Debate: Should you optimize your Figma file for speed or readability first?

I was at a meetup in Austin last Tuesday and heard a senior designer say she always collapses every component instance to keep her files fast, but her junior dev said it makes the layers impossible to navigate. So which side is right? Do you prioritize a snappy performance by hiding everything or keep things expanded so your team can actually find stuff? I lean toward readability but my file kept crashing with 50+ artboards open.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_gray26d ago

Last designer I knew who optimized for speed had her laptop catch fire during a client review.

the_ben26d ago

Wait, does collapsing instances actually stop laptops from catching fire or is that just a myth we tell ourselves? I'd rather deal with a slow file than spend 10 minutes digging through a flattened layer panel like I'm looking for my keys in a dark parking lot. Just name your layers something useful and let your computer scream a little - it's not like we're paying her electricity bill.