Firstly, I’d like to express how impressed I am with Figma. It’s evident to see why it’s leading the way in UX design and collaboration. However, as a disabled visual designer, there are key features that, if addressed, would significantly enhance the usability of your platform for people like me.
A few months ago, I communicated my challenges when I began using Figma. Having spent two decades in this industry, it’s concerning that this is the first design tool I’ve struggled with due to my disability. My fear is the potential risk of becoming irrelevant if I’m unable to efficiently use Figma, which is now a mandatory skill in most modern UX/design jobs.
I recognize that many Figma users might not face these issues. However, I believe there’s immense value in enhancing its accessibility. Here are some features I believe would make a considerable difference:
- Extended Toolbar Options: Allow users to click for commands like grouping, ungrouping, zooming in/out, rather than depending on simultaneous keyboard shortcuts.
- ‘Scrubby Zoom’: A feature present in Illustrator and other Adobe products. Users can press and drag to zoom, simplifying the process.
- Customizable Toolbar: The ability to modify the toolbar to suit individual needs, tailoring it based on frequently used commands.
- Parent Frame Locking: The most crucial feature for me would be to lock a parent frame’s position while enabling the selection of child items within. This would allow me to leverage Figma’s exceptional auto layout features, which I currently find challenging.
While Sketch possesses many of these features, Figma stands superior in countless other ways. These additions would bridge the remaining gap.
I sincerely hope you consider this request. I’m more than willing to collaborate on research and testing to further enhance Figma’s accessibility.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.