Imagine a tool that not only fuels your creativity but also opens doors to a world of financial opportunities. That’s Framer.
It has taken the world by storm and it’s easy to see why. An intuitive tool solving a the burning pain point of designers — to develop websites themselves. On top of that, Framer’s low barrier to entry and amazing free plans makes it accessible for designers. In other words Framer has democratized design
The rise of Framer has resulted in lucrative avenues for designers to earn a substantial income. Some of these require a one-time effort to reap the rewards while other methods can litreally make you money with just one click.
Let’s take a deep dive on how you can make money with Framer!
Starting with Figma
What is Figma?
Figma is a versatile cloud-based design tool used for creating prototypes, wireframes, and high-fidelity designs collaboratively in real-time. It's suitable for various design tasks, from social media graphics to website and app designs.
Why start with Figma
Ease of use: Figma’s user-friendly interface and powerful tools enable quick exploration and iteration of design concepts. Its open canvas lets you design without the constraints of coding structures, making it a breeze to sketch out ideas.
Design Freedom: The flexibility of Figma’s canvas means you’re not limited by web layout rules, allowing for freeform design exploration. Figma also streamlines the design process, making it faster to develop ideas than in Framer.
Access to source files: Figma provides the original design files, which can be invaluable for web development or further code-based enhancements.
When to use Framer over Figma
What is Framer?
Framer is a no-code website development tool that empowers designers to create interactive prototypes and fully functional websites without writing a single line of code.
Why start with Framer
Real-Time Prototyping: Framer offers real-time prototyping capabilities, allowing you to see your designs come to life instantly and make adjustments on the fly.
In other words, you’re developing a live working website as you’re designing, which is something not possible in Figma.
Save Time: Developing your website directly in Framer streamlines the process significantly, as it eliminates the need to first design in Figma and then rebuild in Framer. This integrated approach can lead to substantial time savings in the development cycle.
Real-Time Prototyping: With Framer, you design once for desktop, and with minor tweaks, you can adapt it for tablets and mobiles, saving time compared to Figma’s multiple artboard adjustments.
Framer takes the W here!
Complex animations and interactions: Framer takes animations to a new level by allowing to animate components as well as nested components. You can animate with different presets or even make your own custom animations!
This makes it easier to bring your vision to life.
When to use Framer over Figma
Time Constraints:
When project deadlines are tight, Framer is the ideal choice. It allows designers to create a functional website right from the design phase, eliminating the need for separate coding. This can be particularly beneficial for projects with a fast-approaching launch date or when rapid prototyping is required to validate concepts with stakeholders.
Complex Animations and Interactions:
If your project demands sophisticated animations that go beyond simple transitions, Framer’s advanced animation capabilities are unmatched. It’s perfect for creating dynamic user experiences where elements interact with each other in complex ways.
High-Fidelity Prototypes:
For projects where the prototype needs to be as close to the final product as possible, Framer shines. This is especially true for user testing scenarios where you want to collect accurate feedback on the look, feel, and functionality of your design.
Designing for One Breakpoint:
Framer’s approach to responsive design starts with the desktop version, which can then be adapted to tablet and mobile views. This is a significant advantage when designing for platforms where the desktop experience is prioritized, or when the mobile and tablet versions are simplified versions of the desktop site.
Closing thoughts
Choosing between Figma and Framer depends on the specific needs of your project. Framer offers a more integrated design-to-development workflow, making it the better choice for projects requiring high interactivity, complex animations, and rapid prototyping. However, for projects that benefit from extensive collaboration and design flexibility, Figma may be the preferred tool.
