Figma Fanatics: The Comedy of Ignoring 90% of a Product Designer’s Superpowers

In the fast-paced space of product design, where every wire-frame and interaction matters, it’s no secret that designers have a soft spot for tools like Figma. After all, it’s the place where ideas take shape and designs come to life. However, as we delve into the design landscape, it becomes crucial to question whether our focus on Figma is casting too long a shadow over the diverse skill set demanded by real-world design challenges.

Imagine this scenario: You’re part of a dynamic product design team gearing up to launch the next big product. Figma is the tool, helping you present the intricate details of your design seamlessly. But here’s the catch — is that all? or does it just make 10% of the skill set? In the midst of Figma fever, are we inadvertently letting other essential skills take a back seat?

Designers are obsessed with tools. To be clear, Figma and similar tools is undoubtedly important for product designers, it’s essential to avoid tunnel vision and recognize that other skills play a critical role in the success of a product designer. Overemphasis on a specific tool, sometimes referred to as “tool obsession,” can potentially hinder the development of a well-rounded skill set.

Here are a few things which Figma can not solve & are the core of product design:

1. User Research: Your product might be visually stunning, but does it truly resonate with your audience? Are you tapping into user needs and behaviors? In our Figma-centric world, the role of in-depth user research often gets overshadowed, risking designs that may miss the mark.

2. Prototyping: Yes, Figma allows us to create eye-catching prototypes, but are they translating into a flawless user experience? Prototyping and interaction design skills can’t be neglected; they are the bridge between a concept on Figma and a seamless product in the hands of users.

3. Collaboration: While Figma facilitates collaboration to a great extent, the magic truly happens when diverse skill sets come together. Are we fostering effective collaboration with developers, marketers, and stakeholders, or is our focus limited to the confines of our design tool?

4. The Business Blindspot: Picture this, a visually stunning product that doesn’t align with business goals. In our pursuit of design excellence in Figma, are we neglecting the importance of understanding the business context, market trends, and the broader impact of our designs on the overall product strategy?

5. Communication: Figma is our canvas, but how well are we narrating the design story? Clear and effective communication of design decisions is a skill often underestimated but crucial for ensuring that the entire team is on the same page.

Sure, staying updated on the latest features showcases your commitment to growth, but are we getting lost in the features? The real magic happens when these features align with a robust skill set, encompassing user research, interaction design, collaboration, and more.

Let’s break it down: Advocacy, Mentorship, Strategy, Ownership, Communication, Collaboration, Process, UX Design, Visual Design, and yes, Tools — these are the tenets that make up the holistic skill set of a product designer.

1. Advocacy : Being a champion for design goes beyond the pixels on your screen. It involves advocating for user-centricity, accessibility, and the broader impact of design decisions on the end user.

2. Mentorship: The ability to mentor isn’t a tool-centric skill. It’s about sharing knowledge, fostering growth, and inspiring a collaborative and innovative design culture within a team.

3. Strategic Brilliance: Strategy in design extends beyond the canvas. It’s about aligning design goals with broader business objectives, understanding market trends, and steering the ship toward success.

4. Ownership: Owning your designs is more than just crafting them in a tool. It’s about taking responsibility for the user experience, from ideation to execution, and ensuring it aligns with the overall product vision.

5. Communication: Communication is an art, and it’s not confined to explaining tool functionalities. It’s about articulating design decisions, sharing insights, and fostering a shared understanding within the team.

6. Collaboration: Collaboration is a symphony of diverse skills coming together. It transcends the realm of tools, encompassing effective teamwork, brainstorming, and collective problem-solving.

7. Mastering the Design Process: Understanding and optimizing the design process is a foundational skill. It involves navigating through research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iterating — a journey beyond the capabilities of any singular tool.

8. UX Design Excellence: UX design is more than just wireframes and prototypes. It’s about empathy, user research, and crafting experiences that resonate with and delight the end user.

9. Visual Design: Visual design extends beyond tool proficiency. It’s about creating visually compelling designs that not only please the eye but also align with the brand and user expectations.

10. Tools as Enablers: Yes, tools are essential enablers, but they’re not the sole focus. They empower designers to bring their ideas to life, but it’s the mastery of the broader competencies that transforms designs into impactful, user-centric solutions.

So, let’s broaden the conversation. While tools have their spotlight, the true brilliance of a product designer lies in weaving together a rich narrative of skills that encompass advocacy, mentorship, strategy, ownership, communication, collaboration, process, UX design, visual design, and yes, tools. It’s time to appreciate the full spectrum of competencies that make design truly exceptional.