A Comparison of Figma vs FigJam | Your Ultimate Guide

Ever wished you could design a rocket ship with just a few clicks? Well, maybe not a rocket ship, but we have Figma and Figjam the magic tools for designers.

Think of Figma as a magical drawing board for designers. It lets them make all sorts of things, like websites, apps, and even cool animations. Designers love it because they can work together in real-time, like having a virtual art party!

While FigJam is like a big digital whiteboard. It's not just for designers, but for anyone who loves to brainstorm ideas. You can stick notes, doodle, and chat with your friends or team, all on the same digital page. It's like being in a creative meeting without leaving your computer!

Let’s look at the brief overview of Figma and Figjam!

Figma vs FigJam

Let’s learn in detail what is Figma and FigJam and how they are different from each other!

What is Figma?

Imagine you're building a super cool website or an app. You want it to look amazing, right? Well, that's what Figma does. It is like a magic tool for designers to make cool websites and mobile apps. 

It's a tool that lets you create all sorts of stuff, from websites to apps to games, and it's super easy to use. 

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What is Figma used for?

It is used for designing digital products like websites, and apps, allowing teams to collaborate in real-time and create designs efficiently. Designers love this tool because it's so multiskilled – you can create all kinds of designs, whether you're a beginner or a pro.

The coolest thing about this tool is that you can work on your designs with other people in real time. That means you can collaborate with your teammates, even if they're on the other side of the world. It's like working on a project together in the same room, but without actually being in the same room. 

Figma lets you prototype your designs, which means you can see how they'll look and feel before you build them. It helps you keep all your design elements organized so you can find them easily. 

Design teams love it because it's so strong and flexible. Whether you're working on a small project or a big one, it has everything you need to bring your ideas to life.

So, if you're a designer looking for a versatile tool that lets you collaborate with your teammates, prototype your designs, and keep everything organized, then Figma is the way to go.

Features of Figma

• Real-time Collaboration:

Multiple team members can work on the same project simultaneously, seeing each other's changes instantly. No more waiting for files to be sent back and forth!

• Design Tools: 

It offers a bunch of tools to help you create designs. You can edit shapes, arrange layouts, and control text styles easily, so you can create complex designs with ease. It has a digital toolbox full of everything you need to make your designs look great!

• Prototyping: 

This feature lets you create interactive prototypes of your designs. It's like making a clickable preview of your website or app, so you can see how everything will work together before you start building it for real.

• Design Systems:

It allows you to create and manage design systems, ensuring consistency across your designs and making it easy to reuse elements, no matter who's working on them.

• Version History: 

It keeps track of your design changes, allowing you to return to previous versions if needed and providing a comprehensive history of your project's evolution.

• Plugins: 

It supports extra tools called plugins. These plugins add new features and integrations to Figma, making it even more powerful and customizable.

• Auto Layout: 

This feature helps you make designs that adapt to different screen sizes automatically. It rearranges everything perfectly so that your designs always look great on any device.

• Comments and Feedback: 

You can leave comments directly on specific design elements, making it easy to provide feedback and collaborate with team members.

• File Sharing: 

This tool allows you to share your designs with others via links, enabling seamless collaboration and feedback gathering without the need for file downloads or email attachments.

• Developer Handoff: 

This feature helps developers understand your designs better. It generates code snippets and design specs automatically, so they know exactly how to bring your designs to life. It's like giving developers a roadmap to follow!

When to use Figma

• Designing Websites and Apps: It is great to use this when you're making websites or apps. It helps you create all the different screens and elements, like buttons and menus, that people will interact with.
   
• Collaborating with a Team: If you're working with other people also on a project, it's perfect. It lets everyone work on the same design at the same time, so you can see each other's changes instantly.
   
• Creating Prototypes: If you want, you can also test out how your design will work before building it. It lets you make interactive prototypes that simulate how users will navigate through your website or app.
   
• Maintaining Consistency: If you're designing something that needs to look the same across different devices or screens, Figma is ideal. It helps you create design systems that ensure everything stays consistent and balanced.
   
• Sharing and Presenting: When you need to show your designs to clients or anyone, it is perfect. You can share a link to your design, and they can view it right in their web browser without needing any special app or software.
   
• Working Remotely: If you're working from home or collaborating with people in different locations then it is a lifesaver. It lets you work together in real-time, just like you're sitting in the same room.

