Sep 24, 2024
Choosing the Right Tool for a Scalable Design System
When I joined the team, there was little existing design infrastructure in place. A small Adobe XD file had been started, and a Creative Cloud subscription was active, but no comprehensive system existed. I was stepping into a greenfield opportunity to define the entire UI/UX for our SaaS platform and build a design system from scratch.
Before diving into wireframes or components, I needed to validate that we were using the right tool to support this effort. Adobe XD was the default, but it hadn’t been chosen through a strategic lens. With full autonomy to establish the foundation, I created a comparison between Adobe XD and Figma to present to our CEO and executive team.
A Strategic Evaluation, Not Just a Preference
The goal wasn’t just better tooling. It was to fulfill the product vision our CEO had articulated from the beginning:
“We want our clients to have an experience so smooth that they forget about us when they’re done.”
— Jay Patterson, CEO at CCI
That quote became the anchor for my analysis. To deliver a user experience that fades into the background, one that feels effortless, intuitive, and consistent, we needed a design tool that could support that level of precision.
I built the case around three core constraints the executive team outlined:
Accuracy: The design platform had to enable a consistent brand and interface across all CCI properties. It also needed to be a long-term solution.
Client First: Efficiency was key. The right tool would reduce time spent on design ops and increase time spent improving the product.
Reputation: We couldn’t afford to feel outdated. Our tools needed to reflect modern design trends and support scalable systems moving forward.
To evaluate which tool best supports our product and brand objectives, I conducted a detailed comparison grounded in the priorities outlined by leadership.
Feature Comparison Table
Feature | Adobe XD | Figma |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | $54.99/seat/mo (Grandfathered in at $10/seat/mo for existing seat). | $15/full seat/mo |
Latest Update | June 6, 2023 | September 16, 2024 |
OS Requirements | Mac, Windows | All OS |
Auto Save | Recovery Files or Creative Cloud Only | Always Enabled |
Version History | Available for 30 days. | Available for 30 days. |
Industry Standards & Outlook | Plans to discontinue the app have already begun. No longer available to be purchased as a single app. | Considered the standard for UI/UX design. Will likely continue to be the most commonly used app in the future. |
Libraries: Styles, Colors, & Fonts | Collaboration Editor | Collaboration Editor |
Collaboration | Offers real-time collaboration with other Adobe XD users. Can generate links with customized permissions. | Offers real-time collaboration with other Figma users. Can generate links with customized permissions. |
Developer Handoff | Must export file and open in browser first, then use the inspect tool to uncover CSS for each component. | Developer Mode enables users to view and export CSS straight from the app interface. Users can inspect individual elements, layers, components, and interactions that are set up for prototyping. |
Team Styles/Library & Assets | Styles can be shared manually via Creative Cloud for consistent use of colors, typography, etc. Styles will not embed into panels like Figma. | Styles can be automatically shared via Figma teams to ensure designs adhere to brand guidelines and remain consistent. Team colors, typography, and more will display in respective panels for ease of use. |
Plugins, Resources, & Community | Plugins designed to automate complex tasks and are compatible with other Adobe CC programs. Library is small in size compared to Figma, and further contributions will likely slow down as XD phases out of the industry. | Plugin ecosystem constantly growing and the community continues to provide useful resources from UI templates to plugins that automate tasks. |
Exporting Assets | Must mark assets for export before exporting. Original images are only accessible via Edit in Photoshop command. | Can select element and export it directly from the export panel. Developer mode allows for exportation of all original images, videos, and more. |
Grids & Auto Layout | Responsive Resize | Auto Layout |
Design Tokens & Variables | Can create and export variables, but no option for multiple themes within one design file. Possible variables are limited to colors and typography. | Set variable modes based on variables and design tokens. Allows for multiple themes within one file (ex. light and dark mode.) Many more types of variables including colors, typography, line height, lettering, padding, corner radi, and more. |
Design Systems | No page feature forces user to keep all artboards in same work area, rather than categorizing components and screens. Limited types of variables make it difficult to maintain larger design systems. Having to switch between layers and page panels is also inefficient compared to Figma. | The ability to create new pages allows for user to categorize components and screens making it easy to navigate. Variables panel allows for easy setup and maintenance of colors, typography, and more. Pages and layers panels are also visible simultaneously, allowing for ease of finding components or screens. |
Containers: Artboards (XD) vs. Frames (Figma) | Uses artboards that act as static containers. | Uses frames that act as containers, but have auto-layout and grid capabilities. Also has fill capabilities (see below.) |
Layer Fills | Only one fill per layer. Example: Gradient on top of an image is only achievable via two layers. | Multiple fills and fill types per layer (solid, gradient, image, video.) Example: Gradient on top of an image is achievable via one layer with two fills, accessible in the same panel. |
Prototyping | Slightly wider selection of triggers, actions, and transitions. Most notable difference is vocal/audio interactions. | Competent library of interactions, but not as large as Adobe XD. Smart animate is great for animating icons, logos, layouts, and more (ex. transition of hamburger icon to “x”.) |
Winner: Figma
This comparison was never about features in isolation. It was about building a foundation that could scale with the product and reflect the quality of experience our CEO described from the start. One that feels so seamless the user doesn’t even notice it.
Adobe XD served as a starting point, but it became clear that it couldn't support the kind of system we needed to build. From design system maintenance and real-time collaboration to developer handoff and long-term viability, Figma aligned with the goals of the business and the expectations of our users.
Presenting this case to leadership was about more than switching tools. It was about committing to consistency, scalability, and a user experience that speaks for itself. Then gets out of the way. Figma gave us the platform to do exactly that.