Creating interactive designs in Figma is vital for enhancing user experience and making ideas come to life.
In my experience, turning static wireframes into interactive prototypes can profoundly impact the design process, ensuring a seamless user journey and effective usability testing.
This article will guide you through the essentials of making Figma interactive. Whether you’re looking to integrate clickable prototypes, responsive designs, or detailed animations, this guide has you covered.
By the end of this article, you will understand how to utilize Figma’s interaction triggers, smart animate features, and dynamic elements to create engaging, interactive prototypes.
We’ll cover:
- Setting up Interactive Components: Learn how to use Figma‘s UI components and state transitions.
- Implementing Triggers and Actions: Discover how to add click actions and hover effects.
- Enhancing Prototypes: Explore techniques for adding interactive buttons, menus, and links.
- Testing and Previewing: Get tips on usability testing and reviewing your interactive designs.
Let’s dive into transforming your Figma designs into interactive masterpieces.
How to Make Figma Interactive: Quick Workflow
1. Create Your Default Element
- Start by designing the default version of your component (e.g., a button, toggle, or card). This will serve as the base state.
2. Add Variants for Different States
- Duplicate your default element to create additional states (e.g., hover, active, disabled).
- Select all versions of the component, then click “Combine as Variants” in the right-hand panel. This groups them into a single component with multiple states.
3. Open the Prototype Tab
- Switch to the Prototype tab in the right-hand sidebar.
- Click on the default variant and drag the blue node to another variant to create a connection between states.
4. Define Interactions
- Choose an interaction trigger (e.g., “On Hover,” “On Click,” or “While Pressing”).
- Select what action should occur, such as switching to another variant or navigating to a new frame.
5. Add Animations (Optional)
- Set up animations for smooth transitions between states.
- Choose an animation type like “Dissolve,” “Smart Animate,” or “Instant.”
- Adjust timing and easing for a polished effect.
6. Test Your Prototype
- Click the Present button in the top-right corner to preview your design.
- Interact with your components to ensure they behave as expected.
Understanding Figma’s Prototyping Tools
Core Features of Figma Prototyping
No-code, high-fidelity prototype creation

In Figma, crafting high-fidelity interactive prototypes doesn’t require a single line of code. The platform offers a robust set of features that allow designers to create detailed prototypes with all the bells and whistles that users expect.
High-fidelity here means that the prototype looks and feels like a real, polished product, rather than a rough draft.
Seamless design-to-prototype integration
Figma excels in integrating the design and prototyping phases into a seamless workflow.
This integration eliminates the need to switch between different tools, making it easy to go from static design elements to interactive prototypes within the same environment.
Thus, it ensures that the transition from design to prototype is fluid and intuitive.
Rich Interaction Capabilities
Pre-built interactions: on click, hover, scroll
Figma offers a variety of pre-built interactions that you can easily add to your designs. These include common interactions like clicking, hovering, and scrolling.
By selecting a frame or component, you can quickly define what happens when a user clicks a button, hovers over an element, or scrolls through the page.
Smart animate and advanced transitions
Smart animate is one of Figma’s standout features for creating advanced transitions. This feature allows elements to animate smoothly between different states, giving prototypes a polished, professional feel.
You can customize transitions to control the duration, direction, and easing of animations, making them as complex or as simple as needed.
Prototyping for Various Use Cases
Adaptive prototypes for different screen sizes
Creating adaptive prototypes in Figma ensures that your designs look great on any screen size. This is essential for today’s multi-device world, where users might switch between a desktop, tablet, and mobile phone in the span of a day.
With adaptive prototypes, you can define how your design should look and behave on different devices, ensuring a consistent user experience.
Incorporating rich media such as GIFs and videos
Incorporating rich media into your Figma prototypes can bring them to life. You can add GIFs and videos to your designs to demonstrate animations, provide user tutorials, or simply enhance the visual appeal.
This capability makes your prototypes more engaging and gives stakeholders a better sense of the final product.
Creating Flows and Connections
Creating Flows in Prototypes
Flows in Figma prototypes streamline user journeys, making navigation intuitive. These are the pathways users take through an interface. Starting points mark the entry of an interaction, either set manually or chosen based on the design’s structure.
Steps to set up flows using frames
To set up flows, you start by selecting frames. Each frame acts as a screen in your prototype. Link those frames together to define the flow. It’s like arranging a sequence of actions, one leading to the next, forming a cohesive user path.
Establishing Connections
Hotspot-based interaction mapping
Connections are established through hotspot interactivity. You map hotspots on clickable regions, linking them to other frames. This method ensures that clicks lead users exactly where intended, making the experience seamless.
Tips for managing complex connections and interactions
Managing complex connections involves clarity and strategy. Use naming conventions for frames and interactions to avoid confusion.
Regularly previewing helps identify broken links and rectify issues. Figma’s interaction overview tool provides a visual representation, aiding in managing complex setups. Ensure hotspots don’t overlap unless necessary to maintain accuracy and simplicity.
