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Now that’s something Figma would have said to presentation making tools like PowerPoint, Canva or Google slides, if it was human.
That might sound dramatic, but Figma has seriously shaken up the way designers (and non-designers) think about creating slides. Originally built as a collaborative design tool, Figma was created to help teams work together on everything from website mockups to app designs. But as users started exploring Figma's versatility, they realized it could do way more than just static design work-Figma for Presentations. With its flexibility, real-time collaboration, and a toolset that feels like a playground for creativity, Figma has quickly become a powerful alternative to traditional presentation tools. It’s like a designer’s heaven where every slide can be a "frame," and you’re free to layer in icons, animations, and interactive elements to your heart’s content.
Need to change your entire color scheme in one click? Figma’s got you covered with its powerful color selection tool, letting you match brand colors in seconds! Think of it as having a paintbrush and a whiteboard in one space, but with the added bonus that your whole team can join in, live.
This new way of designing presentations has a big draw for teams who are tired of “death by PowerPoint.” In Figma, there’s no downloading and re-uploading files just to make minor edits or layout adjustments. Instead, it’s all about live edits, comments, and instantly accessible updates, making collaboration on slides feel as smooth as sharing a Google Doc.
Whether you’re working on a big pitch deck, a product demo, or an internal report, Figma allows you to take presentations to the next level with dynamic visuals and an interactive edge. So, if you’re curious about how Figma can help you or your team shake up their slides, Grab your coffee and let’s get right into it.
As Figma becomes a top alternative to traditional presentation tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides, a lot of creatives are wondering the same thing- why use traditional methods when something more innovative actually exists!
Unlike these classic tools, which often rely on set templates and limited customization options, Figma offers a boundless, open canvas that feels more like designing on a blank artboard than being restricted by slide formats. So if you’re tired of bullet points and static templates, Figma’s flexible design environment might be the breath of fresh air you need.
One of the best reasons to choose Figma is its seamless collaboration. Instead of the back-and-forth of email attachments or version control issues, Figma allows everyone to edit in real time. Imagine being in a meeting where you can update slides live as your team gives feedback—no more scrambling to catch everyone’s notes afterward! This feature is a game-changer for remote teams or anyone who wants to skip the hassle of saving, sending, and resaving files
Then, there’s the design freedom. With Figma, you’re not limited to static text boxes and images. Want to drop in an interactive button, animate a transition, or even build a mini prototype of an app as part of your deck? Figma makes it all possible, offering a level of creativity that’s hard to achieve with standard presentation software. And for those who love design consistency, Figma’s asset libraries let you save brand elements and apply them across your slides, ensuring everything looks polished and professional without much effort.
Figma is also cloud-based, which means you can access your slides from any device, anywhere. If you’ve ever been in a pinch because you left your USB drive behind or couldn’t access a file on your work computer, Figma eliminates that headache by letting you access your presentation online. Plus, you can export slides directly from Figma in formats like PDF or even use the built-in presentation mode, so there’s no need to switch apps or worry about compatibility.
Working on Figma may not look just as easy as PowerPoint, Canva or Google slides, but it is! Let us walk you through the process with a simple guide:
If you’re looking to save time and maintain perfect spacing across your slides, Auto layout is your new best friend. This feature automatically adjusts the positioning of text boxes, images, and shapes as you add or remove elements. Imagine you're creating a slide with bullet points—Auto Layout will ensure that the spacing remains consistent, no matter how many points you add or delete. It’s like having your very own slide assistant!
You can make your presentation feel alive with the Smart animate feature. It animates elements smoothly between frames—like sliding text, fading images, or making buttons pop in and out. This is great for those times you want to keep your audience’s attention with dynamic, subtle movements. You can make the transitions between frames smooth, so it feels like one continuous story.
Why would you want to settle for stock icons when Figma gives you the design tools to create your own elements and icons! You can create icons from scratch using simple vector tools, or use plugins like Iconify to pull in ready-made icons from popular libraries. Customizing your icons gives your presentation a personal touch, making it stand out from the sea of generic slides.
You know what they say, “Consistency is key!” In Figma, you can create color styles that help you apply your brand’s colors to every part of your presentation. Whether you want a calm, minimalist feel or something bold and energetic, defining your color palette upfront ensures everything stays cohesive. Plus, if you ever need to make a quick change, updating a color style automatically adjusts every element using that color—it's that easy!
In Figma, frames are your way of staying organized and controlling what’s visible. For example, if you’re working with multiple images or text boxes on one slide, placing them within a frame helps keep everything tidy. You can even use frames to create masking effects, allowing you to show just part of an image or text, which is perfect for dramatic reveals or step-by-step explanations.
You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel! If you’ve designed a slide layout you love, use the duplicate feature (Command + D or Ctrl + D) to quickly create new slides with the same structure. Just update the content, and you’re done! Grouping elements together makes it easier to move entire sections (like a header, text block, and image) without losing alignment. This can save a ton of time and effort, especially when working on slides with similar layouts.
Figma’s plugin ecosystem is huge, and there’s a plugin for nearly every need. Want to add royalty-free images quickly? Use the Unsplash plugin. Need more font options? Try Google Fonts. Looking for placeholder content? Content Reel is your go-to. These plugins help you stay in the creative zone without interrupting your workflow, bringing in tools that make designing presentations even faster and easier.
If you want your audience to feel like they’re interacting with your presentation, try prototyping. Figma allows you to create interactive elements, like buttons that navigate between slides or hover effects. It’s a great way to showcase products or apps, and it makes your presentation feel less like a static slideshow and more like a live demo.
Nothing screams professionalism more than a perfectly aligned slide. Use Figma’s grid system to make sure all your elements are evenly spaced and aligned. Grids can be a lifesaver when you’re working with lots of content, and they make your slides feel balanced and clean, ensuring your audience isn’t distracted by misaligned elements.
Ever wanted to reveal one part of your slide at a time to keep the audience engaged? Figma’s layers let you hide elements until you’re ready to reveal them. You can prepare different versions of your slide, then toggle visibility to show one section at a time—perfect for building anticipation and guiding your audience through the content without overwhelming them. These tricks aren’t just for expert designers- they’re accessible, simple tools that anyone can use to create powerful, engaging presentations.
From effortless layout management to seamless team collaboration and powerful design hacks, it’s easy to see why so many creators are swapping out traditional tools like PowerPoint, Google slides, Canva or Keynote for Figma’s dynamic, flexible environment.
Whether you're building from scratch or revamping an existing presentation, Figma’s versatility allows you to create presentations that are as unique as your ideas.
And the best part? You don’t need to be a professional designer to leverage its capabilities. Figma’s ease of use makes it accessible to everyone, no matter your design background.
At Crappy Presentations, we take full advantage of Figma’s features to make stunning presentations, so if using Figma feels overwhelming to you, we’re here to help. We’ll handle the design and you can focus on delivering the message through presenting the work right! Reach out to us if you have a project in mind.
