Unboxing the Figma Creator Micro: A designer’s first impressions

Figma has been our go-to application for wireframing, prototyping, UI/UX design, email templates, landing pages, banner design, you name it. 

So when Figma, in collaboration with Work Louder, launched the Creator Micro keyboard last December, to say that it piqued our interest is an understatement. (Like, how many fans are merely “interested” in catching the latest Marvel teaser drop?! 😒) 

If you’re a Figmate, you know what we’re talking about. We’re excited any time there’s a feature launch, update, long-awaited bug fix, etc. It’s all for the benefit of the end user, right? Whether it pans out as expected is a different story. Ultimately, we want to do and share work we can be proud of. That’s what progressive tech makes possible. 

Figma’s entry into the hardware space (in collaboration with Work Louder) only adds to the intrigue of what is possible. Both for us and for our clients. 

Because seriously, what does it mean to own and use a customized Figma keyboard?! There was only one way to find out. 

So, we pre-ordered Creator Micro last December, and it was delivered only last month. How does it feel so far? We’ll share that soon. But first, if you missed the ball drop, let’s begin from the beginning. 

What is the Figma Creator Micro?

The Figma Creator Micro is a customized Figma keyboard or macropad. Designed for Figma users, it is expected to improve workflow and make design tasks easier and quicker through a more tactile experience. 

Source: Mavlers

You see, since most of the work by designers involves the mouse, not the keyboard. Figma’s Creator Micro keyboard functions as a “tactile trackpad,” which gives the user physical feedback every time a command is sent. 

Which means, no looking down everytime you press a key to ensure whether the command was registered or not. Over time, your brain strengthens the neural pathways between the motor cortex and the muscles involved in typing. That’s what muscle memory is. Eventually, you’ll be tap-tapping away without even thinking about it. 

Are we still on the same subject?!

Okay, but what does all this mean to the designer? 

Well, this: Traditionally, Figma users relied on the QWERTY keyboard for shortcuts. Creator Micro changes this by replacing the bulky keyboard with a compact device offering 48 tactile shortcuts. This allows designers to work more efficiently. Here’s potentially how:

• Reduced cognitive load: Figma has more than 150 possible shortcuts. If you want to save time, start memorizing them! Of course, that’s a lot to ask for. Creator Micro allows for a more intuitive use of the most frequently used functions.
  
• Improved workflow customization: You can use 48 shortcuts across multiple layers to tailor the Creator Micro to your workflow. That means your most commonly used functions are at your fingertips.
  
• Ergonomic advantage: Think about how often you’ve had to stretch your fingers to create just the right combination of keys in order to execute a command. Creator Micro’s compact, close-spaced keys facilitate a simpler, more direct interaction with the keyboard.
  
• Easier programming: Programming a macropad is easier than writing complex scripts in a dedicated software. 

Heard. Acknowledged. Delivered!

Significantly, those are some of the potential benefits that designers had been looking for some time now. Figma’s collaboration with Work Louder didn’t happen in a vacuum. There’s a demand for efficiency in design. 

For instance, a Graphic Designer posted the following on Reddit seven months ago – just one month following Figma’s product drop:

“As someone transitioning into UI and UX as a career choice, I decided to apply the principles of user-friendliness, user-intuition, efficiency, and organization to my life — and looked for ways to make every aspect of my life more efficient. With this research, I came across Macro-keypads (or Macro Keys for short). This has sped up my design process by at least 40% and has changed the way that I work completely.”

Another designer, writing three months ahead of the product drop, lamented the shortage of macropads in the market. 

Kudos to Figma and Work Louder for hearing the designer community out! 

Features of the Figma Creator Micro

The Figma Creator Micro has the following features:

• 12 programmable keys and two dials for assigning shortcuts
  
• 4 layers of key mappings, allowing up to 48 key and 8 dial function combinations
  
• 30 Figma icons and 12 solid colors
  
• Multiple keycap options for personalization

Source: Mavlers

Our first impressions of Creator Micro

Our first impressions of the Figma Creator Micro are fantastic! 

The keyboard is surprisingly weighty and feels well-crafted. The keycaps have a satisfying click, and the dials turn smoothly with a nice tactile feel. It’s a big difference from our usual keyboard. We’re also trying to use Work Louder’s keyboard presets. 

We can’t wait to customize it and see if it lives up to the hype of streamlining our Figma workflow. 

Watch this space for more updates! 

We’re yet to use Creator Micro for our clients. We’re still in the pass-the-parcel stage. (No, we’re not neophiliacs as such; but we may be childlike!) We’ll be handing it off to the design team shortly. In a month or so, we’ll be ready to share what we think of Figma Creator Micro, its pros and cons, business viability, etc. So, watch this space! 

Of course, we’re still available to meet all your design and development needs. We’re still building websites, designing landing pages, implementing email campaigns, etc. 

Have you listed down your design and development needs yet? Schedule a call or try our outsourcing quiz next.