FigJam Voting: Criteria Before the Tally
Use FigJam voting to compare prepared options against a written criterion, then discuss evidence and constraints before deciding. A tally reveals participant preferences; it does not establish customer demand or settle feasibility by itself.
Before you start: Use a file in a Professional, Education, Organization or Enterprise team. Participants need can edit access; visitors in an open session can vote. Prepare comparable options and name the decision owner before starting.
Worked example: For three onboarding proposals, ask which most directly reduces invite confusion for new workspace owners. Do not ask participants to vote for their favorite screen without a shared objective.
Step-by-step guide
Prepare comparable options
Give each option a short name, intended outcome and evidence. Keep the amount of detail similar so the most polished presentation does not receive an unfair advantage.
Write one criterion
State what participants should optimize for and what is outside scope. If effort and customer impact are separate questions, run separate evaluations rather than combining them silently.
Set voting rules
Open Timer, voting, and music in the top toolbar, enter the voting prompt, set votes per person with + or -, then click Start. State whether your workshop permits several votes on one option.
Run independent selection
Give everyone time to assess before discussion. FigJam hides other participants’ choices during voting, but the facilitator still needs to avoid steering the room verbally.
Review the result and dissent
In Timer, voting, and music, choose End for everyone and confirm; a timer expiring does not end voting. Review the tally, evidence for the leading option and dissent. Later, open the panel’s Results tab to revisit a saved session.
Record the decision
Have the decision owner state the chosen action, remaining uncertainty and next check. Preserve the result with the criteria so it can be understood outside the meeting.
Common mistakes
Popularity becomes evidence
A vote is a team preference signal, not proof of user value. Pair it with research and constraints.
Different criteria in one tally
One person votes for speed and another for impact. Agree the question before starting.
Timer equals session end
Do not assume the timer ends voting. Close the vote and review the result explicitly.
Tips
Use equally sized option summaries before the session.
Ask the smallest dissenting group to explain its main concern.
Keep the tally beside the final decision and rationale.
Sources and verification
Based on product documentation checked on 2026-10-24. This is a documentation-based guide, not a hands-on benchmark. Features and availability can change.