Design-to-code workflow in Figma - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

This workflow helps you turn your visual design into code efficiently. It solves the problem of manually recreating designs in code by using Figma's features to export and inspect design elements.

When you have a dashboard design in Figma and want to build it in a web app without guessing styles.

When developers need exact colors, fonts, and spacing from a BI report design.

When you want to speed up coding by copying CSS or SVG directly from design elements.

When you want to ensure the final report matches the approved design pixel-perfect.

When collaborating between designers and developers to reduce back-and-forth.

Steps

Step 1: Open your dashboard design file

- Figma desktop app or web app

Your full design appears on the canvas

💡 Use zoom and layers panel to find the exact frame or component you want to code

Step 2: Select the design element you want to code

- Canvas or Layers panel

The element is highlighted and its properties show in the right sidebar

💡 Click on groups or components to inspect nested elements

Step 3: Click the Inspect tab in the right sidebar

- Right sidebar next to Design and Prototype tabs

You see CSS code, measurements, colors, fonts, and assets for the selected element

💡 Use this code as a reference or copy it directly for your BI tool styling

Step 4: Export assets if needed

- Right sidebar under Export section

You can download images, icons, or SVGs used in the design

💡 Choose the correct format and resolution for your BI platform

Step 5: Copy CSS or SVG code

- Inspect tab or Export dialog

Code is copied to clipboard ready for pasting into your project

💡 Clean up or adjust code as needed for your BI tool's requirements

Before vs After

Before

You have a static dashboard design in Figma with no code or assets ready

After

You have CSS code snippets and exported assets ready to build the dashboard in your BI tool

Settings Reference

Inspect tab

📍 Right sidebar in Figma when an element is selected

Shows code and style details for selected design elements

Default: CSS view

Export settings

📍 Right sidebar under Export section

Controls format and size of exported design assets

Default: PNG 1x

Common Mistakes

Copying code from Inspect tab without checking BI tool compatibility

Some CSS properties or units may not work in your BI platform

Review and adapt the copied code to fit your BI tool's styling rules

Exporting assets at wrong resolution or format

Leads to blurry images or unsupported file types in your BI reports

Choose the correct export format and scale based on your BI tool's requirements

Summary

Use Figma's Inspect tab to get exact styles and code for your BI dashboard design.

Export images and icons in the right format and size for your BI platform.

Always review copied code to ensure it fits your BI tool's styling capabilities.