33.1 Desktop Grid
Desktop Grid 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 Desktop Grid.
- 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 Desktop Grid to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Desktop Grid to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Desktop Grid
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 Desktop Grid, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Desktop Grid using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
33.2 Responsive Header
Responsive Header 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 Responsive Header.
- 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 Responsive Header to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Header to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Responsive Header
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 Responsive Header, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Responsive Header using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
33.3 Hero
Hero 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 Hero.
- 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 Hero to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Hero to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Hero
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 Hero, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Hero using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
33.4 Content Sections
Content Sections 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 Content Sections.
- 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 Content Sections to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Content Sections to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Content Sections
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 Content Sections, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Content Sections using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
33.5 Footer
Footer 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 Footer.
- 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 Footer to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Footer to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Footer
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 Footer, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Footer using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 33 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Desktop Grid?
Answer: Desktop Grid 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 Desktop Grid?
Answer: Using Desktop Grid visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Responsive Header?
Answer: Responsive Header 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 Responsive Header?
Answer: Using Responsive Header visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Hero?
Answer: Hero 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 Hero?
Answer: Using Hero visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Content Sections?
Answer: Content Sections 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 Content Sections?
Answer: Using Content Sections visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Footer?
Answer: Footer 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 Footer?
Answer: Using Footer visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.