6.1 Columns
Columns 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 Columns.
- 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 Columns to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Columns to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Columns
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 Columns, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Columns using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
6.2 Rows
Rows 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 Rows.
- 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 Rows to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Rows to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Rows
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 Rows, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Rows using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
6.3 Grid
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 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 Grid to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Grid to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: 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 Grid, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Grid using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
6.4 Margins and Gutters
Margins and Gutters 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 Margins and Gutters.
- 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 Margins and Gutters to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Margins and Gutters to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Margins and Gutters
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 Margins and Gutters, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Margins and Gutters using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
6.5 Responsive Grid Thinking
Responsive Grid Thinking 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 Grid Thinking.
- 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 Grid Thinking to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Grid Thinking to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Responsive Grid Thinking
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 Grid Thinking, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Responsive Grid Thinking using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 6 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Columns?
Answer: Columns 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 Columns?
Answer: Using Columns visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Rows?
Answer: Rows 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 Rows?
Answer: Using Rows visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Grid?
Answer: 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.
6. What is a common mistake with Grid?
Answer: Using Grid visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Margins and Gutters?
Answer: Margins and Gutters 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 Margins and Gutters?
Answer: Using Margins and Gutters visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Responsive Grid Thinking?
Answer: Responsive Grid Thinking 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 Responsive Grid Thinking?
Answer: Using Responsive Grid Thinking visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.