60.1 Research
Research 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 Research.
- 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 Research to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Research to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Research
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 Research, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Research using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
60.2 Design System
Design System 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 Design System.
- 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 Design System to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Design System to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Design System
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 Design System, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Design System using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
60.3 Responsive Product
Responsive Product 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 Product.
- 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 Product to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Responsive Product to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Responsive Product
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 Product, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Responsive Product using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
60.4 Advanced Prototype
Advanced Prototype 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 Advanced Prototype.
- 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 Advanced Prototype to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Advanced Prototype to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Advanced Prototype
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 Advanced Prototype, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Advanced Prototype using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
60.5 Developer Handoff
Developer Handoff 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 Developer Handoff.
- 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 Developer Handoff to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Developer Handoff to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Developer Handoff
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 Developer Handoff, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Developer Handoff using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 60 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Research?
Answer: Research 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 Research?
Answer: Using Research visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Design System?
Answer: Design System 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 Design System?
Answer: Using Design System visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Responsive Product?
Answer: Responsive Product 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 Responsive Product?
Answer: Using Responsive Product visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Advanced Prototype?
Answer: Advanced Prototype 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 Advanced Prototype?
Answer: Using Advanced Prototype visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Developer Handoff?
Answer: Developer Handoff 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 Developer Handoff?
Answer: Using Developer Handoff visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.