How Do You Share Figma With Developers?
Sharing Figma designs with developers is an essential part of the design-to-development process. By using Figma, designers can easily collaborate with developers and ensure that their vision is accurately translated into code. In this tutorial, we will explore different ways to share Figma designs with developers and streamline the handoff process.
1. Share Design Files
One of the most straightforward ways to share Figma designs with developers is by sharing the design files themselves. Once you have completed your design, click on the "Share" button located in the top right corner of the Figma interface. This will open a modal window where you can adjust various sharing settings.
Adjust Permissions
In the sharing settings modal, you can set permissions for each collaborator. Developers typically require viewing and commenting access to inspect and provide feedback on the design. You can also grant them editing access if they need to make changes or extract assets directly from the design file.
Create a Shareable Link
To share your design file with developers, click on the "Copy Link" button in the modal window. This will generate a unique URL that you can send to your developer team via email or any other communication platform. Developers can then access the design file by simply clicking on this link.
2. Use Developer Handoff Feature
Figma's developer handoff feature makes it even easier to share designs with developers by providing them with code-related information directly within the Figma interface.
Add Developer Handoff Information
To enable developer handoff, select a frame or component in your design and navigate to the right-hand panel. Click on the "Code" tab and choose the appropriate platform (e.g., iOS, Android, Web) from the dropdown menu.
Figma will then generate CSS or code snippets specific to the selected platform. Developers can access these snippets and extract relevant design information such as colors, typography, and spacing without needing to inspect the design manually.
Invite Developers to View
Once you have added developer handoff information, you can invite developers to view it by clicking on the "Share" button in the top right corner of the Figma interface. In the sharing settings modal, enter the email addresses of your developer team members and assign them appropriate permissions.
3. Provide Design Specifications
In addition to sharing design files and using developer handoff, it is often helpful to provide developers with detailed design specifications. This ensures that they have a comprehensive understanding of your design intent and can implement it accurately.
Create a Design Specification Document
You can create a separate document within Figma specifically for design specifications. In this document, include detailed explanations of your design decisions, user interactions, and any specific functionality requirements.
Use Figma's text formatting options to make important points stand out. For example, you can use underlined text for key instructions or bold text for important notes.
Add Visual References
Incorporate visual references such as screenshots or mockups within your design specification document. You can use Figma's image insertion feature to embed visual assets directly into the document.
Conclusion
Sharing Figma designs with developers is an integral part of ensuring a smooth design-to-development handoff process. By leveraging features like file sharing, developer handoff, and design specification documents, designers can effectively communicate their design intent and collaborate with developers seamlessly.
Remember to use Figma's collaboration features wisely, provide clear instructions, and incorporate visual elements to make the handoff process engaging and efficient.
