FigJam: Effective cooperation for the whole team

The design of top applications and websites cannot do without high-quality and modern tools. In this article, we will focus on FigJam - a clear helper not only for UX / UI designers but also for the whole team. What to expect? First of all, great planning in one place, whether it's meetings, workshops or even user flows.

Online bulletin board in a modern coat

FigJam, sound familiar? Of course yes. The creators are behind the new application Figma. About this multifunctional online bulletin board has been increasingly heard about in recent months and the developers themselves are constantly trying to improve it and develop its potential.

However FigJam had to earn his place in the limelight.

At the beginning there was not much interest in it and it had almost no space on the design scene. We don't have to look hard for the reason. Everyone simply preferred Miro – a leader in online collaboration tools. It's understandable. FigJam was still in its infancy and didn't offer anything groundbreaking that Miro couldn't handle.

Slowly, slowly catchy monkey.

A convincing way to the top

FigJam is now a full-fledged design tool and could soon surpass Miro itself. A huge advantage is the connection with Figma. Whether we're doing workflows, wireframes or design itself, projects in FigJam and Figma appear neatly side by side on the same board.

Such simplification can sometimes be invaluable and save a lot of time.

FigJam helps the whole team to collaborate on the project in its different phases. It is most useful during pre-design activities. For that, we usually use Figma itself.

In Dactyl Group we use FigJam for example in workshops with clients and in the creation of user flows or low-fidelity wireframes. But it can be used in almost every situation. 

Other examples are:

• Brainstorming
• Basic timeline projects
• Retrospective
• Moodboards
• Scheduling
• Persons
• A practical example: FigJam regularly helps us during online workshops. There is a timer that drives us to make quick decisions. Sticky notes are another common gadget for capturing and exchanging ideas with the client. We could then use vote dots to vote on the best decision. In addition, thanks to its pleasant and intuitive environment, FigJam can be used by anyone and the work is pretty straightforward.

Comparisons: FigJam versus Miro

The first reliable choice among designers is usually Miro, but that doesn't mean he isn't looking forward to better times for FigJam. FigJam gets a huge plus with its connection to Figma. It's an advantage that Miro has no way to compete with. Launching from one app is far more convenient and efficient when working. 

Materials can be easily copied between applications, the team has them available at all times, and most importantly, in one place.

FigJam is also much more playful and interactive. After all, it's much more pleasant when we get colourful reactions from our colleagues in the form of emoticons during the evaluation. The animation of these icons is much more modern and sophisticated than in competing software.

Next, let's take a look at the interface.

If we compare the UI of each app, Miro is definitely more powerful and allows more options for editing text. While Miro offers a lot of items through the main menu and also has a library of pre-made wireframes, FigJam offers these features in the form of plugins. 

On the other hand FigJam offers a generous range of widgets and plugins, including a sticker menu.

Is FigJam worth it?

Absolutely, yes.

Both apps work on a similar basis and offer virtually the same thing with a few differences. So the choice is purely down to personal preference and requirements.

FigJam is a quality program despite several shortcomings. It is also helped by templates that save a lot of work. The selection is plentiful and design-wise they look great. The playful element of the whole app also adds a bonus point to it.

Bottom line, each tool has its own advantages. Miro is probably still the favourite, but FigJam also offers a lot. The biggest plus and reason why users should reach for FigJam is definitely the convenient and convenient interfacing with the popular Figma.

So none of the apps mentioned will be a bad decision.

Need a new design for your app or website? Are you looking for reliable developers whom you can entrust with the complete development? Contact us!

This article was prepared by our UX / UI designer Nikola Kratochvílová.