40.1 Foundations
Foundations 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 Foundations.
- 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 Foundations to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Foundations to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Foundations
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 Foundations, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Foundations using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
40.2 Components
Components 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 Components.
- 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 Components to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Components to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Components
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 Components, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Components using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
40.3 Patterns
Patterns 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 Patterns.
- 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 Patterns to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Patterns to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Patterns
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 Patterns, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Patterns using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
40.4 Documentation
Documentation 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 Documentation.
- 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 Documentation to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Documentation to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Documentation
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 Documentation, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Documentation using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
40.5 Governance
Governance 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 Governance.
- 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 Governance to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Governance to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Governance
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 Governance, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Governance using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 40 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Foundations?
Answer: Foundations 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 Foundations?
Answer: Using Foundations visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Components?
Answer: Components 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 Components?
Answer: Using Components visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Patterns?
Answer: Patterns 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 Patterns?
Answer: Using Patterns visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Documentation?
Answer: Documentation 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 Documentation?
Answer: Using Documentation visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Governance?
Answer: Governance 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 Governance?
Answer: Using Governance visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.