57.1 Text Expansion
Text Expansion 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 Text Expansion.
- 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 Text Expansion to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Text Expansion to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Text Expansion
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 Text Expansion, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Text Expansion using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
57.2 RTL Layout
RTL Layout 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 RTL Layout.
- 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 RTL Layout to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply RTL Layout to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: RTL Layout
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 RTL Layout, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for RTL Layout using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
57.3 Variables for Copy
Variables for Copy 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 Variables for Copy.
- 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 Variables for Copy to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Variables for Copy to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Variables for Copy
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 Variables for Copy, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Variables for Copy using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
57.4 Locale Modes
Locale Modes 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 Locale Modes.
- 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 Locale Modes to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Locale Modes to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Locale Modes
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 Locale Modes, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Locale Modes using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
57.5 Testing
Testing 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 Testing.
- 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 Testing to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Testing to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Testing
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 Testing, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Testing using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 57 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Text Expansion?
Answer: Text Expansion 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 Text Expansion?
Answer: Using Text Expansion visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of RTL Layout?
Answer: RTL Layout 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 RTL Layout?
Answer: Using RTL Layout visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Variables for Copy?
Answer: Variables for Copy 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 Variables for Copy?
Answer: Using Variables for Copy visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Locale Modes?
Answer: Locale Modes 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 Locale Modes?
Answer: Using Locale Modes visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Testing?
Answer: Testing 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 Testing?
Answer: Using Testing visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.