Figma

Figma's main difference from older design software is that files live in the cloud rather than on someone's computer. Several people can work in the same file at once, clients can comment directly on a design through a link, and there is always one current version instead of files emailed back and forth.

Figma is a design tool, not a website builder. A Figma file shows what a site should look like and how it should behave; developers still build the real site in code or on a platform such as WordPress. The company has added features that move closer to building, but for most professional websites the design file and the finished site remain separate things.

How it works

Designers draw frames, which represent screens or sections, and fill them with shapes, text and images. Repeated elements such as buttons and cards become components, so a change to the main component updates every copy. Styles and variables hold colours, type and spacing, which map neatly to design tokens in code.

Frames can be linked into clickable prototypes for testing. For design handoff, developers open the same file to inspect measurements, export assets and copy values. Figma also offers a whiteboard product for workshops and diagrams, and a large range of plugins extends it.

Sharing is controlled by permissions on each file or project. People can be invited as editors, who can change the design, or as viewers, who can look and usually comment, and a link can be limited to invited people or opened to anyone who has it. For client work, check who has access to files containing unreleased designs or customer details, and remove access for people who have left the project.

Example

A design team redesigning a school's parent portal shares one Figma file with the head teacher, two teachers and the developer. The teachers leave comments on the timetable screen asking for a weekly view, the designer updates the component, and the developer inspects the new spacing and exports the icons the same afternoon, without a single file being emailed.

When the project ends, the file is moved into a team space owned by the school, so the school keeps it even if it later works with a different designer, and the developer keeps view access for maintenance. A year later, when the school wants a new events page, a new designer opens the same file, reuses the existing components and produces a matching page far faster than starting from scratch.

Why it matters for your business

For a business commissioning a website, Figma makes reviewing designs easier: you can open a link, comment on exact elements and see changes as they happen, without buying software. Ask whether you will own or receive the design files at the end of the project, since they are useful for future changes. You do not need Figma yourself unless you plan to design in-house, and simple projects built from a template may not need a design file at all.

Common mistakes

• Assuming that a Figma design is a working website that can be published as it is.
• Building files without components or shared styles, so every change has to be made by hand on each screen.
• Not agreeing who owns the Figma files and keeps access after the project ends.
• Reviewing designs only at desktop size in Figma and never on a phone.

Questions people ask

Is Figma free?

Figma has a free plan with limits on files and features, which is enough for trying it out or small personal projects. Teams that design regularly usually pay for editor seats on a paid plan, while people who only view and comment typically do not need a paid seat. Check the current plans, as pricing changes.

Do I need Figma to review my website design?

No. A designer can share a link that opens the design in your browser, where you can view screens, click through prototypes and leave comments without installing anything. You need to sign in with a free Figma account to comment. You only need a paid plan if you intend to edit designs yourself.

Can Figma designs be turned into code?

Partly. Developers can inspect sizes, colours and fonts and export assets directly, and Figma, its plugins and AI tools can generate code snippets or starter components. That code still needs a developer to make it responsive, accessible and connected to real content and systems before it can run a live website.