Figma “prototype recording” feature

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This case study explores the addition of a native recording feature in Figma to eliminate the need for third-party tools, improving efficiency for designers.

📑 Table of Contents

  1. Introduction: Setting the Stage

  2. Research: Understanding the User Needs

  3. Prototype: Bringing Ideas to Life

  4. Test: The Ultimate Challenge

  5. What I Learned: Lessons from the Journey

Timeline:
Dec 24 - Jan 25

Role:
Researcher Designer

"Imagine you've spent hours creating an interactive prototype in Figma. You need to showcase it to a client, but there’s no built-in way to record it. You scramble for third-party tools, resize windows, trim videos, and struggle with sharing formats. Sounds familiar?"

Despite Figma’s powerful prototyping capabilities, users must rely on external tools to record and share their work. This extra step disrupts workflow, lowers efficiency, and affects the quality of presentations.

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Do you currently record your prototypes?

  • Yes = 9 users

  • No = 1 user

Research: Understanding the user needs

I conducted surveys and Interviews with 10 designers to understand the current status, pain points, and frustrations when recording a prototype from Figma.

What tool do you use to record Figma prototype?

  • Loom = 4 users

  • OBS Studio = 3 user

  • QuickTime = 2 users

  • Nothing = 1 User

What difficulties do you encounter?

  • Time consuming

  • Low quality/lag

  • Difficulty sharing

"I’d rather not rely on another program when I’m already using Figma for everything else."

"It feels like a hassle to learn and configure a new tool every time I just want to record something."

"I don't trust external apps with my design files—there’s always a risk of privacy issues."

Would you use a built-in recording in figma?

  • Yes = 8 users

  • Maybe = 2 users

  • No = 0 users

Introduction: Setting the stage

Missing recording feature

Survey findings

Quotes from the participants

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Designing a Built-in prototype record feature

Prototype: Bringing the idea to life

I included the recording feature alongside preview and present options so users can easily spot the feature.

The toggle Bg is to either include or remove the background giving users more control over the recording.

The preview option lets users review their recording before exporting, ensuring quality and accuracy. The export feature provides multiple format options for easy sharing in portfolios, presentations, or client reviews.

Skills:
UX Research Product design Tesing

  • All-in-One Solution – Combines recording, previewing, and exporting within Figma, eliminating the need for external tools and enhancing efficiency.

  • User-Centered Design – Focused on real user needs, the prototype addresses common pain points like setup complexity, recording quality, and sharing difficulties.

  • Customizable Recording – Includes a toggle button to control the background, offering flexibility for different use cases like clean portfolio clips or full prototype showcases.

  • Effortless Exporting – Users can instantly preview and export recordings in multiple formats for portfolios, presentations, or client reviews.

Key features and benefits

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Ease of Use: The prototype received positive feedback on its general usability, with most users completing the tasks with ease.

Satisfaction: Overall satisfaction was 100%, with users appreciating the simplicity and functionality of the core features. However, 4 users expressed interest in additional customization options for their recordings.

Test: The ultimate challenge

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What I learned: The lessons from the journey

Here is what I learned from this journey of designing A prototype recording feature for Figma:

  • Improved Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Designing the recording prototype challenged me to think critically about user needs and adjust the design based on real feedback. This process enhanced my ability to quickly identify issues and refine solutions, strengthening my problem-solving skills as a designer.

  • Deepened Understanding of User-Centered Design: By engaging with users throughout the process, I learned how to prioritize their needs and experiences. Iterating on feedback helped me create a more intuitive and effective design, reinforcing the value of keeping users at the heart of the design process.

What’s next?

  • Feature Expansion: Explore adding new features to the recording prototype, such as integration with other platforms or additional customization options, to enhance its functionality and user appeal.

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: Investigate the possibility of extending the prototype to work across different devices or operating systems, enhancing its usability in varied environments.

Thank you for reading through my Case study :) 

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Task Completion Rate: The majority of tasks were completed successfully, with an average completion rate of 85%. This indicates that the prototype is largely intuitive, though there is room for refinement.

Error rate: None of the 10 participants encountered errors during the export process. All users were able to successfully complete the export task without assistance.