Design system file structure in Figma - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Concept Flow

Design System File Structure

+----------------+-------------------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Component      | Description                   | File Path                                |
+----------------+-------------------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Colors         | Primary and secondary palettes| /design-system/colors.fig                 |
| Typography     | Font styles and sizes         | /design-system/typography.fig             |
| Buttons        | Button styles and states      | /design-system/components/buttons.fig    |
| Icons          | Icon library and usage        | /design-system/components/icons.fig      |
| Layouts        | Grid and spacing rules        | /design-system/layouts.fig                 |
| Documentation  | Guidelines and usage          | /design-system/documentation.fig          |
+----------------+-------------------------------+------------------------------------------+

This shows the main components of a design system in Figma, their purpose, and where their files are stored.

Formula

Component,Description,File Path Colors,Primary and secondary color palettes,/design-system/colors.fig Typography,Font styles and sizes,/design-system/typography.fig Buttons,Button styles and states,/design-system/components/buttons.fig Icons,Icon library and usage,/design-system/components/icons.fig Layouts,Grid and spacing rules,/design-system/layouts.fig Documentation,Guidelines and usage instructions,/design-system/documentation.fig

This is a CSV-style representation of the design system file structure data.

Step-by-Step Trace

Component	Description	File Path
Colors	Primary and secondary color palettes	/design-system/colors.fig
Typography	Font styles and sizes	/design-system/typography.fig
Buttons	Button styles and states	/design-system/components/buttons.fig
Icons	Icon library and usage	/design-system/components/icons.fig
Layouts	Grid and spacing rules	/design-system/layouts.fig
Documentation	Guidelines and usage instructions	/design-system/documentation.fig

This table summarizes the design system's file structure components, descriptions, and file locations.

Variable Tracker

Variable	Value
Component	Colors, Typography, Buttons, Icons, Layouts, Documentation
File Paths	/design-system/colors.fig, /design-system/typography.fig, /design-system/components/buttons.fig, /design-system/components/icons.fig, /design-system/layouts.fig, /design-system/documentation.fig

Key Moments

Where are button styles stored in the design system?

What does the 'Layouts' component include?

Which file contains the icon library?

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

Which file contains the button styles and states?

A /design-system/components/buttons.fig

B /design-system/colors.fig

C /design-system/layouts.fig

D /design-system/typography.fig

Key Result

A design system file structure in Figma organizes components like colors, typography, buttons, icons, layouts, and documentation into separate files for clarity and easy maintenance.

Transcript

We have a design system file structure that includes key components such as Colors, Typography, Buttons, Icons, Layouts, and Documentation. Each component has a description explaining its purpose and a file path showing where it is stored in the Figma project. This structure helps teams find and update design elements efficiently.

Practice

1. Why is it important to use numbered folders in a Figma design system file structure?

easy

A. To keep folders organized and maintain a clear order

B. To make the file size smaller

C. To automatically update components

D. To change the color scheme of the design system

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of numbered folders

   Numbered folders help keep files in a specific order, making it easier to find and manage items.

2. Step 2: Relate to design system organization

   In a design system, clear order prevents confusion and speeds up work by grouping related items logically.

3. Final Answer:

   To keep folders organized and maintain a clear order -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Numbered folders = clear order [OK]

Hint: Number folders to keep things tidy and easy to find [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking numbering changes file size
• Assuming numbering updates components automatically
• Confusing numbering with design style changes

2. Which of the following is the correct way to name a folder for color styles in a design system file?

easy

A. ColorStyles

B. Colors 01

C. 01 Colors

D. Styles-Colors

Solution

1. Step 1: Check naming conventions for order

   Numbering folders at the start (like '01 Colors') ensures they appear in the correct order.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   01 Colors starts with a number and a clear name, which is best practice for organization.

3. Final Answer:

   01 Colors -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Number first, then name = correct folder naming [OK]

Hint: Start folder names with numbers for order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Putting numbers after names causing sorting issues
• Using unclear or combined words without spaces
• Skipping numbering and losing order

3. Given a design system file with folders named 01 Colors, 02 Components, and 03 Documentation, what will be the order of these folders in Figma's sidebar?

medium

A. Colors, Components, Documentation

B. Colors, Documentation, Components

C. Components, Documentation, Colors

D. Documentation, Components, Colors

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand folder numbering effect

   Folders with numbers at the start sort in ascending order by those numbers.

2. Step 2: Apply numbering to folder names

   01 Colors comes first, then 02 Components, then 03 Documentation.

3. Final Answer:

   Colors, Components, Documentation -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Number order = Colors, Components, Documentation [OK]

Hint: Folders sort by leading numbers ascending [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring numbers and sorting alphabetically
• Mixing folder order randomly
• Assuming Figma sorts by last word

4. You notice your design system file has folders named Colors, Components, and Documentation without numbers, but they appear in random order. How can you fix this?

medium

A. Rename folders to all uppercase letters

B. Add numbers at the start of each folder name like 01 Colors

C. Delete and recreate folders in the correct order

D. Change folder colors to match their content

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify cause of random order

   Without numbers, folders sort alphabetically, which may not match desired order.

2. Step 2: Apply numbering to enforce order

   Adding numbers like '01 Colors' forces folders to appear in that numeric order.

3. Final Answer:

   Add numbers at the start of each folder name like 01 Colors -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Numbering folders fixes order [OK]

Hint: Number folders to fix random order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking uppercase changes order
• Deleting folders wastes work
• Changing colors does not affect order

5. You want to create a design system file structure that separates colors, typography, components, and documentation clearly. Which folder structure below follows best practices?

hard

A. 01 Components
02 Colors
03 Docs
04 Typography

B. Colors
Typography
Components
Docs

C. Components
Colors
Docs
Typography

D. 01 Colors
02 Typography
03 Components
04 Documentation

Solution

1. Step 1: Check for numbering and clear folder names

   01 Colors 02 Typography 03 Components 04 Documentation uses numbers to keep order and full descriptive folder names.

2. Step 2: Verify grouping of related items

   Colors, Typography, Components, and Documentation are grouped separately and clearly.

3. Final Answer:

   01 Colors 02 Typography 03 Components 04 Documentation -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Numbered, clear folders = best practice [OK]

Hint: Number and name folders clearly for easy use [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Skipping numbering causing disorder
• Using unclear or abbreviated folder names
• Mixing unrelated items in one folder