Both Figma and Webflow are fascinating design tools for many developers. However, when transforming Figma design into Webflow, the designers have individual feedback and opinions.
As a noob or a pro developer, you’ve got to consider a few essential things before opting for Webflow. Figma and Webflow have their own unique features and benefits in designing a user-friendly website. But when you have specific requirements, you must be wary about which one to go with.
To simplify, we will cover the Figma and Webflow comparison, their transformation considerables, and the steps of transformation. So, read on for more information.
Figma Vs. Webflow: What are the Differences?
Let’s get to know Figma and Webflow first.
Figma is a robust designing tool for websites, logos, apps, graphics, etc., taking a designer through User Interface Design and User Experience Design phases.
On the other hand, Webflow is considered by any webflow developer to be an allrounder in designing code-free interactive websites. Websites developed with Webflow are more functional and user-friendly. Nonetheless, you can input custom code and language scripts if you own a paid Webflow account with an active site plan.
As you’ve received the gist of these tools, let’s outline their differences below to know and understand them better.
| Figma | Webflow |
| Figma can design a website with static modules, falling short of deploying the website it’s bound to develop. | Webflow is extensively functional at deploying a website, which is its core utility. |
| Figma works with HTML and CSS, making it more viable for website functions. Thus, Figma can work more fluidly with advanced browsers. | Webflow still works with JavaScript which creates a little problem at the users’ end if their browser’s JavaScript is inactive. Thus, users won’t get access to the particular site. |
| Figma keeps a wider collaborative function, so other developers and designers can join forces. Thus, they can work in real-time to finish the project in due time. | Webflow, though having a collaborative feature, works much differently than Figma in terms of ‘comments’ and ‘interactions.’ |
Why Should You Transform Figma Design into Webflow?
Figma is undoubtedly a user-friendly designer tool for websites and apps. Nonetheless, it’s also considered a suitable tool for those who are non-expert and inexperienced.
However, Webflow is a coding-free platform where you can create interactive pages and websites without hiring a front-end developer. It basically brings your creative designs to life.
Apart from these, Webflow offers a range of features, including templates, e-commerce tools, a content management system, etc.
Also, you can’t work on Figma offline while Webflow is fine to work with on any modern browser offline. You may also consider some effective Webflow and Figma alternatives for design prototyping and graphic editing.
Top 5 Essential Things to Consider while Switching from Figma to Webflow
If you’re looking forward to switching to Webflow from Figma, a few essential things should be considered. Read on as we’ve shared five aspects that need special consideration in this process:
Do You Require Your Static Design to Go Interactive?
Figma is a fantastic design tool for websites, apps, etc. But one thing that it lacks is making the pages and modules less or zero interactive.
However, if you desire to make your Figma-designed website more functional and insightful, Webflow is the way to go. With Webflow, you can get immersive experiences, creative controls, flexible content management, staggering online stores, etc., without the hassle of coding.
Convert to Webflow If You Need Global Styles
Even after being a super friendly website designer and developer tool, Figma lacks the feature of global colors and shades. Whereas you can find global styles and guides in Webflow, including paragraph style, link appearance, headings, etc.
You must select the Webflow canvas element (new project) to define global styles. It’s a base styling process that keeps your stylesheet easily manageable.
Opt for Webflow If You Aren’t Hiring a Front-End Developer (No Coding)
Hiring a pro coder is quite expensive if yours is a startup or small investment business. Besides, you’re not going to get what you desire in your website and its pages when getting it coded by an expert. But Webflow brings the difference here.
With Webflow, organizations or individuals can design and build independently without expert help, specifically, any front-end developer with coding expertise. In a nutshell, Webflow liberates a developer’s imagination and site-building capacities.
Figma Is Web-Friendly while Webflow Isn’t Always
On the brighter side of Figma, it functions based on CSS and HTML. This makes it more workable with the modern web browsers. It’s a user-friendly tool that’s amazing for designing wireframes and prototypes.
However, many developers may consider Webflow less website-friendly due to only working with one language, JavaScript, and stripping off coding. You can build fantastic websites by using Webflow, having fast and secure modules and pages. You can also add custom code to your Webflow-based website to make it more interactive and functional.
Figma Is Widely Collaborative while Webflow Isn’t
When you’re planning to transition into a new web designing platform with your partial or completely new project, think of the sidekick help. It’s significant.
In this regard, Figma is more viable than Webflow. Figma’s collaborative features include commenting, multi-user editing, team libraries, observation mode, auto save & sync, etc.
8 Steps to Convert Figma into Webflow
The eight steps below will help you gain a better idea of what and how to consider things before the conversion.
Before importing the Figma asset files, start with the following:
Step 1: Creating a New Project and Style Guide in Webflow
Access your Webflow account to create a New Project, while ensuring a different folder for the website project. This folder and a subfolder will come in handy later when you import Figma asset files. It’s consistent with Figma’s project organization process.
To have a new style guide, copy the Webflow’s base style guide and paste it to your desired website’s new page within a project folder.
Step 2: Stylizing Your Base Classes
This optional next step is significant for the project. Select your required element and move on to the selector field. It’s located on the top right of the Webflow screen.
Now, tag the element with an ‘All’ capped title (ex: All H2 Headings). Thus, you can swiftly work on the global edits after importing the design. Make sure that the global style definitions match the Figma design files while doing so.
Step 3: Adding Custom Colors
Now, add custom colors to your design and turn them global. Here, you might find various colors to work with; so, it’s wise to create a color-block div.
Step 4: Exporting Figma Asset Files
As we’re done with the primary steps, it’s time to export your Figma asset files to your Webflow project. So, mark whatever assets you need to export.
But if you need all asset files, don’t select a particular frame. However, for exporting a specific frame, select that frame carefully.
Step 5: Applying Divs to Organize Files
At this stage, you should use divs to replicate Figma files of the broader groups and frames. This organizes things neatly while working later on.
You may go on adding a container to each of the divs, while assigning a class name to it. By this, you can attach anchor links to them later.
Step 6: Stylizing Your Content
Here, you have to name the classes. Keep generic names for them combining multiple aspects.
For instance, name a class ‘All H1 Headings’ and ‘Blue Text’ instead of naming just ‘All H1 Headings.’ Thus, you can cover the size, positioning, and other relevant aspects in line with the color.
Step 7: Creating Interactions in Webflow
A pro tip to go with the interaction is to not translate from Figma. Figma’s prototypes aren’t very diverse, leaving you unable to do top-notch translations.
So, the best policy is to do interactions from your Webflow project itself. Define various interactions on class basis or create involving multiple classes.
Step 8: Publishing and Tweaking Your Design
We’re at the final step of converting your Figma design into Webflow. Here, your job is to publish your design, while tweaking it targeting various devices.
Don’t skip the testing part. Test your design on as many devices as possible. It’s a time-consuming yet effective way to ensure the business logic and design flow are well tuned.
Wrapping up
So, we’ve covered what you should consider before transforming your Figma design into Webflow. We’ve defined what Figma and Webflow essentially are and how they work.
Besides, you’ve learned what differences Figma and Webflow have functionally. You’ve learned the steps to switch from Figma to Webflow to create an interactive and useful website of global standard.
You must learn the basics and do your research to utilize other elements of these two popular web designing tools. And keep upskilling as you go down the web design and development path.
