1. Master the Essential Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can save you a ton of time, and the ones listed below leave a memorable mark:
Shift + A — Auto Layout
Instantly wrap selected layers in an Auto Layout frame.Ctrl/Cmd + D — Duplicate
Perfect for quick pattern building.Ctrl+ Alt + O — Outline Stroke
Ctrl/Cmd + G — Group
Ctrl/Cmd + K — Actions
Search anything: plugins, actions, settings.
Tip: Learn 10 shortcuts, not 100. You’ll naturally pick up the rest later.
Discover’a | Travel app UI
2. Use Auto Layout Everywhere
Auto Layout is the heart of fast UI design. Use it for:
Buttons
Cards
Navigation bars
Entire page layouts
Component structures
Benefits include:
Automatic spacing
Content-aware resizing
Perfect alignment
Faster design changes
Auto Layout means less manual pixel tweaking. So, more effortless scaling.
3. Set Up Components Early
Turning frequently used elements into components saves hours.
Create components for:
Buttons
Inputs
Avatars
Navigation items
Cards
Icons
Once set, you can reuse them everywhere and update them in one click.
Tip: Use variants to store multiple states, hover, active, disabled, in a single component system.
4. Use Styles to Stay Consistent
Instead of manually applying colors and text every time:
Save Color sets for primary, secondary, accent, and gray tones.
Save Text pairings for headings, paragraphs, and captions.
Use Effects like shadows or blurs
This ensures consistency and helps you update the full design system in seconds.
Ember Runner | Game UI
5. Use Figma Plugins Strategically
You don’t need 50 plugins, just the right ones:
Autoflow — quick flow arrows
IconScout — instant icons
Figmotion — simple animations
Plugins save time when used for repetitive tasks.
6. Create Layout Grids for Faster Page Structure
Before designing a page:
Add a grid (columns / rows / padding)
Set up margins
Place elements inside the structure
This reduces second-guessing and gives you cleaner, developer/brain-friendly layouts.
7. Duplicate Pages Instead of Frames
Instead of overcrowding one canvas, duplicate entire pages when testing ideas. This keeps your main design clean while allowing creative exploration without risk.
Final Thoughts✨
Designing faster in Figma isn’t about rushing, it’s about building smart systems and habits. By making the most of Auto Layout, components, styles, and shortcuts, you can focus more on creativity and problem-solving instead of repetitive work.
Once you master these, Figma becomes more than just a tool—it’s your design partner.