Prototyping in Figma: Interactions, Animations & Scroll Behavior

When I first started using Figma, what really stood out to me was how easy it was to bring my static designs to life with prototyping. Instead of just showing clients or teammates a bunch of screens, I could actually let them click through the flow like a real app or website. 

Whether I was working on a basic wireframe or a polished UI mockup, Figma’s prototyping tools made it simple to test ideas, visualize interactions, and refine the user experience all without needing to write a single line of code. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to use Figma to create interactive prototypes from setting up interactions and transitions to handling scroll effects and previewing the final experience.

What is Prototyping in Figma?

Prototyping in Figma refers to linking frames and elements together to simulate how a user would interact with a digital product, be it a website, mobile app, or dashboard.

You can:

• Define how users navigate from one screen to another
• Add animations for smoother transitions
• Enable scrolling and fixed-position elements
• Create hover states, toggles, and flows

Setting Up Interactions

Interactions define how and when a transition should occur.

How to Add an Interaction:

1. Select an object or frame.
2. Click on the Prototype tab in the right sidebar.
3. Drag the blue circular node (+) to the destination frame.
4. Configure the interaction in the popup.

Interaction Triggers:

Transitions & Animation Types

After setting up an interaction, choose how the transition looks and feels.

Transition Types:

• Instant – No animation, immediate switch.
• Dissolve – Fades between frames.
• Smart Animate – Animates changes between two frames with matching layers.
• Move In / Move Out – Slides elements from or to the edge of the screen.
• Push / Slide In – Shifts one screen over the other (great for mobile flows).

What is Smart Animate?

Smart Animate uses layer names and hierarchy to animate size, position, opacity, and other changes between frames. It’s perfect for micro-interactions like:

• Button clicks
• Toggle switches
• Expanding cards
• Animated menus

Make sure matching layers have the same name and structure in both frames.

Scroll Behavior

Scrolling allows users to view content larger than the viewport, mimicking real device experiences.

Types of Scroll Behavior:

1. Vertical/Horizontal Scrolling

• Make sure the frame is set to “Clip Content”.
• Enable scrolling in the right sidebar under Prototype settings → “Overflow behavior”.

2. Fixed Position Elements

• Useful for sticky headers, menus, or footers.
• Select the element and check “Fix position when scrolling” in the right sidebar.

3. Scroll to Object

• Instead of linking to a new screen, link to a specific layer or object within a long scrollable frame.
• Helpful for smooth internal navigation, such as “Back to Top” buttons or page sections.

Previewing Your Prototype

How to Preview:

• Click the “Present” button in the top-right corner.
• Your prototype opens in a new tab with working interactions.
• Use the back arrow or ESC to return to design view.

Tips for Better Prototyping:

• Use Hotspot Hints: When turned on, Figma highlights clickable areas.
• Use the Flow Starting Point: Useful for multi-flow files. Set a starting screen by clicking the blue “Play” icon on any frame.
• Test across devices using Figma Mirror (for mobile).

Sharing Your Prototype

• Click Share > Copy Link.
• You can adjust permissions (View, Comment, Edit).
• Great for clients, teammates, or user testing.

Figma’s prototyping features empower you to create realistic, interactive designs without leaving the design environment. From simple click-through mockups to advanced scrollable layouts and animated transitions, you can simulate a full user experience to test, iterate, and present your ideas.

Whether you're designing a mobile app or a web dashboard, mastering prototyping, interactions, and scroll behavior in Figma will take your work to the next level.

Previous Lessons:

Figma: Home Screen & Interface Overview

Figma Frame Tool & Auto Layout Explained