Figma and New Sanctions: What Designers Should Prepare for

Contents:

• Figma Analogues
• Transferring a Figma Layout to Lunacy and Pixso
• Comparison of Services

The US Treasury Department announced a new regulation that will take effect on September 12. According to this document, American companies will be prohibited from providing and supporting certain types of software for corporate clients in Russia. This decision is aimed at strengthening economic sanctions and restricting Russian companies' access to modern technologies, which could impact the country's business environment. It is important to note that this restriction will affect not only large corporations but also small and medium-sized businesses, potentially leading to significant changes in the operational activities of Russian companies.

It is hereby established that the restrictions specified in section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order 14071 shall apply to the following types of services. These prohibitions apply to certain categories that are subject to strict controls and may have consequences for businesses and organizations. It is important to note that compliance with these restrictions is mandatory for all participants to avoid legal sanctions.

• IT consulting and design services;
• IT support services, as well as cloud services for the following categories of software: enterprise management software and design and manufacturing software (collectively, "Covered Software").

As a result, certain activities are prohibited unless they are authorized by law or if such activities are licensed or authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The export, re-export, sale, or supply of IT-related services, including consulting, design, IT support, and cloud services, from the United States or by United States persons, regardless of location, with respect to Covered Software to any person located in the Russian Federation is subject to severe restrictions.

Bradley Smith, a spokesman for the US Treasury Department, made a statement about the current economic conditions and the country's financial policy. He emphasized the importance of maintaining fiscal discipline and the need to take measures to ensure financial market stability. Amid global economic instability, the Treasury Department continues to work to strengthen the economy and support entrepreneurship. Smith emphasized that effective public financial management is key to achieving sustainable economic growth and improving citizens' living standards.

The US Treasury Department has published an addendum to the main document, which clarifies which types of software are exempt from sanctions. This is important information for companies and organizations working in the technology and software sector, as it helps determine which products can be used without the risk of violating the law. The clarifications concern specific categories of software, which helps avoid uncertainty and provides a clearer understanding of the rules for businesses.

• messaging, chat, and email;
• social networking;
• photo and movie sharing;
• web browsing and blogging;
• collaboration platforms;
• video conferencing services;
• video games;
• e-learning platforms;
• translation platforms;
• maps;
• user authentication services;
• web hosting and domain name registration.

The current wording of the document is too broad, even taking into account the specified exceptions. As a result, some companies have decided to leave Russia completely. Among such companies is the collaboration service Miro. However, on August 22, the company reversed its decision and announced that it would not close free accounts.

Google announced the shutdown of its BigQuery cloud service, which is widely used by corporations for big data analysis and machine learning. Despite this, other company services, such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive, will remain available to users. This decision may impact companies that rely on BigQuery for data processing and analysis, but other Google tools will continue to function unchanged, allowing users to work with documents and spreadsheets.

Learn more about the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department in the editorial analysis of "Koda." The new restrictions prohibit the provision of IT services to Russians. What does this mean for the Russian tech market and how will it affect IT companies? Read our analysis to get a full understanding of the implications of these sanctions.

Figma Alternatives

While the sanctions don't directly affect Figma, the situation with Miro demonstrates that changes can happen suddenly. Therefore, it is important to prepare in advance for the possible closure of access to this working tool. Even if such a situation is temporary or accidental, proactive measures will help avoid losses in the process.

Today, there are two high-quality and free Figma alternatives: Lunacy and Pixso. In this article, we will focus on comparing these tools with Figma. If you have information about other worthy options, please let us know at design.media@skillbox.by.

Icons8 is a well-known product that provides an extensive library of stock icons, photos, music, and plugins for Figma. Icons8 offers users convenient tools for creating visual content, making it an ideal solution for designers and developers. With Icons8, you can easily find and integrate high-quality media assets into your projects, speeding up the development process and improving the final result. The Icons8 library is constantly updated, allowing users to stay up-to-date with current design trends.

Lunacy offers all the essential features, but is 2-3 years behind Figma. Lunacy lacks key features such as variable components, smart animations in prototypes, developer mode, and text styles. This creates certain limitations for designers seeking more modern and flexible tools.

The platform lacks community tabs, but Icons8's content effectively fulfills their function. This resource offers a wide selection of icons, photographs, illustrations, and design systems suitable for all major platforms. Icons8 is becoming a reliable source of visual content, contributing to improved designs and higher-quality projects.

Lunacy offers a convenient offline mode, allowing users to save files locally. This feature makes Lunacy an excellent choice for designers and developers who want to work anywhere, regardless of internet connection. Saving data locally ensures the security and accessibility of projects at all times.

Pixso is a Chinese alternative to Figma that strives to replicate the original as closely as possible. This tool retains the core interface elements, features, and layout of working tools, making it intuitive for Figma users. Although Pixso currently lacks support for variables, this feature can be expected to be added in the future. This clone allows users to work efficiently on designs while maintaining their familiar workflow.

Pixso offers unique features, including integration with the Stable Diffusion neural network. This feature allows users to generate images, text, and guidelines, significantly simplifying the process of content creation and inspiration. Users receive 500 points upon registration, and additional points can be earned through a subscription. Using Pixso with integrated Stable Diffusion opens up new horizons for designers and content creators, improving their workflow and creative capabilities.

Transferring a Figma layout to Lunacy and Pixso

Launch Lunacy and select Import from Figma from the File menu. You will be prompted to enter the URL and your account token to access the project.

Go to Figma and open the desired file. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl (⌘) + L to copy the link to the file. Then paste this link into the Lunacy window.

Go to the Figma homepage. Click on your account name and select the "Settings" section. Scroll down to the "Access Tokens" section. Click the "Create New Token" button. In the window that opens, enter a name for the token and click "Generate Token".

Click the "Copy this token" button to copy the token. Then paste it into the Lunacy application window. After that, click the "Import" button to import the layout into Lunacy.

To save a local copy of the file in Figma, open the desired project and select File from the menu, then click Save local copy. This will allow you to create a backup version of your design on your device.

Go to the Pixso platform and click the "Import" option on the main page. In the window that opens, upload your file for further work.

Comparison of Services

The Figma Self-Study Guide is a great resource for those looking to master this powerful design tool. Figma provides unique opportunities for creating interfaces and prototypes thanks to its functionality and collaboration capabilities. This self-study guide will provide step-by-step instructions, tool tips, and hands-on exercises to reinforce your knowledge. We'll cover Figma's core features, such as creating mockups, working with text, and using components and styles. You'll also learn best practices for organizing your workflow and collaborating with your team in real time, making Figma an ideal choice for designers and developers. This self-study guide is suitable for both beginners and those looking to deepen their Figma knowledge and skills. Start learning Figma today and discover a world of design with a new tool.

Figma is a powerful design tool that lets you create any visual elements and interfaces. With it, you can bring your wildest ideas to life, whether it's graphics, app prototypes, or web design. To get the most out of Figma, start by exploring its interface and core features.

Use drawing tools to create unique shapes and forms. Vector graphics allow you to scale your work without losing quality. Apply styles and effects to add depth and texture to your designs.

Figma also supports teamwork, allowing multiple users to edit the same project simultaneously. This is especially useful for designers and developers working on the same product.

Don't forget about component libraries and assets, which help speed up the development process. Save and use styles, colors, and components to maintain a consistent style across all your projects.

With Figma, you can create not only static designs but also interactive prototypes. This will help you visualize user experiences and conduct testing early in the development process.

By exploring Figma's capabilities, you'll discover limitless potential for bringing any design concept to life.

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