23.1 Flows
Flows 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 Flows.
- 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 Flows to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Flows to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Flows
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 Flows, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Flows using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
23.2 Connections
Connections 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 Connections.
- 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 Connections to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Connections to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Connections
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 Connections, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Connections using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
23.3 Triggers
Triggers 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 Triggers.
- 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 Triggers to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Triggers to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Triggers
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 Triggers, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Triggers using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
23.4 Actions
Actions 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 Actions.
- 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 Actions to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Actions to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Actions
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 Actions, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Actions using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
23.5 Present Mode
Present Mode 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 Present Mode.
- 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 Present Mode to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Present Mode to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Present Mode
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 Present Mode, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Present Mode using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 23 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Flows?
Answer: Flows 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 Flows?
Answer: Using Flows visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Connections?
Answer: Connections 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 Connections?
Answer: Using Connections visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Triggers?
Answer: Triggers 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 Triggers?
Answer: Using Triggers visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Actions?
Answer: Actions 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 Actions?
Answer: Using Actions visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Present Mode?
Answer: Present Mode 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 Present Mode?
Answer: Using Present Mode visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.