How to use Figma?

Here are some simple steps to use it:

• Click here: Sign Up 
• Define Your Project
• Create a Frame
• Build Your Layout
• Customize Your Design
• Leverage Alignment & Distribution
• Add Visuals (Optional)
• Comments and Feedback
• Prototype Your Design (for UI/UX)
• Polish & Iterate
• Save and Share Your Design

Real-life Examples:

• Designing a Website: If a team of designers works together to create a new website for a clothing brand they'll use Figma to design each page of the website, including the homepage, product pages, and checkout process. With its real-time collaboration features, they can all work on the same designs at the same time.

• Creating a Mobile App: If a group of app developers is designing a new mobile app for tracking fitness goals then they can use Figma to create wireframes and prototypes of the app's interface, experimenting with different layouts and features.

What is FigJam?

Ever been in a big group where everyone was sharing ideas and writing on a huge board? Well, FigJam is like bringing that experience into the digital world. It's a brand-new tool launched by Figma, and it's all about making imagination and collaboration super easy.

Whether you're in the same room or miles apart, it lets you work together in real-time.

What is FigJam used for?

FigJam is designed to help you and your team come up with awesome ideas, whether you're planning a project, solving a problem, or just having a creative jam session. 

With this tool, you can write down your thoughts, draw sketches, and even stick virtual sticky notes everywhere. It's like having a big digital whiteboard where you can let your imagination run.

But it isn't just about throwing ideas around– it's also about collaborating with your team at the same time. You can chat with your teammates using the cursor chat feature, even if you're miles apart. 

It also lets you vote on ideas, so you can see which ones are the most popular with your team. 

Features of FigJam

• Digital Whiteboard: 

It gives you a big digital space where you can draw, write, and brainstorm ideas just like on a physical whiteboard.

• Sticky Notes: 

You can add virtual sticky notes to your board to note down ideas, tasks, or notes, making it easy to organize thoughts and collaborate with your team.

• Cursor Chat: 

You can chat with your team members at the same time using your cursors, so it feels like you're all in the same room, even if you're miles apart.

• Voting: 

It lets you vote on your ideas. This means you and your team can give feedback on different ideas by voting for the ones you like the most. It's a great way to see which ideas are the most popular and make decisions together as a team.

• Drawing Tools: 

It gives you a variety of drawing tools to use. You can choose from things like pens, markers, and shapes to sketch out your ideas or create diagrams. It's like having a digital art kit right at your fingertips!

• Templates: 

It offers pre-made templates for things like brainstorming sessions, user journey maps, and flowcharts. These templates help you get started quickly and easily, without having to start from scratch. They're like ready-made blueprints that you can customize to fit your needs.

• Integration with Figma: 

You can easily transfer your FigJam ideas into Figma to turn them into fully developed designs. It allows for a seamless transition from ideation to actual design creation so that you can turn your imagination into reality!

When to use FigJam?

• Brainstorming Sessions: It is perfect for brainstorming sessions where you and your team want to generate ideas together. It provides a digital space similar to a physical whiteboard where everyone can contribute their thoughts.
   
• Collaborative Ideation: When you need to collaborate with others to come up with new concepts or solutions, it is the tool for the job. It allows team members to work together in real-time, sharing ideas and building upon each other's contributions.
   
• Visual Planning and Organization: Use this tool when you need to visually plan and organize ideas, tasks, or projects. The virtual sticky notes and drawing tools make it easy to map out workflows, timelines, or any other visual plans.
   
• Plan Designs: Before diving into detailed design work, use this tool to think and explore different design ideas. It provides an environment where you can experiment with layouts, sketches, and concepts.
   
• Feedback and Voting: It can be used to gather feedback and evaluate ideas or concepts with your team or stakeholders. The voting feature allows you to vote on different designs or concepts, helping you identify the most promising ideas.
   
• Remote Collaboration: If your team is working remotely, it is a valuable tool for collaboration. It gives the experience of working together in person, even when team members are physically apart.

How to use FigJam?

Here are some steps to use it:

• Click here: Sign In
• Create a FigJam File
• Start Creativity
• Collaborate with Your Team
• Use Chat and Comments
• Vote on Ideas
• Save and Share

Real-life Examples:

• Brainstorming Session: A marketing team is brainstorming ideas for a new advertising campaign. They'll use FigJam to create a virtual creativity session, where team members can share ideas, sketch out concepts, and collaborate in real-time. Its digital whiteboard and sticky notes make it easy to capture and organize.
   
