In today’s world, where user experience has become a key priority for any business or digital product, UI design plays a central role in creating memorable and functional products. The interaction between users and digital products happens primarily through a well-designed interface, and to achieve this, UI/UX designers need to have powerful tools that allow them to express their creativity efficiently. Two of the most popular and loved by designers worldwide are Figma and Sketch.
The impact of UI design on digital products
When we talk about interface design, we are not just talking about aesthetics. UI is about how people interact with the product. Is it easy to use? Is it intuitive? Does it invite users to stay? In an age of fierce competition, a good interface can be the difference between an application or website being successful and being forgotten. This is where tools like Figma and Sketch come into play, allowing designers to not only create visually appealing interfaces, but also to create experiences that delight users and generate engagement.
Figma: collaboration in the cloud without limits
Figma has revolutionised interface design with its collaborative approach – can you imagine working in real time with your team, no matter where they are in the world? That’s the promise of Figma. It’s a completely cloud-based tool, which means that all changes made by any team member are seen immediately, without the need to send different versions or manually synchronise files.
What makes Figma special?
- Real-time collaboration: designers, developers and anyone else involved in the project can view, comment and edit the design at the same time. This feature breaks down the barriers of remote working and significantly improves team efficiency.
- Intuitive and easy-to-use interface: Figma has a low learning curve, which means that beginners and experts alike can start using it without major complications.
- Interactive prototyping: Figma allows prototyping directly from the platform itself, making it easy to create interactive experiences that can be easily shared with customers or stakeholders. It is worth mentioning that Sketch also offers this prototyping functionality.
- Reusable components: With Figma, you can create reusable components that save time and ensure consistency throughout the design. This is especially useful in large projects where consistency is key.
- Cross-platform accessibility: as a web-based tool, Figma works on any operating system. Whether you use Windows, Mac or Linux, there will be no compatibility issues. In addition, Figma offers a desktop application that enhances the experience of working without relying on the browser.
- Integrations with other tools: Figma integrates easily with tools such as Slack, Jira, and Zeplin, enabling seamless collaboration between design and development teams.
Figma for growing teams
Figma is not only ideal for small projects, but also for growing companies and teams. When it comes to rapidly evolving digital products, Figma’s ability to allow multiple people to work at the same time is a differentiating factor. From startups to tech giants, many teams have turned to Figma for its adaptability and ease of handling design changes in real time.
Sketch: the favourite of veteran designers
On the other hand, Sketch has long been the tool of choice for interface designers, and not without reason. Born in 2010, Sketch was one of the first tools to focus exclusively on UI/UX design, offering a clean and efficient environment that quickly appealed to the design community.
Why is Sketch still relevant?
- Pixel accuracy: Sketch is known for its detail control. If you are a designer who values absolute precision in every pixel, Sketch is the tool for you. The precision and flexibility it offers in vector creation is unmatched.
- Extensive plugin ecosystem: While Sketch is powerful on its own, its real strength lies in its huge ecosystem of plugins. From improving productivity to integrating new features, there’s a plugin for just about anything you can imagine.
- Advanced vector design: While Figma also offers vector design tools, Sketch remains the preferred choice for those who want deeper control over shapes and curves.
- Resources and templates: Sketch has been a key tool in the design community for years, which means there is a vast amount of resources, tutorials and templates available online, easing the learning curve and helping you solve any challenges you may encounter.
- Local documents: Unlike Figma, Sketch is a desktop application that saves files locally. This can be beneficial for those who prefer to have more control over where their designs are stored. However, Sketch also offers collaboration options through Sketch Cloud, which allows for sharing and collaboration on projects, although not as seamlessly as Figma.
Sketch in long-term projects
For projects that require a more meticulous approach and where teams prefer to work more individually, Sketch remains a solid choice. Although some companies are migrating to collaborative tools such as Figma, Sketch remains highly valued by those looking for flexibility in customising their workflows and creating highly detailed elements.
Figma vs. Sketch: Which one to choose?
Both tools are excellent, and your choice will depend largely on the specific needs of your team and project.
If your team works remotely or in constant collaboration, Figma, with its real-time collaboration capability, is certainly the more efficient choice for distributed teams.
If you prefer full control over your files and work in a more traditional environment, Sketch remains a robust and reliable option. Its precision in vector design and wide range of plugins make it a favourite tool for many veteran designers.
Price: a factor to consider
An important point to consider is the cost of both tools. Figma offers a freemium model, allowing users to get started for free, while Sketch requires a one-off licence fee, with an annual cost to receive updates. This aspect may influence the decision, depending on the size and budget of your team.
Why choose one tool when you can use both?
Although Figma and Sketch are direct competitors, there is no rule that says you can only use one of them. In fact, many designers combine the best of both tools. Sketch can be ideal for creating the most detailed visual elements, while Figma can facilitate collaboration and prototyping.
The future of interface design
Interface design will continue to evolve as user expectations become higher and technologies advance. What we consider a must-have tool today may change tomorrow, but what will never change is the need to design products that resonate emotionally with users.
In short, Figma and Sketch have marked a before and after in the world of interface design. Both offer powerful tools, each with their own strengths, and the choice between one or the other will depend on the needs of your team and project. The important thing is that, at the end of the day, these tools allow you to create products that not only work well, but also excite and delight those who use them.
At ALGO, we are committed to providing the best solutions for your design team to maximise their potential. If you’re looking for the ideal tool to take your projects to the next level, we’re here to guide you every step of the way – the future of design is in your hands!