5 Favorite Plugins for Figma

If you work in UI/UX, chances are you have used the powerful tool known as Figma.  As a work tool it is incredibly versatile and flexible based on your working need, but if you are solely using the base program you are missing out on the power of plugins.  Plugins give you a simple, yet powerful, way to enhance your Figma capabilities to allow you to streamline and automate processes, add new features, enhance previous abilities, and more.

Here is a list of my five that are currently my favorite:

1. (Microsoft) Content Reel - Reel – Figma

My favorite content filler.  Created by Microsoft, Content Reel is a Figma plugin that helps you easily pull text strings, avatars, and icons into your designs. Select one or more layers in your design, then choose a content type from the Content Reel palette to apply.

2. Time Machine - Time Machine – Figma

“Whoopsie” - the sound I make when I make some terrible mistake with my lost work.  You probably lose your work from time-to-time also. That is where Time Machine can be a real lifesaver.  Time Machine saves and organizes work that you want to look back on. You'll no longer need to manually copy a version of what you're working on to a new page to reference for later.

3. Anima - Anima - Export HTML, CSS and React – Figma

This was recently put on my radar by a fellow co-worker. Create high fidelity prototypes with easy export HTML, CSS, and React code components.  The code is super clean from what I have seen.  Additionally, you can create reusable code components: Anima automatically recognizes components that repeat, minimizes code duplication and increases overall code readability and maintainability. Very useful!

4. Webgradients - Webgradients – Figma

Who doesn’t love a good gradient in their layout? Webgradients is a powerful gradient plugin that you can use as content backdrops in any part of your design in seconds!  The gradient choices it has are second-to-none.

5. Color Blind - Color Blind – Figma

I’m not color blind, so I’m never aware of when my designs might affect those with the condition.  The Color Blind plug-in allows you to view your designs with color vision deficiencies.   All you need to do is make a selection and the plugin will clone it and create versions with the colors changed based on what each one would look like to a person with that type of color blindness.