• Design Workshop: A group of UX designers is managing a design workshop to explore improvements to a mobile app. They can use FigJam to make easier the workshop, guiding participants through activities like user journey mapping and rapid prototyping. Its drawing tools and templates help the designers to visualize ideas.

Key Differences Between Figma and FigJam

Purpose:

• Figma is mainly for designing things like websites and apps. It's where you make things look polished and professional, just like what you see on your phone or computer screen.
   
• FigJam is for ideation and working together on ideas, where you come up with creative ideas, doodle, and scribble down thoughts, kind of like a big digital whiteboard where everyone can contribute.

Features:

• Figma has tools for designing, prototyping, keep everything organized with design systems. It's like having a big toolbox full of everything you need to make awesome designs, from drawing shapes to testing how buttons will click.
   
• FigJam has features that make creativity and collaborating with your team super fun and easy, like sticky notes, chat, and voting to help with creativity and collaboration.

Interface:

• Figma looks like a design tool with lots of buttons and options. It's designed this way so you can easily access all the tools you need to create things like websites and apps.
   
• FigJam looks like a digital whiteboard where you can draw, write, and stick freely. It's made for creativity and collaboration with your team, so it's simpler and more focused on sharing ideas rather than designing visuals.

Collaboration:

• Figma lets you work on designs with your team at the same time, even if you're in different places. It's like everyone working on a design together in real-time.
   
• FigJam also lets you collaborate in real-time, but it's more focused on creativity and sharing ideas. It's like having a big session where everyone can throw out ideas and build on each other's thoughts, whether you're in the same room or miles apart.

Flexibility:

• Figma is flexible and can be used for different design projects, from websites to mobile apps, so you can use it for pretty much any design project you have in mind.
   
• FigJam is flexible too, but it's best for ideation sessions and working together on ideas, where you and your team can freely explore and develop ideas, making it perfect for creative sessions and collaboration.

Comparison between Figma and FigJam

Figma is like a digital workshop where designers create detailed blueprints for websites and apps. It's all about making things look just right, down to the tiniest pixel. Figma is great for designers who want their creations to be smooth and polished.

In contrast, FigJam is more like a big blank canvas where teams brainstorm and draw their crazy ideas. It's a space where creativity can run wild without worrying about everything being perfect. It is perfect for teams who want to let their imaginations rise and come up with new, exciting concepts.

Both Figma and FigJam let people work together in real-time, like having a virtual meeting where everyone can contribute at the same time. But they have different focuses. Figma is all about the final product, making sure every detail is just right for users. FigJam is more about the journey, letting teams explore different paths and ideas together. 

Choosing the Right Tool Between Figma vs FigJam

Deciding between Figma and FigJam depends on what you're working on and how your team likes to collaborate!

If you're designing something like a website or an app, Figma would be a great choice because it has all the tools you need to create detailed designs and samples. You can collaborate with your team in real-time, make changes to the samples, and see how everything looks before you start building. 

On the other hand, if you're working on a project where collaboration is key, FigJam might be your path to go. Let's say you're planning a brainstorming session to come up with ideas for a new marketing campaign. FigJam would be perfect for that because it's designed specifically for ideation and collaboration. You can write down ideas, draw sketches, and chat with your team, just like you would in a physical meeting.

The best part is that Figma and FigJam work well together, so you can seamlessly transition between the two as needed. So, whether you're designing a new website or just looking for a flexible tool to help you collaborate with your team, Figma and FigJam are the best tools. With their seamless integration and variable features, you can implement any project with confidence and creativity.

Conclusion

Figma is an all-round design tool, perfect for creating websites, apps, and more, with its powerful design tools, prototyping features, and real-time collaboration. On the other hand, FigJam is your creative imagination buddy, offering a digital whiteboard space where you can write down ideas, collaborate with your team in real-time, and have fun with features like sticky notes and voting.

So, whether you're diving into detailed design work or sparking creativity with your team, Figma and FigJam have got you covered. And the best part is they work seamlessly together, allowing you to effortlessly transition from imagination to design creation.

Ready to supercharge your design process? Try Figma and FigJam today and unleash your creativity like never before!