Celebrating Figma: Why we enjoy using Figma at Glucode

As we mark the anniversary of Figma’s public release, it’s the perfect time to reflect on why this tool has become so vital to us here at Glucode. Figma has seamlessly integrated into our daily workflows, not just for our design team but for everyone involved - from software engineers to our clients. It’s played a pivotal role in making collaboration smoother, more efficient, and, frankly, more enjoyable.

Why Figma?

Figma has revolutionised the way we work at Glucode. It’s not just a design tool; it’s a platform that fosters collaboration across teams. One of the things we appreciate most is how easy it is for new users to get to grips with Figma’s interface. Whether you’re a designer, an engineer, or even a client, you can dive in and start contributing almost immediately.

This ease of use has drastically improved our communication. Gone are the days of endless email chains and multiple file versions (remember “Final_Final_file_v24”?). With Figma, we’ve been able to cut down on the back-and-forth, enabling real-time feedback and faster decision-making. This means projects move along more smoothly and we can focus on what really matters - delivering high-quality work.

Another aspect we love is the thriving Figma community. It’s packed with resources, from plugins to forums, that provide endless inspiration and practical tools to enhance our projects. Whether we’re editing vectors, prototyping, or anything in between, there’s always a solution readily available.

But what truly sets Figma apart is how it continually evolves to meet our needs. With regular updates that genuinely improve our experience, Figma feels like a platform built for us - for designers, software engineers, and anyone who values seamless collaboration. It’s not just about creating; it’s about making the entire process from design to developer handover as efficient and effective as possible.

Some favourite features and plugins

To celebrate Figma’s anniversary, we asked our design team to share their favourite features and plugins that have made the biggest impact on their daily work.

Features

One of the most appreciated features is Auto-Layout. This feature has been a game-changer for us, especially when it comes to responsive design. Auto-Layout saves time and keeps everything neatly aligned, making it easier to manage various screen sizes without losing consistency.

A close second is the Sections feature. The Sections feature is brilliant for organising designs, screens, and concepts, which makes it easier for both us and our clients to navigate.

The Smart Selection and Multiple Edit features have been great time savers allowing us to make bulk edits and ensuring nothing is missed.

The recently integrated Material 3 and Apple iOS libraries and UI kits have also been an appreciated feature among the designers. They allow quick access to essential elements, keeping our designs up to date without the hassle of searching for official libraries elsewhere.

Plugins

One of the most valued plugins across the design team is Stark. Accessibility is crucial, and Stark ensures our designs are visually accessible to all users. It’s a must-have for us.

Pexels and Unsplash come in as close seconds. These plugins are lifesavers when it comes to quickly inserting placeholder images or finding the perfect stock photo. They not only save time but also help us manage storage more efficiently.

The Material Design Icon plugin has helped to quickly find an icon, allowing us to quickly find, customise, and align them perfectly. It’s been a significant time-saver.

Honourable Mentions:

Pablo Stanley’s Blush: A great tool for adding unique illustrations to our designs.
Musho AI: Offers AI-driven design suggestions that enhance productivity.
Map Maker: Simplifies the creation of custom maps.
Word Counter: Ensures our designs maintain a balanced amount of text.
Noise: Adds a subtle texture to our designs, giving them a polished finish.

Tips and tricks from the Glucode team

Here are some of our favourite Figma shortcuts and tips that have made our work easier:

• Anchor a component to the bottom of your artboard: Hold “⌥ ” + “D”.

• Make multiple duplicates of an element: Hold “⌥” to duplicate, then “⌘” + “D”.

• Reduce PDF size for sharing: Select “object” then “Rasterize Selection” to convert your artboard into an image.

• Bulk rename frames: Select the frames and hold “⌘” +“R”.

• Quickly scale a design while keeping elements proportionate: Use “K” to activate the scale tool.

• Replace copy without altering text styles: Copy the text, then hold “⇧” + “⌘” + “R” to paste it, retaining the original text style.

Join our Figma community

We’re also excited to share that Glucode has its own Figma community file, where you can access free assets that we’ve created. It’s our way of contributing back to the community that has given us so much. Be sure to check it out and see how these assets can enhance your own projects.

Figma has become more than just a tool for us - it’s a platform that empowers us to work smarter, collaborate more effectively, and produce better designs. Here’s to many more years of innovation and collaboration with Figma!