Flow

What Is Flow?

Flow is a paid design tool in the **design-tools** category that enables designers to create and animate designs directly within Sketch, then generate code for developer handoff. It integrates seamlessly with Sketch workflows by importing artboards and assets, allowing animation of UI elements without requiring Sketch to run in the background. Flow fits into the prototyping and animation phase of the design process, bridging static designs to interactive prototypes and production-ready code.

What Flow Does

• Imports Sketch files in a single click to automatically create timelines from artboards.
• Animates transitions between imported artboards, handling artboard-to-artboard sequences.
• Transfers layer properties from Sketch, such as fills, borders, and shadows, for editable animations.
• Allows copy-paste of additional assets directly from Sketch into Flow compositions.
• Generates code output from animated designs for developer handoff.
• Operates independently as a dedicated animator, combining plugin-like ease with advanced UI/UX animation capabilities.

How Flow Can Be Used

• Designers prepare artboards in Sketch, import them into Flow to animate micro-interactions like button hovers or page transitions.
• Teams create prototype timelines by linking multiple Sketch artboards, testing flow variations without rebuilding assets.
• UI designers copy new elements from Sketch mid-project and paste them into Flow for quick iteration on animations.
• Handover workflows where animators export code-ready specs from Flow prototypes to developers building web or mobile apps.

These uses support scenarios where Sketch users need to extend static designs into dynamic prototypes, such as e-commerce navigation flows or app onboarding sequences, streamlining the path from design to development.

Who Is Flow For?

Flow serves Sketch users, including UI/UX designers and prototypers, who work on interactive elements and need efficient animation within their existing workflow. It suits teams handling handoffs to developers, particularly for projects requiring code-exportable animations like responsive web interfaces or mobile app screens. Experience levels range from intermediate designers familiar with Sketch artboards to advanced users managing complex timelines. Visit Flow