FigDock
Background
Navigating design software can sometimes feel like getting lost in a labyrinth of panels and dropdown menus. Designers are crafting far more than just user interfaces. Loyal users are generating everything from intricate vectors to 3D visuals, testing the application's limits. But imagine a world where Figma was fully equipped to accommodate this creativity?
Skilled Figma users are stretching the software's limited capabilities to undertake tasks typically tackled by more robust tools.
Challenges with Figma
However, even the most enthusiastic Figma supporters concede the platform's limitations, often finding themselves switching back and forth between Figma and other software during their projects.
"Figma might offer just a fraction of Illustrator's capacity when dealing with vector graphics. Many times, that small percentage is all you need to work in Figma. However, for those needing an industrial-strength, feature-rich vector graphics solution, Figma falls short. That said, it's important to remember that it's not exactly Figma's core purpose to rival Illustrator.”
Role
User Research
Hi-Fidelity Design
Visual Design
Personal Project
I love exploring new ideas, even if they’re a little risky.
Understanding the art of restraint is crucial, as design falters without the practical "how" of execution. I am a firm believer that design flourishes when it gazes into the future, and my aspiration with this project is to manifest my passion for visionary thinking.
Timeline
2 weeks
These plugins mirror functionalities not currently native to Figma's Editor, such as image tracing and halftone filtering.
Figma's extensive array of plugins, mini-apps sourced from its own community, is narrowing the divide between Figma and established powerhouses like Illustrator.
The plugins are sourced from Figma's community, showcasing the collaborative effort to enhance the platform's capabilities.
As such, many Figma practitioners use them as a means to replicate aspects of the Illustrator suite.
Adobe Illustrator has long been the favored option for complex design jobs, but Figma's streamlined elegance is catching the eye of dedicated followers who are challenging the limitations of the UI editor.
How can we make plugins work better in Figma?
Introducing FigDock
More space, more tools. Better organisation.
Brand new backdrop to the Figma Resources, serving as a versatile workstation where designers can position their preferred plugins, widgets, and tools.
With tailored workspaces, it allows designers to explore a range of plugin setups crafted for all kinds of creative endeavors, from prototyping to typeface work to illustration, empowering users to streamline their workflow and elevate their creative process.
Issues with Current Plugin Management
In the Figma environment, plugins appear as individual panels and allow only a single plugin operation at any given moment. While this setup works adequately for simpler projects with minimal plugin requirements, it becomes chaotic for more intricate efforts involving multiple plugins. Here, designers undergo a tedious cycle of opening, closing, and re-opening various panels on repeat.
“With more elaborate projects, designers find themselves constantly balancing multiple plugins simultaneously. They're reopening the identical panels over and over again.”
This practice seems outdated, reminiscent of a past era in interface design. It might be time to let it stay in the past.
Editor View
The Editor View sits in the middle. You can edit your project directly from there.
Side Boards
Plugins and widgets are docked to the left and right sides of the Editor View. You can keep multiple plugins open at the same time.
Bottom Sheet
From the bottom sheet, you can view all docked plugins, dock another plugin, save your setup and access your other collections of plugins.
Drag-and-drop editing.
Drag and drop your favorite plugins to dock them onto the Dock surface.
What's next?
This case study relies on personal experiences and anecdotes gathered from both friends and online users. To delve deeper into bridging the gap between Figma, Illustrator, and other applications, I am eager to conduct additional user research.
Given that this project was executed swiftly, there is an opportunity to dedicate more attention to the finer aspects: introducing new icons, ensuring design system consistency, and addressing any loose ends in the workflow.
Easy cleanup.
To discard unwanted plugins, simply drag them to the margins of the Dock. Out of sight, out of mind.