Component variants in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Component variants

Dashboard Goal

Understand how to use component variants in Figma to create interactive BI dashboard elements that change appearance based on data states like status or category.

Sample Data

Project	Status	Category	Progress %
Alpha	On Track	Marketing	75
Beta	At Risk	Development	40
Gamma	Delayed	Marketing	20
Delta	On Track	Sales	90
Epsilon	At Risk	Sales	50

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card Variant: A card component with variants for Status (On Track, At Risk, Delayed). Each variant changes the card color: green for On Track, orange for At Risk, red for Delayed. Shows Project name and Progress %.
• Category Filter Variant: A dropdown component with variants for categories: Marketing, Development, Sales. Selecting a variant filters the KPI cards to show only projects in that category.
• Progress Bar Variant: A progress bar component with variants for progress ranges: 0-33%, 34-66%, 67-100%. Each variant changes the bar color from red (low) to yellow (medium) to green (high).

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+---------------------+
| Category Filter       |                     |
| [Marketing ▼]         |                     |
+----------------------+    KPI Cards Grid    |
|                      |  +---------+---------+|
|                      |  | Card 1  | Card 2  ||
|                      |  +---------+---------+|
|                      |  | Card 3  | Card 4  ||
|                      |  +---------+---------+|
|                      |  | Card 5  |         ||
|                      |  +---------+---------+|
+----------------------+---------------------+
    

Interactivity

When the user selects a category variant in the Category Filter dropdown, the KPI Card variants update to show only projects matching that category. Each KPI Card variant changes color based on the project status. The Progress Bar variant inside each card updates color based on the progress percentage range.

Self Check

If you change the Category Filter variant to Sales, which KPI Cards remain visible and what colors do their status variants show?

Answer: Only the KPI Cards for projects Delta and Epsilon remain. Delta's card variant color is green (On Track), Epsilon's card variant color is orange (At Risk). Their progress bars show green (90%) and yellow (50%) respectively.

Key Result

A Figma dashboard demonstrating component variants for project status, category filtering, and progress visualization.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using component variants in Figma?

easy

A. To create completely unrelated designs in one file

B. To delete unused components automatically

C. To export designs faster without grouping

D. To group similar designs for easy switching between them

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand component variants concept

   Component variants group similar designs, like buttons with different colors or sizes, into one organized set.

2. Step 2: Identify the main benefit

   This grouping allows easy switching between variants without searching multiple components.

3. Final Answer:

   To group similar designs for easy switching between them -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Component variants = Group similar designs [OK]

Hint: Variants group similar designs for quick switching [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking variants create unrelated designs
• Confusing variants with export features
• Believing variants delete components

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

easy

A. Select components and click 'Combine as Variants' in the right panel

B. Drag components into a new frame without grouping

C. Export components as PNG and re-import as variants

D. Rename components with the same name manually

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall variant creation method

   In Figma, you select multiple components and use the 'Combine as Variants' button in the right sidebar to create variants.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Dragging into frames or exporting/importing does not create variants. Renaming alone doesn't group components as variants.

3. Final Answer:

   Select components and click 'Combine as Variants' in the right panel -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Combine as Variants button = create variants [OK]

Hint: Use 'Combine as Variants' button after selecting components [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to create variants by dragging into frames
• Exporting and re-importing components
• Assuming renaming groups variants

3. Given a button component with variants for color (red, blue) and size (small, large), how many variants will be created?

medium

A. 2

B. 4

C. 6

D. 8

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate variants from properties

   Each property has options: color (2) and size (2). Total variants = 2 * 2 = 4.

2. Step 2: Confirm variant count

   All combinations of color and size create 4 unique variants.

3. Final Answer:

   4 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   2 colors x 2 sizes = 4 variants [OK]

Hint: Multiply options count for each property [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding instead of multiplying options
• Counting only one property options
• Confusing variants with components

4. You tried to create variants but Figma shows an error. Which of these is a likely cause?

medium

A. Components have different names and are not selected together

B. You selected components and clicked 'Combine as Variants'

C. All components have the same properties and values

D. You grouped components inside a frame before combining

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand variant creation requirements

   Components must be selected together and have compatible names to combine as variants.

2. Step 2: Identify error cause

   If components have different names and are not selected simultaneously, Figma cannot combine them as variants.

3. Final Answer:

   Components have different names and are not selected together -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Different names + no selection = error [OK]

Hint: Select components with similar names before combining [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming grouping inside frames creates variants
• Thinking clicking combine always works
• Ignoring component names mismatch

5. You have a component with variants for state (default, hover, pressed) and color (green, yellow). You want to add a new size property with values small and medium. How many total variants will you have after adding size?

hard

A. 9

B. 6

C. 12

D. 5

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate existing variants

   Current variants = state (3) x color (2) = 6 variants.

2. Step 2: Add new size property

   Adding size with 2 values multiplies variants: 6 x 2 = 12 total variants.

3. Final Answer:

   12 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   3 states x 2 colors x 2 sizes = 12 variants [OK]

Hint: Multiply all property options for total variants [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding instead of multiplying property options
• Forgetting to multiply new property options
• Counting only existing variants without new property