27.1 Set Variable
Set Variable 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 Set Variable.
- 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 Set Variable to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Set Variable to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Set Variable
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 Set Variable, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Set Variable using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
27.2 Number Variables
Number Variables 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 Number Variables.
- 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 Number Variables to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Number Variables to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Number Variables
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 Number Variables, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Number Variables using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
27.3 String Variables
String Variables 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 String Variables.
- 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 String Variables to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply String Variables to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: String Variables
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 String Variables, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for String Variables using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
27.4 Boolean Variables
Boolean Variables 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 Variables.
- 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 Variables to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Boolean Variables to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Boolean Variables
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 Variables, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Boolean Variables using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
27.5 Variable-Driven UI
Variable-Driven UI 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 Variable-Driven UI.
- 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 Variable-Driven UI to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variable-Driven UI to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Variable-Driven UI
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 Variable-Driven UI, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Variable-Driven UI using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 27 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Set Variable?
Answer: Set Variable 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 Set Variable?
Answer: Using Set Variable visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Number Variables?
Answer: Number Variables 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 Number Variables?
Answer: Using Number Variables visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of String Variables?
Answer: String Variables 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 String Variables?
Answer: Using String Variables visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Boolean Variables?
Answer: Boolean Variables 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 Boolean Variables?
Answer: Using Boolean Variables visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Variable-Driven UI?
Answer: Variable-Driven UI 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 Variable-Driven UI?
Answer: Using Variable-Driven UI visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.