7.1 Auto Layout
Auto 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 Auto 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 Auto Layout to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Auto Layout to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Auto 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 Auto Layout, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Auto Layout using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
7.2 Direction
Direction 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 Direction.
- 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 Direction to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Direction to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Direction
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 Direction, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Direction using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
7.3 Gap
Gap 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 Gap.
- 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 Gap to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Gap to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Gap
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 Gap, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Gap using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
7.4 Padding
Padding 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 Padding.
- 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 Padding to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Padding to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Padding
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 Padding, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Padding using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
7.5 Alignment
Alignment 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 Alignment.
- 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 Alignment to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alignment to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Alignment
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 Alignment, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Alignment using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 7 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Auto Layout?
Answer: Auto 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.
2. What is a common mistake with Auto Layout?
Answer: Using Auto Layout visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Direction?
Answer: Direction 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 Direction?
Answer: Using Direction visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Gap?
Answer: Gap 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 Gap?
Answer: Using Gap visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Padding?
Answer: Padding 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 Padding?
Answer: Using Padding visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Alignment?
Answer: Alignment 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 Alignment?
Answer: Using Alignment visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.