43.1 Dev Mode
Dev 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 Dev 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 Dev Mode to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Dev Mode to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Dev 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 Dev Mode, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Dev Mode using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
43.2 Inspecting Specs
Inspecting Specs 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 Inspecting Specs.
- 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 Inspecting Specs to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Inspecting Specs to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Inspecting Specs
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 Inspecting Specs, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Inspecting Specs using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
43.3 Measurements
Measurements 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 Measurements.
- 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 Measurements to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Measurements to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Measurements
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 Measurements, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Measurements using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
43.4 Assets
Assets 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 Assets.
- 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 Assets to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Assets to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Assets
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 Assets, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Assets using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
43.5 Code Snippets
Code Snippets 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 Code Snippets.
- 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 Code Snippets to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Code Snippets to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Code Snippets
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 Code Snippets, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Code Snippets using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 43 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Dev Mode?
Answer: Dev 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.
2. What is a common mistake with Dev Mode?
Answer: Using Dev Mode visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Inspecting Specs?
Answer: Inspecting Specs 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 Inspecting Specs?
Answer: Using Inspecting Specs visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Measurements?
Answer: Measurements 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 Measurements?
Answer: Using Measurements visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Assets?
Answer: Assets 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 Assets?
Answer: Using Assets visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Code Snippets?
Answer: Code Snippets 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 Code Snippets?
Answer: Using Code Snippets visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.