Text styles in Figma - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a UI/UX designer working on a business intelligence dashboard.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to create consistent text styles for the dashboard to improve readability and branding.

📊 Data: You have a dashboard with various text elements like titles, subtitles, labels, and data values. Currently, the text styles are inconsistent in font size, weight, and color.

🎯 Deliverable: Create and apply text styles in Figma for Title, Subtitle, Label, and Data Value text elements to ensure consistency across the dashboard.

Sample Data

Text Element	Current Font Size (px)	Font Weight	Color	Example Text
Title	24	Bold	#000000	Monthly Sales Report
Subtitle	18	Medium	#333333	Sales Overview
Label	14	Regular	#666666	Region
Data Value	16	Semibold	#000000	1500
Title	26	Bold	#111111	Revenue Analysis
Subtitle	17	Medium	#444444	Quarterly Trends
Label	13	Regular	#555555	Product Category
Data Value	15	Semibold	#222222	3200

1

Step 1: Create a new text style named 'Title' in Figma.

Set font size to 24px, font weight to Bold, and color to #000000.

Expected Result

All title texts use the same style with 24px bold black font.

2

Step 2: Create a new text style named 'Subtitle' in Figma.

Set font size to 18px, font weight to Medium, and color to #333333.

Expected Result

All subtitle texts use the same style with 18px medium dark gray font.

3

Step 3: Create a new text style named 'Label' in Figma.

Set font size to 14px, font weight to Regular, and color to #666666.

Expected Result

All label texts use the same style with 14px regular gray font.

4

Step 4: Create a new text style named 'Data Value' in Figma.

Set font size to 16px, font weight to Semibold, and color to #000000.

Expected Result

All data value texts use the same style with 16px semibold black font.

5

Step 5: Apply the created text styles to all corresponding text elements in the dashboard.

Select each text element and assign the matching text style from the styles panel.

Expected Result

The dashboard text elements are visually consistent and follow the defined text styles.

Final Result

Dashboard Text Styles
---------------------
Title: Monthly Sales Report (24px, Bold, #000000)
Subtitle: Sales Overview (18px, Medium, #333333)
Label: Region (14px, Regular, #666666)
Data Value: 1500 (16px, Semibold, #000000)

All text elements use consistent styles for better readability and branding.

✓Consistent text styles improve dashboard readability.

✓Using defined styles saves time when updating text elements.

✓Clear hierarchy is established with different font sizes and weights.

Bonus Challenge

Create responsive text styles that adjust font size for mobile and desktop views in Figma.

Show Hint

Use Figma's Variants and Auto Layout features to create text styles that adapt to different screen sizes.

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