Text styles in Figma - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Text styles

Dashboard Goal

This dashboard helps you understand how to use and apply text styles consistently in your BI reports and dashboards to improve readability and professionalism.

Sample Data: Text Styles Usage

Text Style	Font Family	Font Size (pt)	Font Weight	Usage Example
Title	Roboto	24	Bold	Sales Performance 2024
Subtitle	Roboto	18	Medium	Quarterly Overview
Body	Roboto	14	Regular	Data insights and explanations
Caption	Roboto	12	Regular	Source: Company Database
Highlight	Roboto	14	Bold	Important metrics

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Displays the Title style with font size 24pt, bold Roboto font showing "Sales Performance 2024".
• Subtitle Text: Uses the Subtitle style with 18pt medium Roboto font showing "Quarterly Overview".
• Body Text Box: Paragraph using Body style with 14pt regular Roboto font explaining the data insights.
• Caption Text: Small text at the bottom using Caption style with 12pt regular Roboto font showing "Source: Company Database".
• Highlight Text: Bold 14pt Roboto font used to emphasize key metrics within the body text.

Dashboard Layout

+--------------------------------------------------+
|                   [Title: Sales Performance 2024] |
|                  (24pt, Bold, Roboto)             |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|               [Subtitle: Quarterly Overview]      |
|                 (18pt, Medium, Roboto)            |
+--------------------------------------------------+
| [Body Text: Data insights and explanations...]    |
| (14pt, Regular, Roboto)                            |
|   ...with some [Highlight: Important metrics]     |
|       (14pt, Bold, Roboto)                         |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|           [Caption: Source: Company Database]      |
|               (12pt, Regular, Roboto)             |
+--------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

When you select different text styles from the style panel, all text components update their font family, size, and weight accordingly. For example, changing the Body style font size from 14pt to 16pt updates the body text box instantly. This ensures consistent text formatting across the dashboard.

Self Check

If you change the Highlight text style to use a red color and italic font, which components update?

• The Highlight Text inside the body text box updates to red and italic.
• Other text components remain unchanged because they use different styles.

Key Result

A dashboard demonstrating consistent use of text styles for titles, subtitles, body, captions, and highlights in BI reports.

Practice

1. What is the main benefit of using Text Styles in Figma for a business dashboard?

easy

A. They automatically translate text into multiple languages.

B. They keep text consistent and easy to update across the design.

C. They create animations for text elements.

D. They convert text into images for faster loading.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of text styles

   Text styles are used to keep font, size, color, and spacing consistent across all text elements.

2. Step 2: Identify the benefit for dashboards

   Consistent text makes dashboards look professional and allows easy updates by changing the style once.

3. Final Answer:

   They keep text consistent and easy to update across the design. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Text styles = Consistency and easy updates [OK]

Hint: Text styles = consistent fonts and easy global updates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking text styles translate or animate text
• Confusing text styles with images or icons
• Believing text styles affect loading speed

2. Which of the following is the correct way to apply a text style to a text layer in Figma?

easy

A. Select the text layer, then choose the style from the Text Styles dropdown in the right panel.

B. Right-click the text layer and select 'Convert to Vector'.

C. Drag and drop the style file onto the text layer.

D. Double-click the text layer and type the style name manually.

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate how to apply text styles in Figma

   Text styles are applied by selecting the text layer and picking the style from the Text Styles dropdown in the right sidebar.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   Right-click convert to vector changes text to shapes, drag and drop styles is not supported, typing style name manually does not apply styles.

3. Final Answer:

   Select the text layer, then choose the style from the Text Styles dropdown in the right panel. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Apply text style = Select layer + choose style dropdown [OK]

Hint: Apply styles via right panel dropdown after selecting text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to convert text to vector to apply styles
• Dragging files instead of using dropdown
• Typing style names instead of selecting

3. Given a text style named Heading Large with font size 24 and color blue, what happens if you update the font size to 28 in the style?

medium

A. The font size change does not affect any text layers.

B. Only new text layers created after the change use font size 28.

C. Existing text layers keep font size 24, new layers use 28.

D. All text layers using Heading Large update their font size to 28 automatically.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand how text styles propagate changes

   When you update a text style, all text layers linked to that style update automatically to reflect the change.

2. Step 2: Confirm effect on existing layers

   Existing text layers using the style inherit the new font size immediately without manual changes.

3. Final Answer:

   All text layers using Heading Large update their font size to 28 automatically. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Update style = auto update all linked text layers [OK]

Hint: Changing style updates all linked text layers instantly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking only new layers update
• Believing existing layers keep old size
• Assuming manual update needed per layer

4. You applied a text style to a label but the font color did not change as expected. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. The text layer has local overrides that prevent style color from applying.

B. The text style was deleted after applying.

C. Figma does not support color changes in text styles.

D. The text layer is locked and cannot update.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check for local overrides on the text layer

   If a text layer has local formatting changes (overrides), these can block style properties like color from applying.

2. Step 2: Understand why other options are incorrect

   Deleting style after applying breaks link but usually removes style; Figma supports color in styles; locked layers can still show style changes visually.

3. Final Answer:

   The text layer has local overrides that prevent style color from applying. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Local overrides block style color changes [OK]

Hint: Check for local overrides blocking style updates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming style deletion causes no color change
• Believing Figma can't style colors
• Ignoring local overrides on text

5. You want to create a dashboard with clear hierarchy: headings, subheadings, body text, and labels. How should you organize your text styles for best BI design practice?

hard

A. Apply random fonts and sizes to make the dashboard colorful.

B. Use one text style for all text and manually adjust sizes per layer.

C. Create separate named text styles for each role (e.g., Heading, Subheading, Body, Label) with distinct fonts and sizes.

D. Create text styles only for headings and leave other text unstyled.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the need for clear text hierarchy

   Dashboards need clear visual hierarchy to guide users, so different text roles require distinct styles.

2. Step 2: Organize text styles accordingly

   Creating separate named styles for headings, subheadings, body, and labels ensures consistency and easy updates.

3. Final Answer:

   Create separate named text styles for each role (e.g., Heading, Subheading, Body, Label) with distinct fonts and sizes. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Separate named styles = clear hierarchy and consistency [OK]

Hint: Name styles by role for clear, consistent dashboard text [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using one style for all text causing confusion
• Styling only headings leaving others inconsistent
• Random fonts and sizes reduce readability