Designilo

Introduction: Make It Stick, Make It Move

Scroll-triggered effects—like fixed headers, sticky navbars, or animated reveals—are a big part of modern interface design. They guide attention, improve usability, and create a smooth storytelling experience.

While Figma doesn’t offer full scroll-trigger logic like in code or advanced prototyping tools, it does allow you to simulate scroll behavior and mock fixed-position elements for UI design, handoff, and testing.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Create fixed headers that stay in place while scrolling
• Use vertical scrolling to simulate long pages
• Set up parallax-like effects and mock scroll animations

1. Setting Up a Scrollable Frame

Figma allows you to create scrollable areas by enabling vertical or horizontal scrolling within frames.

Steps:

1. Select a Frame (not a Group)
2. Set its height to a specific value (e.g., 800px)
3. Add content that overflows vertically (e.g., stacked sections, cards, footer)
4. In the right sidebar, turn on “Clip Content”
5. Under Prototype tab → Overflow Behavior, set it to Vertical Scrolling

✅ Now, in Presentation Mode, your frame will scroll like a real page.

2. Creating a Fixed Header (Sticky Nav Simulation)

Want a header that stays visible while scrolling?

Method:

1. Place your header at the top of the scrollable frame
2. Select the header group or frame
3. In the right panel under Constraints, set:
   • Top
   • Left & Right (or Center depending on your layout)
4. Turn on “Fix Position When Scrolling”

✅ Result: The header stays pinned at the top while the rest of the content scrolls beneath it.

You can also fix sidebars, call-to-action buttons, or floating navs using the same method.

3. Simulating Scroll-Triggered Animations

While Figma doesn’t support true scroll events, you can simulate effects like:

• Fading in elements section by section
• Expanding cards as they “enter” view
• Parallax scroll by layering motion frames

Technique:

1. Duplicate your scrolling frame
2. In the second frame, reveal the animated elements (e.g., change opacity, scale, or position)
3. Use Prototype mode with “After Delay” or manual trigger to show the transition
4. Add Smart Animate for smooth fade/slide effects

🔁 This works well for user testing, demos, and developer handoff.

4. Designing Long Pages with Scroll Anchors

For long-form layouts like landing pages or dashboards:

• Break the page into sections: Hero, Features, Pricing, Footer
• Use Anchor-style designs (e.g., nav buttons that jump to sections)
• Simulate this in prototypes with “On Click → Scroll To” interactions

✅ You can mimic jumping to pricing sections, FAQs, or footers with ease.

5. Best Use Cases for Scroll Effects in Figma

• Mobile app UIs with floating toolbars
• Web dashboards with fixed top navs and scrollable tables
• Landing pages that “reveal” sections on scroll
• Slide decks that scroll instead of click-through
• Chat UIs with pinned headers and message bubbles

Pro Tips for Better Scroll-Based Layouts

Tip	Why It Helps
Use Auto Layout for vertical stacking	Keeps elements aligned while scrolling
Clip Content is essential	Prevents overflow from showing outside the frame
Fix only what’s necessary	Too many fixed elements can be distracting
Use constraints properly	Anchors elements when resizing or scrolling
Preview constantly	Presentation mode shows scroll behavior accurately

What Figma Can’t Do (Yet)

• No true scroll event triggers or scroll progress tracking
• No intersection observers (like “fade on enter view”)
• No dynamic parallax or Lottie-style scroll effects

For these, consider tools like:

• Framer (for true scroll logic)
• Protopie (for interaction logic)
• Webflow (for build-ready animation)

Still, Figma’s scroll simulation is ideal for:
✅ Wireframes
✅ Handoff previews
✅ Mid-fidelity motion tests

Conclusion: Scroll With Intent

Scroll behavior is a core part of modern UX—and even with Figma’s current limitations, you can build convincing scrollable mockups, sticky headers, and engaging prototypes that mimic real-world behavior.

Use scroll strategically to guide focus, not overwhelm. A sticky header or scroll-triggered fade-in may be subtle—but they shape the experience more than you think.

Next up: “Top 7 Figma Plugins That Save Agencies Hours Every Week” — a curated list of tools that speed up everything from wireframing to export.