Creating and resizing frames in Figma - Dashboard Building Guide

Dashboard Mode - Creating and resizing frames

Goal

Understand how to create and resize frames in Figma to organize dashboard elements clearly.

Sample Data

Component	Width (px)	Height (px)	Position X (px)	Position Y (px)
Sales KPI	300	150	20	20
Sales Trend Chart	600	300	340	20
Region Filter	200	100	20	190
Sales Table	600	200	20	310

Dashboard Components

• Frame: Dashboard Container
  Size: 960px width x 540px height
  Contains all dashboard elements for neat organization.
• Frame: KPI Card
  Size: 300px width x 150px height
  Shows total sales number.
  Positioned at (20, 20).
• Frame: Sales Trend Chart
  Size: 600px width x 300px height
  Displays sales over time line chart.
  Positioned at (340, 20).
• Frame: Region Filter
  Size: 200px width x 100px height
  Dropdown to select sales region.
  Positioned at (20, 190).
• Frame: Sales Data Table
  Size: 600px width x 200px height
  Shows detailed sales data.
  Positioned at (20, 310).

Dashboard Layout

+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Dashboard Container (960x540)                                |
| +-------------------+ +------------------------------------+ |
| | KPI Card (300x150) | | Sales Trend Chart (600x300)       | |
| | Position (20,20)   | | Position (340,20)                | |
| +-------------------+ +------------------------------------+ |
| +-------------------+                                            |
| | Region Filter      |                                            |
| | (200x100)          |                                            |
| | Position (20,190)  |                                            |
| +-------------------+                                            |
| +------------------------------------------------------------+ |
| | Sales Data Table (600x200)                                  | |
| | Position (20,310)                                          | |
| +------------------------------------------------------------+ |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

The Region Filter frame acts as a dropdown to select a sales region. When a region is selected:

• The Sales Trend Chart updates to show sales over time for that region.
• The Sales Data Table refreshes to show only sales records from the selected region.
• The KPI Card recalculates total sales for the chosen region.

This interactivity helps users focus on specific regions easily.

Self Check

If you add a filter to select the region "East", which components update?

• The KPI Card updates to show total sales in the East region.
• The Sales Trend Chart updates to show sales trends for East.
• The Sales Data Table filters to show only East region sales data.
• The Region Filter remains unchanged as it is the control.

Key Result

A Figma dashboard layout showing how to create and resize frames for KPI, chart, filter, and data table with interactive filtering by region.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a frame in Figma when designing a dashboard?

easy

A. To group and organize design elements neatly

B. To add color to the design

C. To write code inside the design

D. To export images only

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand frame function

   Frames are containers that hold and organize design elements together.

2. Step 2: Identify main use in dashboards

   Frames help keep dashboard layouts neat and adaptable by grouping elements.

3. Final Answer:

   To group and organize design elements neatly -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Frames = Group and organize [OK]

Hint: Frames group elements to keep designs tidy [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking frames add color automatically
• Confusing frames with exporting tools
• Assuming frames are for coding

2. Which of the following is the correct way to resize a frame in Figma?

easy

A. Drag the frame edges or enter exact width and height values

B. Double-click the frame to resize automatically

C. Right-click and select 'Resize Frame' from the menu

D. Use the text tool inside the frame

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify resizing methods

   Frames can be resized by dragging edges or typing exact sizes in properties panel.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Double-clicking or right-click menu does not resize frames; text tool edits text only.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag the frame edges or enter exact width and height values -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Resize = Drag edges or enter size [OK]

Hint: Drag edges or type size to resize frames [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to resize by double-clicking
• Looking for resize in right-click menu
• Using text tool to resize frame

3. If you create a frame of size 400x300 pixels and then drag its right edge to increase width by 100 pixels, what will be the new size?

medium

A. 400x400 pixels

B. 300x400 pixels

C. 500x500 pixels

D. 500x300 pixels

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand initial frame size

   The frame starts at width 400 pixels and height 300 pixels.

2. Step 2: Apply width increase

   Dragging right edge increases width by 100 pixels, so width = 400 + 100 = 500 pixels; height stays 300 pixels.

3. Final Answer:

   500x300 pixels -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Width 400+100=500, height unchanged 300 [OK]

Hint: Width changes by drag amount; height stays same unless dragged [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding 100 to height instead of width
• Changing both width and height mistakenly
• Confusing width and height values

4. You try to resize a frame by typing width = -200 in the properties panel. What will happen?

medium

A. The frame width becomes 200 pixels

B. The frame height changes instead

C. An error or no change occurs because width cannot be negative

D. The frame flips horizontally

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand frame size constraints

   Frame width must be a positive number; negative values are invalid.

2. Step 2: Predict behavior on invalid input

   Typing negative width causes error or no change; frame does not flip or change height.

3. Final Answer:

   An error or no change occurs because width cannot be negative -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Negative size invalid = error/no change [OK]

Hint: Frame sizes must be positive numbers [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming negative width flips frame
• Thinking negative width sets positive size
• Confusing width with height change

5. You have a dashboard frame sized 800x600 pixels containing several charts. You want to resize the frame to 1200x900 pixels but keep all charts scaled proportionally inside. What is the best approach in Figma?

hard

A. Resize the frame and manually resize each chart individually

B. Resize the frame and use constraints on charts to scale them proportionally

C. Create a new frame with 1200x900 and copy charts over without resizing

D. Resize the frame and lock the charts so they don't move

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand proportional scaling need

   Charts inside frame should resize automatically to keep proportions when frame size changes.

2. Step 2: Use constraints feature

   Applying constraints to charts allows them to scale or move proportionally when frame resizes.

3. Step 3: Avoid manual resizing or locking

   Manual resizing is time-consuming; locking prevents resizing; copying without resizing loses scale.

4. Final Answer:

   Resize the frame and use constraints on charts to scale them proportionally -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Constraints + resize frame = proportional scaling [OK]

Hint: Use constraints to auto-scale elements when resizing frames [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Manually resizing each chart instead of using constraints
• Locking charts so they don't resize
• Copying charts to new frame without resizing