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    Prototyping Basics in Figma

    By Nitin Khatri (Senior UI/UX Designer & Educator)
    Reviewed by Sarah Miller (Principal Product Designer (Reviewer))
    Updated
    Video Lesson: 09:00
    Level: Intermediate
    Official References:
    Figma Help CenterFigma YouTube Channel

    Turn your static designs into interactive flows. This lesson introduces Figma's prototyping mode, focusing on basic connections and transitions between screens.

    Complete tasks and quiz to finish this lesson.
    Tasks
    Quiz

    Lesson Video

    Lesson Content

    Learning Objectives

    • •Switch to Prototype mode and create your first interaction
    • •Define triggers (On Tap, On Hover, On Drag) for connections
    • •Apply basic transitions like Instant, Dissolve, and Slide
    • •Preview and share interactive prototypes with stakeholders

    What You'll Learn

    1. Entering Prototype mode and selecting connections
    2. Setting the starting point of a user flow
    3. Configuring interaction details and animation types
    4. Using the Figma Mirror app for real-device testing

    Key Concepts

    Hotspots
    Interaction Triggers
    User Flows
    Presentation Mode

    Key Takeaways

    • ✓Prototyping brings layout and user experience to life.
    • ✓Connections consist of a trigger and an action (usually a transition to another frame).
    • ✓Flow starting points help organize different user paths within a single file.
    • ✓Presenting your work allows others to experience the design as a real app.

    Practice Tasks

    Interactive Screen Connection

    Build your first interactive flow by connecting two distinct screens.

    • Switch to the 'Prototype' tab in the right sidebar
    • Drag a connection wire from a button on Frame A to Frame B
    • Identify the trigger as 'On tap' and the action as 'Navigate to'
    • Launch 'Preview' mode and click the button to navigate

    Transition Effects

    Apply different animation styles to change how screens enter and exit.

    • Modify an existing connection to use the 'Slide In' transition
    • Adjust the transition direction (e.g., from Right to Left)
    • Set the easing to 'Ease Out' with a duration of 300ms
    • Test the transition in Presentation mode

    Knowledge Check

    Pass with 70% or higher

    1. What is the primary goal of creating a prototype in Figma?

    2. In the Prototype tab, what does a blue arrow (connection) signify?

    3. Which trigger is most commonly used for a mobile app navigation button?

    4. What is a 'Flow Starting Point'?

    Lesson FAQ

    Q: How can I practice what I learned in this lesson?

    We highly recommend opening your own Figma workspace in a side window and repeating the steps shown in the video. Utilize the tasks checklist above for specific practice targets.

    Q: What should I do if my layout behaves differently from the walkthrough?

    Double-check parent-child constraints and resizing values (e.g. Hug vs Fill). Ensure Auto Layout direction is correct and check the related guidebooks below for step-by-step visual references.

    Lesson Resources & Connections

    Prerequisites

    No prerequisites required. This is a foundational starter lesson.

    Related Guidebook

    How to use Smart Animate in Figma prototypes

    Read Guidebook →

    How to create hover and press interactions in Figma

    Read Guidebook →

    Relevant Design Tool

    Image Compressor

    Reduce asset size before export.

    Open Companion Tool →

    Next Lesson

    Advanced Prototyping and Interactions