Community: Miguel Cardona

Using “Set Default Properties”

Miguel shows how to use “Set Default Properties” preference to style your new diagram arrows.

Super Quick Bonus @figmadesign #FigmaTip Friday ... "Set Default Properties" to keep your diagram arrows going as you want them styled —great for working on the fly a little faster. pic.twitter.com/YPQGpP4w5L
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) February 19, 2021

Issue #34
Feb 28, 2021
#Miguel Cardona

List of objects beneath your cursor

A good tip from Miguel – Command-Click on an object to show a list of all layers below.

Here is a micro #FigmaTip for your hump-day! Easily select something in @figmadesign by holding ⌘ (Mac) or Ctrl (Win) when you right-click. This will pull up a list of objects directly beneath your cursor.

This is where naming your layers pays back dividends! 😊 pic.twitter.com/t4RNeGW9w7
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) February 10, 2021

Short keys to help master placing images in your designs

⌘+⇧+K to place an image, ⌘+⇧+C/V to copy/paste it from/to an object.

Happy Friday! Here is a #FigmaTip showcasing some short keys to help master placing images in your @figmadesign designs.

⌘ + ⇧ + K to load and place images
⌘ + ⌥ + C to copy an img style from an object
⌘ + ⌥ + V to paste an img style to an objecthttps://t.co/VN7ZPDibzX pic.twitter.com/KrPEtlL7qc
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) January 22, 2021

More control over your Bezier handles

And another short video from Miguel, this time about Bezier curves.

Here is a #FigmaTip to give you more control over your bezier handles when creating vector illustrations in @figmadesign. 🖋

Use command + option when clicking anchor points to change the behavior of bezier handles and control them independently.https://t.co/rSbcUA1bTA pic.twitter.com/Lz5ozxN5pH
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) January 19, 2021

Stylistic alternatives for glyphs

Miguel Cardona on using OpenType features.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but some fonts come with stylistic alternatives for glyphs, and its super easy to swap them out in @figmadesign. Especially if a client has strong opinions on that letter "a" (true story).

This is Basic Sans, btw. pic.twitter.com/dT51BuKAN5
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) January 8, 2021

Using ScrollTo Interactions to traverse spaces

As soon as Figma releases something new, Miguel Cardona comes up with a great use case.

Yo @figmadesign coming through with the holiday treats!!! ScrollTo Interactions in prototyping solves a problem I've been having for a while...wanting to traverse spaces!

Here is something I whipped up in 5min. I set up an underlying grid of instances to form a grid of targets. pic.twitter.com/3jFGLT4Pqz
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) December 8, 2020

Hiding only Layers panel

Miguel Cardona with a good tip: use Cmd-Shift-\ to hide the Layers panel, and Cmd-\ to hide both panels when sharing a screen.

Figma @figmadesign Protip... If you ever want to hide just your layers but keep the properties panel on the right when screen sharing (cuz layers be looking rough sometimes)... just hide only them `Command + Shift + \`

(You can also hide everything with `Command + \`) pic.twitter.com/MMggw86d0A
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) December 3, 2020

Animate Angular gradient strokes

And another tip from Miguel for making simple animated spinners.

Figma @figmadesign protip: You can animate Angular gradients strokes. Make a simple loading animation by rotating the angle of the Angular gradient on a shape's stroke.

s/o to @annehelliott for the question & @BenMendelsohn for the rectangle. pic.twitter.com/aXe1y2DAak
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) December 10, 2020

Animating new Auto Layout options

Miguel Cardona shows how the “Fill container” resizing option can be animated.

Like, I'm just getting started with it, so use a little imagination here, but the fact that you can smart animate new @figmadesign auto-layout options will save a ton of time.

Here the only difference between the frames is the "fill container" option on the middle doodad. pic.twitter.com/TBnDj3ctru
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) November 19, 2020

Figma for Education: Equipping Designers of Learning Experiences

An interview with Miguel Cardona, an Assistant Professor at RIT teaching New Media Design, on designing learning experiences in Figma.

Miguel Cardona: Duplicate line segments

Great tip! Other replies to Rogie’s original tweet are also worth checking out.

Duplicate line segments while holding the option key, and click-dragging. And Shift + X to swap fill and stroke. pic.twitter.com/J8XWZlQlG9
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) October 26, 2020

Fun with Rotational Symmetry

Miguel Cardona shows how to use components and instances to create some cool illustrative effects.

Any one want this as a @figmadesign community file? pic.twitter.com/89DAZifFjY
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) September 7, 2020

Demo of Vector Networks

Miguel Cardona shows how cool and powerful Vector Networks are. The vector editing toolset in Figma is unique and worth getting familiar with.

Making little @figmadesign demos on iterating simple illustrations and components... Wait for it... Still can't get over how awesome vector networks are. pic.twitter.com/Sg9k1EvJfv
— miggi from figgi (@miggi) August 30, 2020

First Day of Class With Figma Design

Miguel Cardona gave a virtual talk demonstrating the ways to develop and foster community through collaborative prompts and activities in a classroom with Figma.

58. [Workshop] First Day of Class with Figma

11 activities in Figma for your classroom

Miguel Cardona teaches New Media Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and shares some of the activities that he does with students in Figma.

#Miguel Cardona