There’s a moment every web design agency hits—when you stop using tools simply for what they do and start unlocking what they can really offer. For us, that moment came with Figma.
In the early stages of our design practice, Figma was a reliable interface tool. It helped us sketch layouts, create clickable prototypes, and collaborate on the go. But we treated it transactionally—like a canvas for visual ideas, not a system to streamline execution. Over time, as our projects grew more complex and our teams more cross-functional, we realized Figma could be far more than a design board. It could be a core part of our process architecture.
What Is Figma?
For those new to the ecosystem—or clients curious about what happens behind the scenes—Figma is a cloud-based design tool used by designers, developers, and product teams to collaborate in real time.
Think of it as Google Docs meets Photoshop, but tailor-made for UI/UX.
From wireframes and prototypes to full-blown design systems, Figma allows teams to co-create, comment, and iterate faster than ever. It’s become the industry standard for good reason:
- It’s browser-based
- It supports real-time collaboration
- It simplifies handoffs to developers through shared links and inspect mode
But as intuitive as Figma is, there are layers (pun intended) of features that often go unnoticed—features that can drastically improve efficiency when you’re designing at scale, especially in an agency setup juggling multiple brands and timelines.
If you’re keeping an eye on what’s evolving in digital design, you might also want to check out our guide on the Top 9 UI/UX Design Trends in 2025—a perfect companion read to help you stay ahead of the curve.
Here are 6 Figma hacks that completely changed how we work—and might just change your workflow too.
Selecting Nested Layers Without the Layers Panel
Let’s start with something deceptively simple: selecting nested elements. When dealing with layered components—say a button inside a card inside a modal—we used to rely heavily on the layers panel, which quickly becomes overwhelming in larger files.
Holding Cmd (on Mac) or Ctrl (on Windows) while clicking lets you drill down layer by layer, directly on the canvas. It’s a small shift, but for us, it reduced design friction instantly, especially in collaborative live sessions or during last-minute fixes.
Bringing Back Precision with Rulers and Guides
her overlooked feature? Rulers and guides. Despite being a modern design tool, Figma hasn’t abandoned some of the smartest legacy ideas from tools like Photoshop.
By pressing Shift + R, you can activate rulers, drag out custom guides, and bring traditional precision into your responsive layouts. We now use this routinely when aligning high-fidelity marketing pages or handing off pixel-specific layouts to developers. It ensures that typography grids, containers, and gutters stay visually consistent across all breakpoints.
Shift + A and the Power of Auto Layout
The real game-changer for our team was Auto Layout. Initially, we only used it for buttons. Today, it’s embedded into almost every scalable module we design.
Wrapping any group in Auto Layout (just press Shift + A) allows it to flex with content, adapt to changes, and maintain consistent spacing. In client projects with rapid feedback cycles—where content can expand, shrink, or shift—Auto Layout keeps the UI stable without unnecessary rework.
Nesting Components for Smarter Design Systems
Then there’s the way we handle components. Figma’s power lies in nesting components within components, which allows one small change to ripple across hundreds of instances.
We learned to structure our libraries thoughtfully: renaming assets clearly, nesting frequently used components (like buttons, icons, and badges), and using variants wisely. For long-term design systems, especially those handed off to external dev teams, this saved us from versioning headaches and inconsistent rollouts.
Tidy Up + Smart Selection for Rapid Alignment
As our files got bigger, so did the mess. Figma’s Tidy Up feature and Smart Selection were surprisingly effective at solving that.
After selecting multiple elements, the Tidy Up option evenly distributes them with a single click. Combined with Smart Selection (which lets you drag to adjust spacing interactively), these tools became indispensable during fast-paced sprints or when cleaning up UI kits before handoff. They’re simple but impactful—especially when a few pixels can visually make or break a layout.
Copy as Component for Cross-File Consistency
In a multi-project agency setup, we often work across several Figma files. The Copy as Component function allows us to reuse design elements across different projects while retaining their properties and shared styles.
This means no rebuilding buttons or cards from scratch. We can bring in fully styled components from one project to another without breaking links or starting over. It’s particularly helpful when onboarding new clients onto our design system or updating older files with the latest assets.
Figma as a Process, Not Just a Tool
For a design agency, speed and consistency aren’t optional—they’re foundational. Figma, when used deeply, becomes more than a place to design. It becomes a way to standardize creativity, scale systems, and collaborate without chaos.
These six hacks aren’t just shortcuts—they’re decisions. Each one helped us reduce friction, maintain design integrity, and meet tighter timelines without compromising quality.
We still discover something new in Figma almost every week—but these six remain at the core of how we work.
Need help optimizing your design process? Get in touch with us today and see how we can help you elevate your design game.
