13.1 Strokes
Strokes is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Strokes.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Strokes to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Strokes to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Strokes
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Strokes, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Strokes using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
13.2 Corner Radius
Corner Radius is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Corner Radius.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Corner Radius to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Corner Radius to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Corner Radius
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Corner Radius, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Corner Radius using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
13.3 Shadows
Shadows is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Shadows.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Shadows to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Shadows to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Shadows
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Shadows, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Shadows using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
13.4 Blur
Blur is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Blur.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Blur to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Blur to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Blur
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Blur, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Blur using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
13.5 Layer Effects
Layer Effects is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Layer Effects.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Layer Effects to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Layer Effects to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Layer Effects
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Layer Effects, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Layer Effects using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 13 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Strokes?
Answer: Strokes is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
2. What is a common mistake with Strokes?
Answer: Using Strokes visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Corner Radius?
Answer: Corner Radius is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
4. What is a common mistake with Corner Radius?
Answer: Using Corner Radius visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Shadows?
Answer: Shadows is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
6. What is a common mistake with Shadows?
Answer: Using Shadows visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Blur?
Answer: Blur is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
8. What is a common mistake with Blur?
Answer: Using Blur visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Layer Effects?
Answer: Layer Effects is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
10. What is a common mistake with Layer Effects?
Answer: Using Layer Effects visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.