What Are Flows in Figma?

When working with Figma, one of the essential features for creating interactive and user-friendly designs is flows. Flows allow designers to create prototypes that simulate user interactions and the flow of screens within an application or website.

What are Flows?

In Figma, a flow represents the journey a user takes through different screens and interactions in your design. It helps you visualize how users will navigate your interface and identify any potential usability issues.

Flows are particularly useful when designing complex user interfaces with multiple screens, such as mobile apps or websites with extensive navigation menus. They provide a way to map out the different paths users can take, ensuring a seamless experience.

Creating Flows in Figma

To create flows in Figma, you need to link screens together using interactive prototyping. Here's how:

1. Select the first screen you want to include in your flow.
2. Click on the "Prototype" tab located on the right-hand side panel.
3. Click on an interactive element (like a button) on this screen that should lead to another screen.
4. Figma will display a blue handle indicating that it recognizes this element as interactive. Drag this handle to the destination screen.
5. Release the handle to create a link between the two screens.
6. You can repeat this process for all desired interactions within your design.

Presentation Mode

To preview your flow, you can enter Presentation Mode by clicking on the "Play" icon at the top of the Figma toolbar. This allows you to interact with your design as if it were a real application, navigating through the screens you've connected.

While in Presentation Mode, you can click on interactive elements to move between screens and test the flow of your design. This enables you to identify any inconsistencies or usability issues and make necessary adjustments.

Tip: To exit Presentation Mode, press the "Esc" key on your keyboard or click on the "X" icon in the top right corner of the screen.

Publishing and Sharing Flows

Once you're satisfied with your flow, you can publish and share it with others for feedback or presentation purposes. Figma allows you to generate a shareable link that maintains the interactivity of your design.

To publish and share a flow:

1. Click on the "Share" button located at the top right corner of the Figma interface.
2. In the sharing settings, select whether you want viewers to have access to view or edit your design.
3. Copy the generated link and share it with others via email, chat, or any other preferred communication method.

Conclusion

In summary, flows are an essential part of designing interactive prototypes in Figma. They allow designers to map out user journeys and simulate how users will navigate through different screens. By creating flows, designers can identify potential usability issues early in the design process and ensure a seamless experience for their users.

So go ahead and start creating flows in Figma to bring your designs to life!