In the past, students choose Figma as their website hosting platform. Why would I be against that? What could be a good use of Figma in the process of creating a website?
If for instance students choose Figma as their platform to document and present their design project deliverables, there are several arguments against this choice. While Figma is an excellent tool for UI/UX design, it is not ideal for a final website for several reasons:
1. Figma is a Design Tool, Not a Web Platform
- Figma is primarily for prototyping and designing user interfaces, not for publishing a real, interactive website.
- A Figma file remains a design mockup, whereas a website should be an interactive, functional, and accessible online resource.
2. Limited Interactivity & Navigation
- Figma allows linking between frames, but this is not the same as a real website’s navigation (e.g., no URL-based page linking, no SEO-friendly structure).
- There is no responsive behavior—it’s a static representation rather than an adaptive, real-world web experience.
3. No Web Hosting, No Domain Name
- Unlike Wix, WordPress, or Google Sites, Figma doesn’t allow users to host their website with a custom domain.
- A Figma project is only accessible through a Figma link, which may not be user-friendly for external visitors.
4. Accessibility Issues
- Websites should be accessible to all users (e.g., screen readers, keyboard navigation), but Figma is not built for accessibility compliance.
- Exported Figma prototypes don’t support proper text markup, alt text, or semantic HTML, making them less inclusive.
5. SEO & Searchability
- Real websites are indexed by search engines, allowing external users to find and access them via Google.
- A Figma prototype is not indexed, making it invisible to search engines and not suitable for long-term documentation.
6. No Scalability or Extensibility
- A website should allow for future updates, additional content, and integrations (e.g., embedding videos, adding contact forms).
- Figma prototypes are static, and expanding them beyond their original purpose is difficult.
7. Collaboration and Ownership Issues
- If multiple people are working on a project, Figma requires all team members to have an account (since Figma supports free student team accounts, this is not really an issue).
- Once a student leaves university, access may be lost if the file is tied to an institutional account.
What Could Be a Better Approach?
If you love using Figma, you can:
- Design the layout in Figma, create an interaction prototype, and then implement it in a proper platform (e.g., Wix, WordPress).
- Embed a Figma prototype inside a real website for visualization.
- Use Figma’s export tools (HTML, images, etc.) to bring the design into an actual website.