First Figma design - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - First Figma design

Dashboard Goal

Understand monthly sales performance and product category trends to help the sales team focus on top products and months.

Sample Data

Month	Product Category	Sales Amount	Units Sold
January	Electronics	1000	50
January	Clothing	700	70
February	Electronics	1200	60
February	Clothing	800	80
March	Electronics	1100	55
March	Clothing	900	90

Dashboard Components

• Total Sales KPI Card: Shows total sales amount.
  Formula: SUM(Sales Amount) = 1000 + 700 + 1200 + 800 + 1100 + 900 = 5700
• Average Units Sold KPI Card: Shows average units sold per record.
  Formula: AVERAGE(Units Sold) = (50 + 70 + 60 + 80 + 55 + 90) / 6 = 67.5
• Sales by Month Bar Chart: Displays total sales amount per month.
  Data:
  January: 1000 + 700 = 1700
  February: 1200 + 800 = 2000
  March: 1100 + 900 = 2000
• Sales by Product Category Pie Chart: Shows sales distribution by product category.
  Data:
  Electronics: 1000 + 1200 + 1100 = 3300
  Clothing: 700 + 800 + 900 = 2400
• Detailed Sales Table: Lists all data rows with Month, Product Category, Sales Amount, and Units Sold.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
| Total Sales (KPI)    | Average Units Sold    |
|        5700          |         67.5         |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                      Sales by Month Bar Chart                      |
|                            (Bar Chart)                            |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|               Sales by Product Category Pie Chart                  |
|                             (Pie Chart)                           |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                       Detailed Sales Table                         |
|  Month  | Product Category | Sales Amount | Units Sold           |
|  ...    |       ...        |     ...     |    ...               |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

A filter for Month allows users to select one or multiple months. When applied:

• All components update to show data only for the selected months.
• Total Sales and Average Units Sold KPI cards recalculate based on filtered data.
• Sales by Month Bar Chart highlights or shows only selected months.
• Sales by Product Category Pie Chart updates sales distribution for selected months.
• Detailed Sales Table shows only rows for selected months.

Self Check

If you add a filter to select only February, which components update and what will they show?

• Total Sales KPI: Shows 1200 + 800 = 2000
• Average Units Sold KPI: (60 + 80) / 2 = 70
• Sales by Month Bar Chart: Only February bar visible with value 2000
• Sales by Product Category Pie Chart: Electronics 1200, Clothing 800
• Detailed Sales Table: Only rows for February displayed

Key Result

Dashboard showing monthly sales and product category trends with KPIs, charts, and detailed table.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using Figma in Business Intelligence dashboard projects?

easy

A. To perform data cleaning and transformation

B. To write SQL queries for data extraction

C. To plan and share dashboard designs before building

D. To run complex data models and calculations

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Figma's role in BI projects

   Figma is a design tool used to create and share visual layouts before actual development.

2. Step 2: Compare options with Figma's function

   Only planning and sharing dashboard designs fits Figma's purpose; others relate to data processing.

3. Final Answer:

   To plan and share dashboard designs before building -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Figma = design planning and sharing [OK]

Hint: Remember: Figma is for design, not data processing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Figma with data tools like SQL or Excel
• Thinking Figma runs calculations or data models
• Assuming Figma cleans or transforms data

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

easy

A. Import a frame from Excel

B. Write <frame> tags in the code editor

C. Use the SQL command CREATE FRAME

D. Select the Frame tool and drag on the canvas

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how frames are created in Figma

   Frames are created by selecting the Frame tool and dragging on the canvas area.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Options A, B, and C relate to Excel, coding, or SQL, which are not how Figma frames are made.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the Frame tool and drag on the canvas -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Frame creation = Frame tool drag [OK]

Hint: Use the Frame tool button, not code or SQL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to code frames instead of using the tool
• Confusing Figma with programming or database commands
• Looking for import options instead of drawing

3. Given a Figma design with a frame containing a rectangle and a text label, what will happen if you move the frame?

medium

A. The frame and all its contents move together

B. Only the frame moves, rectangle and text stay in place

C. Only the rectangle moves, text stays fixed

D. The text moves but the rectangle stays fixed

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand frame grouping in Figma

   A frame groups its contents so moving the frame moves everything inside it.

2. Step 2: Apply this to the rectangle and text inside the frame

   Both rectangle and text are inside the frame, so they move together with it.

3. Final Answer:

   The frame and all its contents move together -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Frame moves contents together = The frame and all its contents move together [OK]

Hint: Remember: Frames act like groups moving all inside [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking only the frame moves but contents stay
• Assuming individual elements move separately
• Confusing frames with layers that are not grouped

4. You created a component in Figma but when you edit one instance, the others do not update. What is the likely problem?

medium

A. You edited an instance instead of the main component

B. You forgot to save the file

C. You need to restart Figma to apply changes

D. Components cannot be edited after creation

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand component behavior in Figma

   Editing the main component updates all instances; editing an instance changes only that one.

2. Step 2: Identify the cause of no update

   If other instances don't update, likely you edited an instance, not the main component.

3. Final Answer:

   You edited an instance instead of the main component -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Edit main component to update all instances [OK]

Hint: Edit main component, not instances, to update all [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Editing instances expecting all to update
• Thinking saving or restarting fixes component updates
• Believing components are uneditable after creation

5. You want to share your Figma dashboard design with a team member for feedback but want to restrict editing. Which sharing option should you choose?

hard

A. Export as PNG and email it

B. Share with 'Can view' permission

C. Share with 'Can edit' permission

D. Duplicate the file and send the copy

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Figma sharing permissions

   'Can view' allows others to see but not change the design; 'Can edit' allows changes.

2. Step 2: Choose the option that restricts editing but allows feedback

   Sharing with 'Can view' lets team members comment and review without editing.

3. Final Answer:

   Share with 'Can view' permission -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Restrict editing = 'Can view' sharing [OK]

Hint: Use 'Can view' to share without edit rights [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Giving 'Can edit' permission by mistake
• Sending static images instead of live designs
• Duplicating files unnecessarily causing confusion