Part 1: Introduction and Website Types
Figma is a powerful SaaS UI design software that revolutionizes designers' collaboration on visual projects. With its cloud-based platform, users can seamlessly work on their designs from any device with an internet connection, making it convenient and accessible for teams spread across the globe.
One of Figma's standout features is its ability to facilitate real-time collaboration. Project owners can grant different levels of access to team members, allowing them to review designs, make changes, and leave comments simultaneously. The tool's intuitive interface makes onboarding new collaborators a breeze, streamlining the design process.
Figma has gained significant popularity among designers in recent years and emerged as a preferred choice, surpassing traditional software like Adobe XD and Sketch. Its comprehensive feature set, collaborative capabilities, and ease of use have contributed to its rapid adoption.
You're in the right place if you want to utilize Figma for web design. In this article, we'll guide you through creating a website design using Figma, providing valuable insights and step-by-step instructions.
Types of Websites
Before delving into the specifics of using Figma for website design, it's essential to understand the different types of websites and their defining characteristics:
Business Websites:
Corporate websites typically consist of a few pages and may even be designed as a one-page website. If you're considering a one-page design, you can seek inspiration and resources from the Onepagelove community.
Product Websites:
Product websites serve a similar purpose to business websites but often incorporate marketing and sales elements. When designing a product website, creativity in layout and graphics is encouraged. These websites can either be connected to an eCommerce store or stand-alone. Apple's website is an excellent example of a product website that showcases innovative design elements.
News and Blogs:
Websites in this category cater to a diverse audience and require diligent application of layout and design rules. Web portals like Wired and Yahoo also fall into this category, necessitating a specific approach as they allow users to customize content based on their preferences.
Web Apps and SaaS:
Websites for web applications and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products encompass a broad ecosystem of functionalities and applications. Adopting a well-organized design system that adheres to atomic design principles can significantly streamline development time. Utilizing reusable components, libraries, and thoughtful design structures is crucial to ensure seamless productivity and collaboration. Facebook, Asana, Discord, Slack, and Figma are examples of web apps and SaaS websites.
Online Stores:
eCommerce websites, which have been a staple of the web for years, house a vast amount of information and often feature hundreds of thousands of product pages. While front-end design is essential, the backend code that supports the entire system is crucial for the website's stability. Popular eCommerce platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and AliExpress showcase the significance of robust backend infrastructure.
Understanding the different types of websites will help you tailor your design approach to meet the specific requirements of each category.
The Steps in Designing a Website
Irrespective of the design tool you choose, the website design process involves transforming a simple brief, whether it's a few lines or an extensive research document, into a visually appealing and functional website. The process begins with conceptualizing ideas and developing a structural plan and information architecture.
Consider the initial stages of website design as laying the concrete foundation and erecting the structural columns of a building. Without a solid structure or skeleton, the entire project could collapse.
Once you've defined the individual pages and overall content, you should create wireframes—a rough, low-fidelity representation of your design. Wireframes can be built from scratch in Figma or based on existing templates that align with your design goals. These wireframes serve as a blueprint, allowing you to envision the complete picture before delving into the detailed design phase.
After obtaining approval on the layout from your project manager or client, you can progress to a more detailed mid-definition prototype. If you have multiple repeating layouts, design them once and replicate them as needed. However, it's important to note that this phase does not incorporate actual content or refine visual elements. The website's design must be well-defined before investing time in creating a pixel-perfect final version. This approach ensures you avoid wasting developers' time by having them work on non-final designs.
To ensure your results align with the project requirements, seek regular feedback and reviews from your team at each step of the design process.
Grid and Layout
Figma offers a valuable "snap to grid" feature, which significantly aids in creating well-structured layouts.
The vertical column grid system is the most widely used and practical guideline for web design. This system enables you to arrange design elements consistently and enhances the visual accessibility of the layout for collaborating team members.
A best practice is employing a 12-column grid with a column width between 50 and 100 pixels. The spacing, or gutter, between columns, can vary, but a good rule of thumb is to ensure everything is divisible by 8 or 10. Adhering to grid limits, maintaining appropriate padding between elements, and incorporating white space to improve content legibility are crucial aspects of effective web design.
By following grid and layout guidelines, you'll create visually pleasing and well-structured designs that contribute to a seamless user experience.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we will dive deeper into Figma's features and explore how to utilize them to design stunning and functional websites.