Design Resources
Figma
Browser-based design tool that has largely replaced desktop alternatives for UI/UX work. Real-time collaboration is genuinely seamless, and the component system scales well for design systems work.
Figma is a browser-based interface design tool that has become the industry standard for UI/UX design work. It replaced Sketch as the dominant tool for most design teams, primarily because it runs in the browser and supports real-time collaboration — multiple designers can work on the same file simultaneously, and developers can inspect designs without needing a separate handoff tool.
The product has expanded significantly beyond basic vector design. Auto Layout enables responsive component design that adapts to content changes. Variables and design tokens support systematic design at scale. The Dev Mode provides developers with CSS, iOS, and Android code snippets directly from design files.
For UI/UX designers, Figma is the primary workspace for wireframing, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes. The component system makes it practical to maintain consistency across large products — changes to a component propagate to all instances automatically.
For design systems teams, Figma's variables and token support have made it a viable tool for managing design tokens that sync with code. The gap between design and implementation has narrowed considerably with these features.
For developers, the ability to inspect designs, copy CSS values, and export assets directly from Figma without needing a designer to prepare handoff files saves significant back-and-forth time.
Free tier allows 3 projects with unlimited collaborators in view mode. Professional plan at $12/editor/month. Organization plan at $45/editor/month for enterprise features. FigJam (whiteboard) has separate pricing.