Building Interactions and Animations
Adding Interactions
Configuring triggers and actions (e.g., clicks, hover, drag)

Triggers and actions are the backbone of Figma interactions.
You start by selecting an element. Maybe it’s a button. Assign a trigger like a click, hover, or drag. When a user does this action, it fires off the linked event.
Demonstrating animations with “Change to” actions
Animations breathe life into prototypes. “Change to” actions switch one component state to another.
For example, clicking a button may change its color, alter its size, or swap it for another component. These visual cues enhance user experience.
Applying Animations
Customizing animation properties: duration, easing, direction
The power of animations lies in their customization. You control the duration to set how long an animation runs. Easing defines the speed over time, whether linear or easing in-and-out.
Direction sets where and how elements move. Each property refines the animation to match the design intent, creating sleek transitions.
Creating realistic transitions using Smart Animate
Smart Animate takes Figma’s capabilities to another level. It matches layers between frames and animates the differences.
Have a sidebar that slides out? Smart Animate handles it smoothly, leveraging position, opacity, and other properties for realistic effects.
Managing Multiple Interaction Layers
Combining variant and regular interactions
Combining interactions increases complexity but also interactivity. Variants introduce multiple states for components.
You might have regular hover effects layered over variant toggles. This combination allows sophisticated behaviors without cluttering the design.
Handling overlapping triggers effectively
Overlapping triggers can mess things up. If two triggers are too close or overlap, users might accidentally activate the wrong one.
To handle this, keep triggers distinct and test thoroughly. Use the layers panel to check interaction layouts.
Creating Interactive Components with Variants
Introduction to Interactive Components
Benefits of variants in reducing frame duplication

Variants are a game-changer. They reduce the need for duplicating frames by allowing multiple states of a component within a single frame.
Imagine designing a button with different states—default, hover, and active—without creating separate frames for each state. Clean and efficient.
Overview of default interactions and customization
Figma makes interactions a breeze. You get default interactions like on-click or hover, but customization is where the magic happens.
Tailoring interactions means you can craft exactly how a user engages with elements, making prototypes feel more realistic and polished.
Setting Up Interactive Components
Steps to create and link variants
Creating variants is straightforward. Select your component, click on “Add Variant,” and boom, you’ve got a new state. Link these variants by defining “Prototype” interactions, specifying what triggers the change. A click? A hover? Easy.
Applying interactive states like hover and toggle
Interactive states add depth. Set a hover state to make buttons glow or a toggle state to switch between “on” and “off.”
These states not only look good but also help users understand what’s interactive and what’s not.
Enhancing Prototypes with Variant Interactions
Using parent-child relationships in nested components
Nested components can utilize parent-child relationships. For example, a dropdown menu can be a parent component, with each menu item being a child.
Changes in the parent affect the children, keeping everything consistent and manageable.
Integrating additional prototype interactions
Adding more interactions? Hell yes. Combine smart animate for smooth transitions with overlay elements for pop-ups or alerts.
Integrate rich media like GIFs and videos without losing the interactive feel. This syncs beautifully, making your Figma prototypes as close to the final product as possible.
Advanced Interaction Techniques
Using Overlays and Scroll Interactions
Creating overlays for tooltips and alerts
Overlays in Figma add depth to your prototypes. You create these for tooltips, alerts, or modals.
Select your element, then use the overlay option instead of navigating to another frame. This keeps users within context while providing extra info or interactions.
Defining scroll behaviors for carousels and maps

Scroll behavior in Figma is another powerful feature. Use vertical, horizontal, or even nested scrolling.
Carousels get fluid; maps become interactive. To set this up, define the scroll area within your frames. This enhances user experience as they swipe or scroll through content.
Incorporating Variables and Logic
Adding conditional logic for dynamic prototypes
Logic in prototypes? Absolutely. Conditional logic takes your prototype from static to dynamic. Set if-then conditions for component behaviors. Click a button, and if a variable meets a condition, transition happens. This is where your prototype mimics real application logic.
Using variables to link states and interactions
Variables can link states across multiple interactions. Think toggles and switches that retain their state throughout user journeys. Set variables for elements and use them to manage interactions based on user actions. This creates a cohesive experience.
Managing State Across Frames
Leveraging state memorization and sharing
State memorization keeps your prototypes consistent. If a user interacts with a button, that state can carry over to other frames. It provides continuity. Use component properties and variables to ensure states remain shared and accurate.
Resetting components when necessary
But sometimes, resetting components is necessary. Let’s say you want a form to reset after submission—set triggers and actions to revert components to their original state. This ensures that your prototype reflects real-world use cases effectively, avoiding confusion for stakeholders.
Previewing, Testing, and Sharing Prototypes
Previewing Prototypes
Exploring preview modes for desktop and mobile
Preview modes in Figma are essential for understanding how your design translates across devices.
