Is Figma really necessary for UX design?

Hey everyone! I’m new to UX and I’m working on a website for an education consultant. I thought about using Figma for the design and making a case study for my portfolio. But my coworker says the big agencies he works with don’t use Figma. He’s never used it himself and says everyone uses Adobe suite instead. I’m confused because job listings and certifications mention both Figma and Adobe. Is Figma harder for making webpage layouts? I want to show real design skills in my portfolio, not just Shopify templates. What do you think? Is Figma worth learning or should I stick to Adobe? I’d really appreciate some advice from experienced designers. Thanks!

As someone who’s been in the UX field for over a decade, I can confidently say that Figma has become a game-changer. While Adobe suite is still widely used, Figma’s collaborative features and cloud-based approach have made it incredibly popular, especially in startups and tech companies.

I’ve personally transitioned from Adobe to Figma for most of my projects, and the learning curve was surprisingly smooth. The real-time collaboration aspect has been invaluable when working with remote teams.

That said, the tool doesn’t make the designer. Focus on honing your UX skills - understanding user needs, creating intuitive flows, and effective information architecture. These skills translate across all tools.

For your portfolio, I’d recommend showcasing your problem-solving process rather than just the final designs. Employers value seeing your thought process and how you arrive at solutions.

figma’s definitely worth learning! it’s super popular for ux design and collaboration. lots of companies use it. but adobe’s still big too. i’d say learn both if u can, but start with figma. it’s easier to pick up and great for prototyping. don’t worry too much about tools tho - focus on ur design skills!

Figma’s become quite prevalent in the UX design industry, but it’s not the only tool out there. I’ve worked with both Figma and Adobe suite in different professional settings. Each has its strengths.

Figma excels in collaboration and prototyping, which is crucial for many modern workflows. It’s cloud-based, making it easier to share and work together in real-time. Adobe suite, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive set of tools that extend beyond just UX design.

Ultimately, the choice depends on the specific needs of the project and team. I’d recommend learning Figma as it’s increasingly requested in job listings, but don’t discount Adobe’s importance in the industry. The key is to understand design principles and be adaptable to different tools.

For your portfolio, focus on showcasing your design thinking and problem-solving skills rather than proficiency in a particular tool. That’s what truly matters to potential employers.