Corner radius and smoothing in Figma - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a UI/UX designer working on a dashboard for a sales team.

📋 Request: Your manager wants the dashboard visuals to have smooth, rounded corners to make the interface look modern and friendly.

📊 Data: You have several rectangular shapes representing charts and cards on the dashboard. Each shape currently has sharp corners.

🎯 Deliverable: Adjust the corner radius and smoothing settings of these shapes in Figma to create smooth, rounded corners that improve the dashboard's look and feel.

Sample Data

Shape ID	Type	Width (px)	Height (px)	Current Corner Radius (px)	Current Smoothing (%)
1	Card	300	200	0	0
2	Chart Container	400	300	0	0
3	Button	120	40	0	0
4	Notification Badge	50	50	0	0

1

Step 1: Select the Card shape (Shape ID 1) in Figma.

In the properties panel, set the corner radius to 16 px and smoothing to 50%.

Expected Result

The Card shape corners become rounded with a smooth curve, making it look softer.

2

Step 2: Select the Chart Container shape (Shape ID 2).

Set the corner radius to 12 px and smoothing to 40%.

Expected Result

The Chart Container's corners are gently rounded with moderate smoothing.

3

Step 3: Select the Button shape (Shape ID 3).

Set the corner radius to 20 px and smoothing to 70%.

Expected Result

The Button has very rounded corners with smooth curves, making it inviting to click.

4

Step 4: Select the Notification Badge shape (Shape ID 4).

Set the corner radius to 25 px (half the width/height) and smoothing to 100%.

Expected Result

The Notification Badge becomes a perfect circle with fully smooth edges.

5

Step 5: Preview the dashboard to check the visual consistency of rounded corners.

No formula; visually inspect the shapes.

Expected Result

All shapes have consistent, smooth rounded corners that improve the dashboard's friendly look.

Final Result

Dashboard Layout with Rounded Corners

+----------------------------+    +--------------------------------+
|                            |    |                                |
|   Card (rounded corners)    |    |   Chart Container (rounded)    |
|                            |    |                                |
+----------------------------+    +--------------------------------+

+------------+    +----------------+
|  Button    |    | Notification   |
| (rounded)  |    | Badge (circle) |
+------------+    +----------------+

✓Rounded corners with smoothing make the dashboard look modern and friendly.

✓Different corner radius and smoothing values suit different UI elements.

✓Using half the width/height as corner radius with 100% smoothing creates perfect circles.

✓Consistent corner styling improves visual harmony across the dashboard.

Bonus Challenge

Create a custom shape with mixed corner radii and smoothing values on each corner to highlight a special dashboard card.

Show Hint

In Figma, select the shape, then click the independent corners icon to set different radius values per corner. Adjust smoothing individually for each corner to create unique curves.

Practice

1. What does the corner radius setting do in Figma when designing charts?

easy

A. It adds shadows to the chart for depth.

B. It changes the color of the chart elements.

C. It rounds the edges of shapes to make them softer.

D. It adjusts the size of the chart.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of corner radius

   Corner radius is used to round the edges of shapes, making them look softer and less sharp.

2. Step 2: Relate to chart design

   In charts, applying corner radius smooths the edges of bars or shapes, improving visual appeal.

3. Final Answer:

   It rounds the edges of shapes to make them softer. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Corner radius = Rounded edges [OK]

Hint: Corner radius always softens edges by rounding them [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing corner radius with color or size changes
• Thinking it adds shadows instead of rounding edges

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a corner radius of 10 pixels in Figma's properties panel?

easy

A. Enter 10 in the corner radius input box.

B. Type radius: 10px in the code editor.

C. Select the shape and drag the smoothing slider to 10.

D. Right-click the shape and choose 'Add radius 10'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how corner radius is set in Figma

   Figma uses a corner radius input box where you enter a numeric value (without units) to set the radius in pixels.

2. Step 2: Match the correct method

   Typing '10' in the corner radius input box correctly sets the radius to 10 pixels.

3. Final Answer:

   Enter 10 in the corner radius input box. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Corner radius input = numeric value [OK]

Hint: Enter number only in corner radius box, no units needed [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding 'px' units which Figma does not require
• Confusing smoothing slider with corner radius input
• Using right-click menu which doesn't set radius

3. Given a rectangle with corner radius set to 20 and smoothing set to 50%, what visual effect will you see?

medium

A. Sharp corners with no rounding.

B. Rounded corners with smooth, natural curves.

C. Corners become square and edges sharpen.

D. Corners disappear and shape becomes a circle.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand corner radius effect

   Corner radius of 20 means the corners are rounded with a radius of 20 pixels.

2. Step 2: Understand smoothing effect

   Smoothing at 50% makes the corners appear more natural and curved rather than angular or mechanical.

3. Final Answer:

   Rounded corners with smooth, natural curves. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Corner radius + smoothing = smooth rounded corners [OK]

Hint: Smoothing softens the curve shape of rounded corners [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking smoothing removes rounding
• Confusing smoothing with corner radius size
• Assuming corners become square with smoothing

4. You set a corner radius of 15 but the corners still look sharp. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. The fill color is transparent, hiding the corners.

B. The shape is not selected, so changes don't apply.

C. The corner radius input was set to 150 by mistake.

D. The smoothing value is set to 0%, making corners angular.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze corner radius and smoothing interaction

   Even with corner radius set, smoothing controls how curved the corners appear. At 0%, corners remain angular despite radius.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Selection and input errors would cause no change or wrong radius, but sharp corners with radius 15 usually mean smoothing is zero.

3. Final Answer:

   The smoothing value is set to 0%, making corners angular. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Smoothing 0% = sharp corners despite radius [OK]

Hint: Check smoothing slider if corners stay sharp [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring smoothing effect on corner shape
• Assuming fill color affects corner rounding
• Not verifying shape selection before editing

5. You want to create a dashboard bar chart with bars that have soft, natural corners. Which combination of corner radius and smoothing should you use?

hard

A. Corner radius 15, smoothing 50%

B. Corner radius 0, smoothing 100%

C. Corner radius 30, smoothing 0%

D. Corner radius 5, smoothing 0%

Solution

1. Step 1: Define soft, natural corners

   Soft corners require a noticeable corner radius and smoothing to curve the edges naturally.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   Corner radius 15, smoothing 50% has a moderate radius (15) and smoothing (50%) which creates soft, natural curves. Others either have zero radius or zero smoothing, resulting in sharp or no rounding.

3. Final Answer:

   Corner radius 15, smoothing 50% -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Soft corners = radius + smoothing > 0 [OK]

Hint: Use both radius and smoothing above zero for soft corners [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting smoothing to 0% which keeps corners sharp
• Using zero corner radius which means no rounding
• Confusing high smoothing with no radius effect