide a satisfying visual cue.

6. User Flow

User flow refers to the path a user takes through an app to complete a task. Designing a clear and intuitive user flow is essential for a seamless user experience. In Figma, you can map out user flows by creating wireframes and prototypes that show the sequence of screens and interactions.

Example: For a login process, the user flow might start at the login screen, move to the password entry screen, and end at the home screen after a successful login.

7. Accessibility in Interaction

Accessibility in interaction involves ensuring that interactive elements are usable by everyone, including those with disabilities. This includes providing sufficient contrast, using clear labels, and ensuring that interactions are accessible via keyboard and screen readers. In Figma, you can use accessibility tools to check and improve the accessibility of your interactive elements.

Example: Ensure that buttons have descriptive labels and sufficient contrast between text and background colors to make them accessible to users with visual impairments.

8. Prototyping Interactions

Prototyping interactions involves creating a clickable prototype that simulates the user experience of interacting with your app. In Figma, you can use the prototyping tools to link screens and define interactions, allowing you to test and refine the user flow before development.

Example: Create a prototype that shows how a user navigates from the home screen to a product detail page, including interactions like tapping buttons and swiping through images.

Examples and Analogies

Interactive Elements: Think of interactive elements as the controls on a dashboard. Just as dashboard controls guide a driver, interactive elements guide users through your app.

States of Interaction: Imagine states of interaction as different modes of a light switch. Just as a light switch has on, off, and dimmed states, interactive elements have default, hover, active, and disabled states.

Visual Feedback: Consider visual feedback like a traffic light. Just as a traffic light signals when it's safe to proceed, visual feedback signals to users when their actions are recognized.

Consistency in Interaction: Consistency in interaction is like following a recipe. Just as a recipe ensures consistent results, consistent interactions ensure a predictable user experience.

Microinteractions: Picture microinteractions as the subtle movements of a watch. Just as a watch's second hand provides a small, satisfying movement, microinteractions provide small, satisfying feedback.

User Flow: Think of user flow as a journey map. Just as a journey map shows the path from one destination to another, user flow shows the path from one task to another in your app.

Accessibility in Interaction: Consider accessibility in interaction like designing a building with ramps and elevators. Just as these features make a building inclusive, accessible interactions ensure your app is usable by everyone.

Prototyping Interactions: Prototyping interactions is like creating a dress rehearsal. Just as a dress rehearsal tests a performance, prototyping interactions tests the user experience before development.