Frame nesting in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Frame nesting

Dashboard Goal

Understand how to organize a BI dashboard using nested frames in Figma for clear structure and easy updates.

Sample Data

Region	Salesperson	Sales ($)	Month
North	Alice	1200	January
South	Bob	1500	January
East	Charlie	1000	January
North	Alice	1300	February
South	Bob	1600	February
East	Charlie	1100	February

Dashboard Components

• Frame: Dashboard Container - The main frame holding all dashboard elements.
• Nested Frame: Header - Contains the dashboard title and date filter.
• Nested Frame: KPI Cards - Holds three KPI cards showing Total Sales, Average Sales, and Highest Sales.
• Nested Frame: Sales Table - Displays the sales data in a table format.
• Nested Frame: Sales Chart - Contains a bar chart showing sales by region.

Formulas/Calculations:

• Total Sales: Sum of all sales values = 1200 + 1500 + 1000 + 1300 + 1600 + 1100 = 7700
• Average Sales: Total Sales / Number of entries = 7700 / 6 ≈ 1283.33
• Highest Sales: Maximum sales value = 1600

Dashboard Layout

+--------------------------------------------------+
|                   Header Frame                    |
|  [Dashboard Title]          [Date Filter]         |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|  KPI Cards Frame:                                  |
|  +------------+ +------------+ +----------------+ |
|  | Total      | | Average    | | Highest        | |
|  | Sales:7700 | | Sales:1283 | | Sales:1600     | |
|  +------------+ +------------+ +----------------+ |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|  Sales Table Frame                                |
|  [Table with sales data rows]                     |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|  Sales Chart Frame                                |
|  [Bar chart: Sales by Region]                     |
+--------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

The Date Filter in the Header Frame controls the data shown in the KPI Cards, Sales Table, and Sales Chart frames. Selecting a month updates all nested frames to show sales data only for that month.

Self Check

If you select February in the Date Filter, which components update and what changes occur?

• All KPI Cards update to show February sales: Total Sales = 1300 + 1600 + 1100 = 4000, Average Sales ≈ 1333.33, Highest Sales = 1600.
• Sales Table shows only February rows.
• Sales Chart updates to show sales by region for February only.

Key Result

A BI dashboard structured with nested frames in Figma showing sales KPIs, table, and chart with interactive date filtering.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of frame nesting in Figma?

easy

A. To change the color of frames automatically

B. To export frames as images

C. To group frames inside other frames for better organization

D. To add text inside frames

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand frame nesting concept

   Frame nesting means putting one frame inside another to keep things organized.

2. Step 2: Identify the main benefit

   This helps manage complex designs by grouping related frames together.

3. Final Answer:

   To group frames inside other frames for better organization -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Frame nesting = grouping frames [OK]

Hint: Frame nesting means putting frames inside frames [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking nesting changes colors automatically
• Confusing nesting with exporting images
• Assuming nesting adds text inside frames

2. Which of the following is the correct way to nest a frame inside another frame in Figma?

easy

A. Drag one frame and drop it onto another frame

B. Double-click the frame to nest it

C. Right-click and select 'Export Frame'

D. Use the text tool inside the frame

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall how to nest frames

   In Figma, nesting is done by dragging a frame onto another frame.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Double-clicking edits content, exporting saves files, and text tool adds text, none nest frames.

3. Final Answer:

   Drag one frame and drop it onto another frame -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Drag and drop = nest frames [OK]

Hint: Drag frames onto others to nest them [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to double-click to nest
• Confusing export with nesting
• Using text tool for nesting

3. Given a frame Parent containing two nested frames Child1 and Child2, what happens if you move Parent?

medium

A. Only Parent moves, children stay in place

B. Nested frames move but Parent stays

C. Frames disappear from the canvas

D. Both Parent and nested frames move together

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand nesting behavior on move

   When a parent frame moves, all nested frames inside it move together as a group.

2. Step 2: Check options against this behavior

   Only Both Parent and nested frames move together matches this expected behavior.

3. Final Answer:

   Both Parent and nested frames move together -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Moving parent moves children [OK]

Hint: Moving parent frame moves all nested frames [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking children stay fixed when parent moves
• Assuming children move but parent stays
• Believing frames disappear on move

4. You nested a frame Child inside Parent, but when you try to move Parent, Child does not move. What is the likely issue?

medium

A. Parent frame is locked

B. Child is not actually nested inside Parent

C. Child frame is hidden

D. Parent frame is deleted

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze why child frame doesn't move

   If the child frame doesn't move with parent, it means it is not nested inside the parent frame.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   Locked parent still moves nested frames, hidden child still moves with parent, deleted parent can't be moved.

3. Final Answer:

   Child is not actually nested inside Parent -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Child not nested = no move with parent [OK]

Hint: Check nesting if child doesn't move with parent [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming locked parent prevents move
• Thinking hidden child won't move
• Believing deleted parent can be moved

5. You want to create a responsive dashboard layout in Figma using frame nesting. Which approach best supports resizing all nested frames proportionally when the parent frame size changes?

hard

A. Use auto layout on the parent frame with nested frames set to scale

B. Manually resize each nested frame after resizing parent

C. Group frames without nesting and resize group

D. Convert frames to images before resizing

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand responsive design with frame nesting

   Auto layout allows frames to resize and reposition automatically inside a parent frame.

2. Step 2: Identify best method for proportional resizing

   Setting nested frames to scale inside an auto layout parent frame ensures proportional resizing.

3. Step 3: Eliminate other options

   Manual resizing is inefficient, grouping without nesting lacks control, converting to images loses flexibility.

4. Final Answer:

   Use auto layout on the parent frame with nested frames set to scale -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Auto layout + scale = responsive nesting [OK]

Hint: Use auto layout with scaling nested frames for responsiveness [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Resizing nested frames manually
• Grouping without nesting for responsiveness
• Using images instead of frames