45.1 Annotations
Annotations 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 Annotations.
- 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 Annotations to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Annotations to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Annotations
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 Annotations, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Annotations using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
45.2 Status
Status 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 Status.
- 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 Status to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Status to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Status
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 Status, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Status using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
45.3 Specs
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 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 Specs to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Specs to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: 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 Specs, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Specs using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
45.4 Edge Cases
Edge Cases 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 Edge Cases.
- 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 Edge Cases to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Edge Cases to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Edge Cases
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 Edge Cases, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Edge Cases using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
45.5 Handoff Checklist
Handoff Checklist 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 Handoff Checklist.
- 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 Handoff Checklist to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Handoff Checklist to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Handoff Checklist
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 Handoff Checklist, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Handoff Checklist using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 45 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Annotations?
Answer: Annotations 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 Annotations?
Answer: Using Annotations visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Status?
Answer: Status 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 Status?
Answer: Using Status visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Specs?
Answer: 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.
6. What is a common mistake with Specs?
Answer: Using Specs visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Edge Cases?
Answer: Edge Cases 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 Edge Cases?
Answer: Using Edge Cases visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Handoff Checklist?
Answer: Handoff Checklist 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 Handoff Checklist?
Answer: Using Handoff Checklist visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.