Figma for Design Systems
1 Introduction to Design Systems
1-1 Definition and Purpose of Design Systems
1-2 Benefits of Using Design Systems
1-3 Overview of Design System Components
1-4 Role of Figma in Building Design Systems
2 Setting Up Your Figma Environment
2-1 Creating a New Figma Project
2-2 Organizing Files and Folders
2-3 Understanding Figma Workspaces
2-4 Collaborating with Team Members
3 Building a Design System in Figma
3-1 Creating a Design System File
3-2 Establishing a Design System Framework
3-3 Defining Brand Colors and Typography
3-4 Designing Icons and Illustrations
3-5 Creating Reusable Components
4 Managing Design Tokens
4-1 Introduction to Design Tokens
4-2 Creating and Organizing Design Tokens
4-3 Syncing Design Tokens Across Projects
4-4 Exporting Design Tokens for Development
5 Creating and Managing Components
5-1 Introduction to Figma Components
5-2 Creating Atomic Components
5-3 Building Molecules and Organisms
5-4 Managing Component Variants
5-5 Updating Components Across Projects
6 Designing Responsive Layouts
6-1 Introduction to Responsive Design
6-2 Creating Flexible Grid Systems
6-3 Designing for Multiple Screen Sizes
6-4 Testing Responsiveness in Figma
7 Prototyping and Interaction Design
7-1 Introduction to Prototyping in Figma
7-2 Creating Interactive Components
7-3 Linking Components for User Flows
7-4 Testing and Iterating Prototypes
8 Documentation and Handoff
8-1 Creating Design System Documentation
8-2 Using Figma for Handoff to Developers
8-3 Generating Code Snippets
8-4 Reviewing and Updating Documentation
9 Best Practices and Tips
9-1 Maintaining Consistency in Design Systems
9-2 Version Control and Collaboration Tips
9-3 Performance Optimization in Figma
9-4 Future Trends in Design Systems
10 Final Project and Certification
10-1 Building a Complete Design System in Figma
10-2 Presenting Your Design System
10-3 Review and Feedback Process
10-4 Certification Requirements and Process
Documentation and Handoff in Figma

Documentation and Handoff in Figma

Key Concepts

Design Systems

Design Systems are collections of reusable components and guidelines that ensure consistency across products. They include elements like buttons, forms, and navigation menus, along with rules for how and when to use them.

Think of a design system as a toolbox filled with pre-built LEGO blocks. Each block is a component that can be used in different structures, ensuring consistency in design.

Component Documentation

Component Documentation provides detailed descriptions and usage instructions for each component in the design system. This includes information on states (e.g., hover, active), variations, and best practices for implementation.

Consider component documentation as a user manual for each LEGO block. It explains how the block works, its different configurations, and how to use it effectively in various structures.

Style Guides

Style Guides are visual guidelines for typography, colors, and spacing. They ensure that all design elements adhere to a consistent visual language. For example, a style guide might specify that primary buttons should be blue with white text.

Think of a style guide as a paint-by-numbers kit. Each color and shape has a specific place and purpose, ensuring a cohesive and recognizable final product.

Handoff Tools

Handoff Tools in Figma facilitate the transfer of design assets to developers. These tools include features like the Inspect Panel, which provides detailed information about design elements, and plugins that export assets in various formats.

Consider handoff tools as a shipping service that ensures your LEGO structures (design assets) are delivered to the builders (developers) in perfect condition.

Inspect Panel

The Inspect Panel is a tool that provides detailed information about design elements, including dimensions, colors, and spacing. This information is crucial for developers to implement the design accurately.

Think of the Inspect Panel as a microscope that provides a close-up view of each LEGO block, showing its exact dimensions and color codes.

Auto Layout Documentation

Auto Layout Documentation provides guidelines for using Auto Layout to create responsive components. This includes instructions on how to set up constraints and ensure that components adapt to different screen sizes.

Consider Auto Layout documentation as a blueprint for building flexible LEGO structures that can expand or contract based on the available space.

Version Control

Version Control involves managing different versions of design components. This ensures that changes are tracked and that previous versions can be restored if needed. Tools like Git can be integrated with Figma for version control.

Think of version control as a time machine for your LEGO structures. You can go back to previous versions if something goes wrong or if you want to see how the structure evolved over time.

Collaboration and Comments

Collaboration and Comments facilitate communication between designers and developers. Designers can leave comments on specific elements, and developers can ask questions or provide feedback. This ensures that everyone is on the same page.

Consider collaboration and comments as a conversation between LEGO builders. They can discuss the best way to assemble a structure, ask for help, or suggest improvements.