Figma isn’t just for designing screens — it’s also a powerful prototyping tool that lets you bring your designs to life with clickable interactions, animations, and real user flows.
Whether you’re creating a simple clickable wireframe or a full-scale interactive product demo, Figma’s Prototype mode gives you everything you need — right inside the same tool.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn:
- How to prepare your screens for prototyping
- How to link frames with transitions and interactions
- How to use overlays, smart animate, and advanced triggers
- Pro tips for testing and sharing your prototype
🧱 Step 1: Prepare Your Frames
Before jumping into prototyping, make sure your design is ready:
✅ What to include:
- A clear start frame (usually a home or login screen)
- Other UI screens laid out side by side (e.g., sign-up, dashboard, menu)
- Buttons, icons, or text layers that will act as interactive triggers
Organize each screen in its own frame with descriptive names (like “Home,” “Product Detail,” etc.).
🔗 Step 2: Enter Prototype Mode
In the top-right corner of Figma, switch to the Prototype tab.
You’ll now see a blue node on every selectable element. This is how you create interactions.
🎯 Step 3: Link Interactions Between Frames
Here’s how to connect screens:
- Click on a button, icon, or hotspot
- Drag the blue node to the target frame (where it should navigate)
- In the interaction panel, set:
- Trigger (e.g., “On click,” “While hovering”)
- Action (e.g., “Navigate to,” “Open overlay”)
- Animation (e.g., “Instant,” “Smart Animate,” “Slide in”)
Repeat for all desired actions.
🔁 You can even loop flows or return to the previous screen.
✨ Step 4: Add Overlays and Modals
Want to open a modal or dropdown without switching pages?
Use the “Open Overlay” interaction:
- Select the trigger (e.g., a menu icon)
- Drag the prototype connection to the overlay frame
- Set it to “Open Overlay”
- Choose position (center, top-right, manual)
- Optional: dim background or close when clicking outside
Perfect for tooltips, pop-ups, side menus, and dropdowns.
🧠 Step 5: Use Smart Animate for Transitions
Smart Animate makes transitions smoother by animating matching layers between frames.
How to use:
- Ensure identical layers (e.g., the same button) exist in both frames
- Name them the same (case-sensitive)
- Choose Smart Animate as your transition
- Set duration (e.g., 300ms) and easing (e.g., ease-in-out)
Great for sliders, carousels, toggle switches, or expanding cards.
🧪 Step 6: Test Your Prototype
Click the Play (▶️) icon in the top-right corner to launch Presentation Mode.
In this view:
- Click around your prototype like a real user
- Test mobile frames in device view
- Press Esc to return to design
💡 Tip: Use the keyboard shortcut Shift + P to preview any selected frame instantly.
🔗 Step 7: Share Your Prototype
To send your prototype to teammates or clients:
- Click “Share”
- Choose permissions: “Anyone with the link can view”
- Copy the link and send it
You can also embed prototypes in websites or Notion pages.
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Linking elements to incorrect frames | Double-check targets |
| Using Smart Animate without matching layers | Ensure identical layer names |
| Missing starting frame | Set a start point with the blue “Home” icon |
| Overcomplicating flows | Keep it simple for testing |
✅ Summary: Prototyping in Figma
| Task | Tool |
|---|---|
| Create links between screens | Blue prototype node |
| Add animations and transitions | Smart Animate, Slide In |
| Use overlays or popups | “Open Overlay” interaction |
| Test the flow | Presentation Mode |
| Share with team/client | Share → Copy link |
Prototyping in Figma transforms your designs into experiences. With just a few clicks, you can turn static frames into interactive journeys — making it easier to test ideas, tell stories, and wow stakeholders.
Want more workflow tips, Dev Mode tricks, or prototyping plugins? Explore our full resource library at Designilo.com.
Designilo 