Figma vs Sketch for new Designers
These days, with the rapid proliferation of design software, two vector graphics editors & prototyping tools have withstood the test of time. Sketch and Figma are both being utilized as primary design tools. These products should not come as a surprise as many designers have experience with one or both. So which one should you choose?
There's no doubt that Figma offers more collaborative potential than Sketch. Being a cloud-based app, Figma only requires access to a web browser. Unlike Sketch, which is for Mac users only, you can run Figma on any computer! Not only is there no download, but a team of designers who just met each other can also easily collaborate in realtime in just minutes. This comes with the added benefit of requiring no files to download. Users also have the option of downloading an application version if they want an alternative interface to a browser.
This does not mean that Sketch is underpowered by any circumstances. While the admission price for using such software only comes with owning a Mac (hello Hackintosh!), users can rest assured they are using one of the fastest design tools available that offers a seamless experience. Want to make a button that you will use in multiple screens but want to change the color or text on specific elements? You can do that in Sketch via Symbols. One area that Sketch stands out in comparison is its third-party app integration. Want to create a responsive layout with padding, and high-fidelity prototypes? Sketch has you covered. What if you wanted to convert your complex visual design into pure HTML and CSS code? The possibilities are endless.
At the end of the day, the choice is up to you. People who might be part of teams who do a lot of remote work might choose Figma, whereas companies who have contracts with certain hardware arrangements might choose Sketch. As designers, this flexibility of choosing platforms is what bridges the link for how we strive for accessibility for our users.
