17.1 Text Properties
Text Properties 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 Text Properties.
- 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 Text Properties to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Properties to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Text Properties
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 Text Properties, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Text Properties using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
17.2 Boolean Properties
Boolean Properties 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 Boolean Properties.
- 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 Boolean Properties to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Properties to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Boolean Properties
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 Boolean Properties, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Boolean Properties using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
17.3 Instance Swap
Instance Swap 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 Instance Swap.
- 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 Instance Swap to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Instance Swap to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Instance Swap
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 Instance Swap, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Instance Swap using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
17.4 Property Exposure
Property Exposure 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 Property Exposure.
- 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 Property Exposure to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Property Exposure to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Property Exposure
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 Property Exposure, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Property Exposure using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
17.5 Component API Thinking
Component API Thinking 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 Component API Thinking.
- 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 Component API Thinking to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Component API Thinking to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Component API Thinking
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 Component API Thinking, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Component API Thinking using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 17 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Text Properties?
Answer: Text Properties 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 Text Properties?
Answer: Using Text Properties visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Boolean Properties?
Answer: Boolean Properties 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 Boolean Properties?
Answer: Using Boolean Properties visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Instance Swap?
Answer: Instance Swap 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 Instance Swap?
Answer: Using Instance Swap visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Property Exposure?
Answer: Property Exposure 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 Property Exposure?
Answer: Using Property Exposure visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Component API Thinking?
Answer: Component API Thinking 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 Component API Thinking?
Answer: Using Component API Thinking visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.