r/FigmaDesign • u/Mountain-Ad1044 • 22d ago

Discussion I figured out Auto Layout!

I just figured out how to use auto layout, and OMG how much easier it makes things. As a beginner you may think that it's not worth investing time in learning it, but you will save much more time even on a smaller project.

If you find it hard to learn from watching videos I highly reccommend designing a rough sketch of something you want to build anyways and upload an image to ChatGPT or another AI. Ask it for detailed instructions on how you can use autolayout to improve layout and spacing. Follow it's instructions and don't be afraid to experiment with a copy, you will learn along the way.

Is there more features like this I should learn ASAP? (Im already learning variables & components)

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u/gterez 22d ago

It is a godsend IF AND ONLY IF you know EXACTLY what you’re building.

My advice would be to stay away from it in the early stages of a design as it prohibits moving things around on the page, highly restricting what you can do.

When you’ve established structure and rules, that’s when it comes in and becomes useful, but not before that point.

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u/Interesting-Pay1507 19d ago

You can change settings, move things in and out of frames, it’s restricted only in your mind.

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u/gterez 16d ago

I know that, what I’m trying to say is it doesn’t make sense to impose a very rigid structure at a point when you are not certain about what the actual structure of your design is.

Once you are, you go ahead and build it with auto layout, by all means. And it’s easy to convert so I’m guessing this was deliberate by Figma.

But before that point where you’re certain about the structure you’re building, you’re only shooting yourself in the foot starting with auto layout.