Alignment within Auto Layout in Figma - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a BI dashboard designer using Figma to create clear and user-friendly reports.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to design a sales dashboard with perfectly aligned charts and text using Auto Layout in Figma.

📊 Data: You have several chart frames and text labels that need to be arranged neatly in a vertical list with consistent spacing and alignment.

🎯 Deliverable: A Figma file with an Auto Layout frame that aligns all charts and labels vertically, with left alignment and equal spacing.

Sample Data

Element	Type	Size (px)	Content
Chart 1	Frame	300x200	Sales by Region
Chart 2	Frame	300x200	Monthly Revenue
Label 1	Text	300x30	Summary
Label 2	Text	300x30	Notes

1

Step 1: Create a new frame in Figma to hold all dashboard elements.

Select the Frame tool (F), draw a frame sized 320x700 px.

Expected Result

A blank frame named 'Dashboard Container' sized 320x700 px.

2

Step 2: Add all chart frames and text labels inside the 'Dashboard Container' frame.

Drag and drop Chart 1, Chart 2, Label 1, and Label 2 into the container frame.

Expected Result

All elements are children of the 'Dashboard Container' frame.

3

Step 3: Apply vertical Auto Layout to the 'Dashboard Container' frame.

Select 'Dashboard Container', click '+' next to Auto Layout in the right panel, set direction to vertical.

Expected Result

Elements stack vertically inside the container with default spacing.

4

Step 4: Set horizontal alignment of all child elements to left within the Auto Layout frame.

In Auto Layout settings, set 'Align horizontal' to 'Left'.

Expected Result

All charts and labels align to the left edge inside the container.

5

Step 5: Adjust spacing between elements to 20 px for consistent gaps.

Set 'Space between items' in Auto Layout to 20 px.

Expected Result

There is a 20 px gap between each chart and label vertically.

6

Step 6: Check that all elements maintain their original width and height.

Ensure 'Resize' options for child elements are set to 'Fixed width' and 'Fixed height'.

Expected Result

Charts remain 300x200 px and labels remain 300x30 px.

7

Step 7: Preview the dashboard layout to confirm neat vertical alignment and spacing.

Use Figma's Present mode or zoom out to view the full container.

Expected Result

Dashboard shows charts and labels stacked vertically, left aligned, with equal spacing.

Final Result

Dashboard Container Frame (320x700 px)
+--------------------------------+
| Chart 1 (300x200)              |
| Sales by Region                |
+--------------------------------+
| (20 px gap)                   |
+--------------------------------+
| Chart 2 (300x200)              |
| Monthly Revenue               |
+--------------------------------+
| (20 px gap)                   |
+--------------------------------+
| Label 1 (300x30)               |
| Summary                      |
+--------------------------------+
| (20 px gap)                   |
+--------------------------------+
| Label 2 (300x30)               |
| Notes                        |
+--------------------------------+

✓Auto Layout makes it easy to keep dashboard elements aligned and spaced evenly.

✓Left alignment ensures all charts and labels start at the same horizontal position.

✓Consistent spacing improves readability and visual balance in the dashboard.

Bonus Challenge

Modify the Auto Layout to center-align all elements horizontally and add padding inside the container frame.

Show Hint

Change 'Align horizontal' to 'Center' and set padding values in the Auto Layout panel.

Practice

1. In Figma's Auto Layout, what does the alignment property control?

easy

A. The color of the items inside the container

B. The font size of text inside the container

C. How items line up inside the Auto Layout container

D. The number of items inside the container

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Auto Layout container behavior

   Auto Layout arranges items automatically inside a frame or group.

2. Step 2: Identify the role of alignment

   The alignment property controls how these items line up horizontally or vertically within that container.

3. Final Answer:

   How items line up inside the Auto Layout container -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Alignment = Items lining up [OK]

Hint: Alignment means how items line up inside the container [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing alignment with color or font size
• Thinking alignment changes item count
• Mixing alignment with padding or spacing

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set vertical alignment to center in Figma's Auto Layout?

easy

A. alignItems: 'center'

B. verticalAlign: 'middle'

C. alignment: 'center'

D. justifyContent: 'center'

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Figma Auto Layout properties

   Figma uses alignItems to control vertical alignment in vertical layouts.

2. Step 2: Identify correct syntax

   alignItems: 'center' is the correct property-value pair to center items vertically.

3. Final Answer:

   alignItems: 'center' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical center alignment = alignItems: 'center' [OK]

Hint: Use alignItems for vertical alignment in Auto Layout [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using justifyContent instead of alignItems for vertical alignment
• Using non-existent property verticalAlign
• Using generic alignment property not supported in Figma

3. Given an Auto Layout frame with horizontal direction and alignItems: 'start', where will the child items be aligned vertically?

medium

A. Stretched to fill container height

B. At the bottom of the container

C. Centered vertically

D. At the top of the container

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand horizontal Auto Layout direction

   In horizontal direction, alignItems controls vertical alignment of children.

2. Step 2: Interpret alignItems: 'start'

   This means children align at the top edge of the container vertically.

3. Final Answer:

   At the top of the container -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Horizontal layout + alignItems: 'start' = top alignment [OK]

Hint: In horizontal layout, alignItems 'start' means top alignment [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing 'start' with bottom alignment
• Mixing justifyContent with alignItems effects
• Assuming 'start' means centered

4. You set an Auto Layout frame with vertical direction and justifyContent: 'center', but items are still aligned at the top. What is the likely mistake?

medium

A. Using justifyContent instead of alignItems for vertical alignment

B. Not setting the frame height to allow centering

C. Using horizontal direction instead of vertical

D. Forgetting to add padding inside the frame

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand justifyContent in vertical Auto Layout

   In vertical direction, justifyContent controls vertical distribution of items.

2. Step 2: Check container size effect

   If the frame height fits items exactly, centering won't show because no extra space exists.

3. Final Answer:

   Not setting the frame height to allow centering -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Frame height too small blocks justifyContent centering [OK]

Hint: Ensure container has extra space to see justifyContent effects [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing justifyContent with alignItems
• Ignoring container size constraints
• Assuming padding affects alignment directly

5. You want to create a horizontal Auto Layout with three buttons spaced evenly and vertically centered. Which combination of properties achieves this?

hard

A. direction: 'horizontal', justifyContent: 'space-between', alignItems: 'center'

B. direction: 'vertical', justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'start'

C. direction: 'horizontal', justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'start'

D. direction: 'horizontal', justifyContent: 'space-around', alignItems: 'stretch'

Solution

1. Step 1: Set horizontal direction for buttons

   Buttons arranged side by side require direction: 'horizontal'.

2. Step 2: Space buttons evenly and center vertically

   justifyContent: 'space-between' spaces buttons evenly horizontally, and alignItems: 'center' centers them vertically.

3. Final Answer:

   direction: 'horizontal', justifyContent: 'space-between', alignItems: 'center' -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Horizontal + spaced evenly + vertical center = direction: 'horizontal', justifyContent: 'space-between', alignItems: 'center' [OK]

Hint: Use space-between and alignItems center for horizontal even spacing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using vertical direction for horizontal layout
• Aligning items to start instead of center vertically
• Using justifyContent center instead of space-between for spacing