Switching between desktop and mobile previews allows you to catch any inconsistencies or issues. Utilize these modes to see real-time interactions and confirm that the prototype functions as intended.
Adjusting device settings and background options
Adjusting device settings can make all the difference. Choose different device frames to see how your design adapts. Don’t forget to tweak the background options to match the intended context. Settings here can give you a more accurate feel of the end user’s experience.
Sharing Prototypes
Generating shareable links and QR codes
Sharing has never been easier. Generate shareable links directly from Figma. Just a click, and anyone can access the prototype. For mobile previews, QR codes are a lifesaver. Scan, and you’re in. It’s fast, efficient, and perfect for real-time feedback during presentations.
Collaborating with stakeholders for feedback
Collaboration is key. Share your prototypes with stakeholders to collect feedback. Use the commenting feature to streamline discussions. This collaborative environment ensures everyone’s on the same page, literally and figuratively. Incorporate feedback, iterate, and refine.
Ensuring Accessibility and Consistency
Tips for using universal fonts for prototypes
Fonts matter. Stick to universal fonts to ensure your design looks the same on all platforms. This mitigates the risk of rendering issues that could skew the visual hierarchy or user experience.
Cross-platform consistency checks
Consistency checks are your safety net. Test prototypes across various platforms and devices. Catch discrepancies early. Figma’s cross-platform tools make it straightforward to ensure a uniform experience, whether on desktop, tablet, or mobile.
FAQ on How To Make Figma Interactive
How do I add interactive elements in Figma?
To create interactive elements in Figma, use the Prototype tab. Select the element, drag the connector to a destination frame.
Choose interaction triggers like On Click or Hover. Configure actions such as Navigate to, Open Overlay, or Swap. This makes your designs come to life.
Can I create clickable prototypes with Figma?
Absolutely. Select your components or frames, navigate to the Prototype tab. Use interaction settings to define what happens when a user clicks.
Actions can include navigation between screens, overlays, and more. Clickable prototypes enhance user testing and design validation, making your workflow efficient.
How do I use Figma’s smart animate feature?
Smart Animate makes transitions smooth. Set up keyframes within different frames. Link these frames in the Prototype tab and enable Smart Animate.
Figma detects layer changes and animates them accordingly. This feature is crucial for creating visually engaging interactions and improving user experience (UX).
What are some common triggers and actions in Figma?
Common triggers: On Click, Hover, Drag, and Key Press. Actions: Navigate to Another Frame, Open Overlay, Swap Overlay, and Change to Different State.
Leveraging these enables intricate user journey construction and interactive design, pivotal for thorough usability testing.
Is it possible to animate in Figma?
Yes. With features like Smart Animate and Interactive Components, animations become straightforward.
Apply changes to different frames, then link them via the Prototype tab. Actions like Move In, Move Out, Push, and Slide are part of Figma’s robust animation toolkit.
How can I preview my interactive prototype in Figma?
Click the Present button in the top-right. This opens a real-time preview of your project.
Navigate through interactions, transitions, and animations as defined in your Prototype settings.
Reviewing the preview helps identify flaws and areas for improvement before usability testing.
Can I share my interactive Figma prototypes?
Yes, you can. Click Share at the top-right, adjust the settings to allow viewers to interact with the prototype.
Generate a shareable link and provide it to stakeholders or team members. This facilitates collaborative feedback, ensuring the prototype aligns with user needs and project goals.
How do I create responsive prototypes in Figma?
Creating responsive prototypes involves using Auto Layout. Set constraints and resizing options to make elements adaptable to various screen sizes.
Check responsiveness in the Prototype preview. These techniques make responsive design efficient, ensuring your designs cater to diverse device requirements.
What plugins help in making Figma interactive?
Plugins like Feather Icons for icons, Content Reel for sample content, and Autoflow help visualize user flows.
Integrate these plugins to streamline your design process. Plugins augment Figma’s core capabilities, facilitating richer, more interactive prototypes.
How do I test my Figma prototypes for usability?
Usability testing involves sharing your interactive prototypes with users. Gather feedback on functionality, user ease, and interaction intuitiveness.
Utilize video conferencing tools or direct observation. Input from usability tests is crucial for refining user interface (UI) design and ensuring project success.
Conclusion
Mastering how to make Figma interactive enables you to elevate your design projects with sleek, responsive prototypes. By leveraging tools like Smart Animate, Interactive Components, and Prototype settings, you can create immersive user experiences. Triggers such as On Click or Hover combined with actions like Navigate to offer dynamic interaction flow.
Remember to:
- Utilize interactive elements and animations
- Implement transition effects and state changes
- Preview and share prototypes for usability testing
These strategies ensure your Figma designs stand out, offering both aesthetic appeal and functional excellence. Utilizing Figma’s advanced prototyping features, combined with usability testing, paves the way for sophisticated user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) designs.
Wrapping up, the insights provided in this guide aim to make your design process more efficient and interactive. Dive in, experiment with Figma’s interactions, and transform your static wireframes into engaging prototypes.