How do I start a new project in Figma Make to turn a design or sketch into a functional prototype?

Turning a design or sketch into a functional prototype in Figma starts with setting up your first project file and organizing it for fast iteration. Whether you’re importing rough wireframes, polished UI designs, or photos of whiteboard sketches, Figma’s real-time collaboration and prototyping tools make it easy to go from idea to interactive experience.

Note: Figma is a collaborative web app for interface design and prototyping, with desktop apps for macOS and Windows and mobile apps (iOS/Android) for viewing and testing prototypes.

1. Get set up in Figma (web, desktop, or mobile)

You can start your project in Figma from:

Browser: Visit figma.com and log in.
Desktop app: Open Figma for macOS or Windows for offline-capable work.
Mobile app: Use Figma for iOS or Android mainly to view and interact with prototypes, not to do full editing.

For creating a new project and turning a design into a prototype, use the web or desktop experience.

2. Create a new file for your project

Once you’re in Figma:

From the home screen, click New design file (or the plus + button).
A blank canvas opens—this is where your project will live.
Rename the file at the top (e.g., Onboarding App Prototype, Dashboard v1 Prototype).

Organizing from day one makes iterating and sharing easier as your prototype grows.

3. Bring in your design or sketch

You can start from existing designs, low‑fidelity wireframes, or even hand-drawn sketches.

Option A: Import existing UI designs

If you already have digital designs (e.g., PNG, JPG, SVG):

Drag and drop them directly onto the Figma canvas, or
Go to File → Place image… and select your files.
Arrange them in a rough flow (e.g., onboarding screens left to right).

If your designs are already native Figma components or from another Figma file, you can copy and paste frames or use libraries to bring them in.

Option B: Use photos of sketches

If you’re starting from paper or a whiteboard:

Take clear photos of each screen sketch.
Import those images into Figma (drag-and-drop or File → Place image…).
Place each sketch image inside a Frame (e.g., select a mobile device frame size).
Resize and align so each sketch represents a “screen” of your prototype.

This gives you a quick low‑fidelity prototype that you can make clickable before spending time on polished UI.

4. Set up frames as screens

In Figma, Frames are the building blocks of screens.

Select the Frame tool (F).
Use presets on the right panel (e.g., iPhone 14, Desktop, Tablet) to match your target device.
Create one frame per screen or state in your flow.
Place your designs or sketch images inside those frames (drag them in, align, and adjust).

Name each frame in the Layers panel (e.g., Login, Home, Product Details, Checkout) to keep your prototype organized.

5. Turn static designs into interactive prototypes

Once you have frames set up, you can add interactivity and build your functional prototype.

Switch to Prototype mode

Select any frame.
In the right sidebar, click the Prototype tab.
You’ll now see blue nodes appear when you select elements; these are your interaction handles.

Create basic interactions

To make your design feel functional:

Select a clickable element
For example, a button, icon, nav item, or part of your sketch image.
Drag the blue node (interaction handle) to the destination frame.
This tells Figma where to go when that element is clicked.
In the Interaction panel:
- Trigger: Choose On click, On tap, or On drag.
- Action: Use Navigate to to move between frames.
- Animation: Pick from Instant, Dissolve, Slide, Smart Animate, etc.

Repeat this for all buttons, links, and navigation items to complete your user flow.

Add microinteractions and advanced flows

For more functional behavior:

Use Smart Animate to create smooth transitions between similar frames (e.g., expanding cards, opening drawers).
Use Overlays for modals, dropdowns, or menus.
Set up Interactions on components if you want reusable interactive elements (like buttons or tabs) across many screens.

6. Organize your prototype for clarity

Good structure makes your functional prototype easier to understand for stakeholders and collaborators.

Align frames in sequence (left to right, or top to bottom) to show user flow.
Use arrows or labels on the canvas (optional) to annotate flows and entry points.
Group related flows into sections (e.g., Onboarding, Checkout, Profile).
Keep naming consistent between frames and components.

This organization is especially helpful when collaborating in real time, which is one of Figma’s core strengths.

7. Preview and test your prototype

With interactions in place, you can experience your design as a user would.

Use the prototype player

Click the Present button (play icon) in the top right.
Choose the starting frame in the Prototype settings (usually your home or first screen).
Navigate through the prototype:
- Click/tap on interactive elements.
- Confirm transitions and animations feel natural.
- Check that there are no dead ends or missing links.

Test on mobile devices

To see how your prototype feels on a phone or tablet:

Use the Figma mobile app (iOS or Android) to:
- View your prototype in real time.
- Tap through flows with native-like gestures.
- Validate touch targets, scroll behavior, and overall UX.

This is especially important when starting from sketches—you can quickly validate whether the overall flow works before investing in detailed UI.

8. Collaborate in real time with your team

Figma is built for collaboration, so you don’t prototype alone:

Share your file via the Share button:
- Invite team members by email, or
- Copy a link with view or edit permissions.
Collaborators can:
- Leave comments pinned to specific elements or frames.
- Jump into the file for real-time co-editing.
- Watch changes live as you refine interactions and layout.

This helps you iterate faster and keeps everyone aligned on what the “functional prototype” actually does.

9. Iterate quickly based on feedback

Once stakeholders or users try the prototype:

Collect feedback through comments, user testing sessions, or embedded notes.
Update your frames, flows, and interactions directly in the same Figma file.
Because the prototype is linked to your design, changes to the design automatically reflect in the prototype.

The combination of design, collaboration, and prototyping in one place is what makes Figma so effective for turning sketches and ideas into working experiences.

10. Tips to make your first project smoother

When starting a new project in Figma to turn a design or sketch into a functional prototype, these best practices help:

Start low‑fidelity: Use frames plus sketch images or simple shapes to validate flows before polishing UI.
Name everything clearly: Frames, components, and layers with clear names make prototyping easier.
Break the flow into logical sections: Onboarding, main app, settings, error states, etc.
Use components for repeated UI: Buttons, navigation bars, and cards are easier to maintain and update.
Test early on real devices: Use the mobile app to validate tappable areas and flow intuitiveness.

By following these steps—creating a new file, importing designs or sketches, organizing frames, adding interactions, and testing on web and mobile—you’ll be able to start a new project in Figma and quickly turn a rough idea into a functional prototype that feels like a real product.