Color styles in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Color styles

Dashboard Goal

Help users understand how to apply and manage color styles in Figma to create consistent and accessible BI dashboards.

Sample Data: Color Styles

Style Name	Hex Code	Usage	Contrast Ratio
Primary Blue	#1E90FF	Buttons, Links	4.5:1
Secondary Gray	#6E6E6E	Text, Icons	7:1
Success Green	#28A745	Success Messages	5.2:1
Warning Orange	#FFC107	Warnings	3.8:1
Error Red	#DC3545	Error Messages	4.6:1
Background Light	#F8F9FA	Backgrounds	12:1
Background Dark	#343A40	Backgrounds	15:1

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Shows Primary Blue color swatch with hex code and usage. This card uses the Primary Blue style as background.
• Color Palette Table: Displays all color styles with their hex codes, usage, and contrast ratio for accessibility.
• Contrast Bar Chart: Bar chart visualizing contrast ratios of each color style to highlight accessibility compliance. Bars colored with their respective color styles.
• Accessibility Warning: Text box that highlights any color styles with contrast ratio below 4.5:1, indicating they may not meet accessibility standards.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+--------------------------+
|      KPI Card        |    Accessibility Warning  |
|  (Primary Blue)      |  (Contrast below 4.5:1)   |
+----------------------+--------------------------+
|                  Color Palette Table               |
+---------------------------------------------------+
|                 Contrast Bar Chart                 |
+---------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

User can select a color style from the Color Palette Table. When selected, the KPI Card updates to show that color's swatch, hex code, and usage. The Contrast Bar Chart highlights the selected color's bar with a border. The Accessibility Warning updates to show if the selected color's contrast ratio is below 4.5:1.

Self Check

Add a filter to select the Warning Orange color style. Which components update and how?

• KPI Card: Updates background and details to Warning Orange (#FFC107).
• Contrast Bar Chart: Highlights the Warning Orange bar.
• Accessibility Warning: Shows a warning because Warning Orange has contrast ratio 3.8:1, below 4.5:1.
• Color Palette Table: Highlights the selected row.

Key Result

A Figma dashboard demonstrating how to use and manage color styles with accessibility contrast insights.

Practice

1. What is the main benefit of using Color Styles in Figma?

easy

A. They add animations to elements.

B. They automatically create new shapes.

C. They change font sizes globally.

D. They keep colors consistent across your design.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of Color Styles

   Color Styles are used to keep colors consistent in a design project.

2. Step 2: Compare options with the purpose

   Only 'They keep colors consistent across your design.' correctly states that Color Styles keep colors consistent.

3. Final Answer:

   They keep colors consistent across your design. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Color Styles = Consistent colors [OK]

Hint: Color Styles = consistent colors everywhere [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing color styles with font or shape features
• Thinking color styles create animations
• Assuming color styles change font sizes

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a new color style in Figma?

easy

A. Select a shape with a fill color, then click 'Create Style' in the Fill section.

B. Draw a rectangle and rename it to 'Color Style'.

C. Change the font color and save it as a style.

D. Right-click on the canvas and select 'New Color Style' from the menu.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify how to create a color style

   In Figma, you create a color style by selecting an object with a fill color and clicking 'Create Style' in the Fill section.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each option

   'Select a shape with a fill color, then click "Create Style" in the Fill section.' matches the correct method. Options B, C, and D describe incorrect or impossible actions.

3. Final Answer:

   Select a shape with a fill color, then click 'Create Style' in the Fill section. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Create Style button in Fill = new color style [OK]

Hint: Use 'Create Style' button on fill color [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to create color style by renaming shapes
• Assuming font color changes create color styles
• Looking for 'New Color Style' in right-click menu

3. If you update a color style named Primary Blue, what happens to all elements using this style?

medium

A. All elements using Primary Blue update automatically.

B. Elements keep their old color unless manually changed.

C. Only new elements will use the updated color.

D. The color style is deleted after update.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand color style updates

   When a color style is updated, all elements using that style update automatically to reflect the change.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   All elements using Primary Blue update automatically. correctly states this behavior. Options A and B are incorrect because changes apply immediately to all linked elements. The color style is deleted after update. is false; updating does not delete the style.

3. Final Answer:

   All elements using Primary Blue update automatically. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Update color style = auto update all elements [OK]

Hint: Update color style updates all linked elements [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking only new elements update
• Believing manual change is needed after update
• Confusing update with deletion

4. You tried to update a color style, but the elements did not change color. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. You updated the wrong color style name.

B. Figma does not support updating color styles.

C. The elements are not using the color style but have fixed colors.

D. You need to restart Figma to see changes.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify why elements don't update

   If elements have fixed colors (not linked to a color style), updating the style won't affect them.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   You updated the wrong color style name. could be possible but less likely if you are sure of the style name. Figma does not support updating color styles. is false; Figma supports updates. You need to restart Figma to see changes. is unnecessary.

3. Final Answer:

   The elements are not using the color style but have fixed colors. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Fixed colors ignore style updates [OK]

Hint: Check if elements use style or fixed color [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming Figma needs restart
• Confusing style update support
• Not verifying element color source

5. You have a design with multiple color styles for buttons: Primary, Secondary, and Accent. You want to change all buttons to a new shade of blue without changing other elements. What is the best approach?

hard

A. Manually change the fill color of each button individually.

B. Create a new color style named Button Blue and apply it to all buttons, then update it as needed.

C. Update the Primary, Secondary, and Accent color styles to the new blue shade.

D. Delete all existing color styles and create new ones.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   You want to change button colors without affecting other elements using existing styles.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   Update the Primary, Secondary, and Accent color styles to the new blue shade. changes all elements using those styles, not just buttons. Manually change the fill color of each button individually. is manual and inefficient. Delete all existing color styles and create new ones. is disruptive. Create a new color style named Button Blue and apply it to all buttons, then update it as needed. creates a dedicated style for buttons, allowing easy updates without affecting others.

3. Final Answer:

   Create a new color style named Button Blue and apply it to all buttons, then update it as needed. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use dedicated color style for buttons [OK]

Hint: Use dedicated color style for buttons to isolate changes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Updating shared styles affecting unrelated elements
• Changing colors manually one by one
• Deleting styles unnecessarily