Creating engaging mockups is an essential skill for any designer looking to showcase their work in context. Whether you're presenting a mobile app inside a phone frame or demonstrating a website on a laptop, mockups help stakeholders visualize the real experience and make informed decisions. With Figma's powerful tools, you can create professional-grade mockups without needing Photoshop or 3D software.

In this article, we'll dive into the world of swift app development and explore how to create stunning mockups that will wow your clients and users.

What Is a Mockup?

A mockup is a visual representation of your UI inside a real-world setting – like a smartphone, laptop, or product packaging. It shows your design in use rather than just on a plain canvas. Use mockups when presenting to clients or stakeholders, creating pitch decks or case studies, showcasing UI/UX work in your portfolio, or packaging UI kits or Figma templates for sale.

Step 1: Prepare Your UI Design

Before you start building your mockup, make sure your actual design is complete and responsive. Organize it inside a Frame and size it appropriately for the device you're targeting (e.g., 375×812 for iPhone, 1440×1024 for web). If you'll reuse this design across multiple devices, export it as a component to avoid duplication of effort.

Step 2: Choose or Create a Mockup Frame

You have three options for the mockup shell:

Option A: Use Figma's Built-In Devices

Open the Assets tab, click "Community → Devices," and drag a device frame like "iPhone 14 Pro" onto your canvas. Place your design inside it. These device frames are vector-based and scalable, making them perfect for swift app development.

Option B: Use a Mockup Plugin

Install one of these plugins:

  • Mockuuups Studio – one-click mockups in 600+ scenes
  • Angle Mockups – clean angled perspectives
  • Clay Mockups 3D – stylish device renders

These plugins allow you to pick a device, paste your design, and auto-generate a photorealistic mockup. You can even add custom branding and logos for a more polished look.

Option C: DIY Mockup with Custom Shapes

Create a rounded rectangle (e.g., a phone shape) and add borders, shadows, and screen bezels. Use layers and masking to insert your UI design. This is great for branded or stylized mockups (e.g., skeuomorphic, isometric).

Step 3: Insert Your UI into the Mockup

Copy your UI frame and paste it into the device screen or placeholder layer. Resize carefully to fit the screen dimensions. Use "Crop" or "Fill" in the right sidebar if needed. If the mockup uses masking, double-click inside the mask group and drop in your UI.

Step 4: Add Backgrounds, Shadows, and Branding

Polish your mockup for presentation by adding a light or gradient background, using drop shadows or reflections under the device, inserting your logo or client brand, and adding a label like "Homepage" or "Onboarding Flow." You can even add a real hand or person holding the device using PNG overlays.

Step 5: Group and Export

Once done, group all layers into a Frame and rename it clearly (e.g., "Mockup – Mobile App Home"). Export as PNG, JPG, or SVG. Use mockups in presentations, portfolio sites, social media case studies, and Figma thumbnails.

What Not to Do

Don't stretch your UI to fit mismatched screens, overload mockups with too much text, or mix inconsistent styles or device types. Remember, the goal is to create a cohesive and persuasive visual representation of your design.

In summary, creating a mockup in Figma involves choosing or creating a frame, placing your UI design inside it, styling the mockup with backgrounds, shadows, and branding, and exporting as needed. With these steps and Figma's flexibility, you can build high-impact mockups in minutes, not hours.

Want more smart presentation techniques and reusable design workflows? Explore our full library at Designilo.com.