Interactive components in Figma - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a BI designer at a retail company

📋 Request: Your manager wants an interactive sales dashboard prototype to explore monthly sales by region and product category.

📊 Data: You have monthly sales data by region and product category for the past year.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a Figma prototype with interactive components that let users select a region and product category to see filtered sales trends.

Sample Data

Month	Region	Product Category	Sales
Jan	North	Electronics	12000
Jan	South	Clothing	8000
Feb	North	Clothing	9500
Feb	East	Electronics	11000
Mar	West	Clothing	7000
Mar	South	Electronics	13000
Apr	East	Clothing	9000
Apr	North	Electronics	14000
May	West	Electronics	12500
May	South	Clothing	8500
Jun	East	Electronics	11500
Jun	North	Clothing	10000

1

Step 1: Create a new Figma file and set up a frame sized for a dashboard (e.g., 1440x900).

No formula needed; just create a frame named 'Dashboard'.

Expected Result

A blank dashboard frame ready for design.

2

Step 2: Design dropdown menus for 'Region' and 'Product Category' with all available options from the sample data.

Create dropdown components with options: Region = [North, South, East, West], Product Category = [Electronics, Clothing].

Expected Result

Two dropdown menus visible on the dashboard frame.

3

Step 3: Create a line chart component showing monthly sales trends.

Design a line chart with X-axis as Month (Jan to Jun) and Y-axis as Sales amount.

Expected Result

A line chart placeholder on the dashboard frame.

4

Step 4: Make the dropdown menus interactive by creating variants for each selection option.

For each dropdown, create variants for each option and set up component properties for selection.

Expected Result

Dropdown components with selectable options in prototype mode.

5

Step 5: Create interactive component states for the line chart to show filtered sales data based on dropdown selections.

Create variants of the line chart for each combination of Region and Product Category showing correct sales trends from sample data.

Expected Result

Line chart updates visually when dropdown selections change.

6

Step 6: Use Figma's prototyping feature to link dropdown selections to the corresponding line chart variants.

Set interaction triggers on dropdown selection changes to swap line chart variants accordingly.

Expected Result

In prototype mode, selecting different dropdown options updates the sales trend chart.

7

Step 7: Test the prototype by selecting different regions and product categories to verify the sales trends update correctly.

No formula; manually test interactions in prototype mode.

Expected Result

Sales trend line chart changes correctly for all dropdown combinations.

Final Result

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Dashboard Frame (1440x900)                     │
│                                               │
│ Region: [North ▼]    Product Category: [Electronics ▼] │
│                                               │
│  Sales Trend Line Chart                         │
│  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun                   │
│   *    *    *    *    *    *                    │
│  * *  * *  * *  * *  * *  * *                   │
│ *   **   **   **   **   **   *                  │
│                                               │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────┘

✓Interactive dropdowns let users filter sales data by region and product category.

✓Line chart updates dynamically to show monthly sales trends based on selections.

✓This prototype helps managers explore sales performance easily and visually.

Bonus Challenge

Add a third interactive dropdown to filter sales by quarter (Q1, Q2).

Show Hint

Create variants of the line chart filtered by quarter and link the new dropdown to these variants.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of interactive components in Figma?

easy

A. To make designs respond to user actions like clicks and hovers

B. To create static images for presentations

C. To export designs as PDFs

D. To write code for apps

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand interactive components

   Interactive components allow designers to add user interactions like clicks and hovers to their designs.

2. Step 2: Identify the purpose

   The main goal is to make designs feel real by responding to user actions, not just static images or exports.

3. Final Answer:

   To make designs respond to user actions like clicks and hovers -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Interactive components = respond to clicks and hovers [OK]

Hint: Interactive means user can click or hover [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing interactive components with static images
• Thinking interactive components are for exporting files
• Assuming interactive components involve coding

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create different states of a component in Figma?

easy

A. Duplicate the frame and rename it

B. Use multiple separate components without variants

C. Create variants inside a single component set

D. Add layers inside the component without variants

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall how to create states

   Figma uses variants inside a component set to represent different states like hover or clicked.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct method

   Creating variants inside a single component set is the proper way to manage multiple states efficiently.

3. Final Answer:

   Create variants inside a single component set -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Variants = different states in one component [OK]

Hint: Variants group states inside one component [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using separate components instead of variants
• Duplicating frames without linking states
• Adding layers but not creating variants

3. Given a component with two variants: Default and Hover. If you connect the Default variant's 'While hovering' interaction to the Hover variant, what happens when you preview and hover over the component?

medium

A. The component disappears

B. Nothing happens because interactions are not set

C. The component switches to Default variant permanently

D. The component changes to the Hover variant while the mouse is over it

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the interaction setup

   The 'While hovering' interaction triggers a change from Default to Hover variant when the mouse is over the component.

2. Step 2: Predict the preview behavior

   When previewing, hovering causes the component to switch to the Hover variant temporarily.

3. Final Answer:

   The component changes to the Hover variant while the mouse is over it -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Hover interaction = switch to Hover variant [OK]

Hint: Hover triggers variant change on mouse over [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking interaction does nothing without clicks
• Assuming variant switches permanently
• Believing component disappears on hover

4. You created two variants named 'Default' and 'Clicked' but when you prototype, clicking the component does not switch variants. What is the most likely error?

medium

A. You forgot to add an interaction linking 'Default' to 'Clicked' on click

B. Variants must have different names to work

C. You need to duplicate the component instead of using variants

D. Figma does not support click interactions

Solution

1. Step 1: Check interaction setup

   Variants alone do not switch automatically; you must add an interaction in Prototype linking 'Default' to 'Clicked' on click.

2. Step 2: Identify the missing step

   Without this interaction, clicking does nothing, causing the problem.

3. Final Answer:

   You forgot to add an interaction linking 'Default' to 'Clicked' on click -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Missing interaction = no variant switch [OK]

Hint: Add click interaction to switch variants [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming variant names cause issues
• Duplicating components instead of using variants
• Believing Figma lacks click support

5. You want to create a button with three states: Default, Hover, and Clicked. How should you set up the interactive component to handle all user actions smoothly?

hard

A. Create three separate components and link them manually in Prototype

B. Create three variants and add interactions: Default to Hover on 'While hovering', Hover to Default on 'Mouse leave', Default to Clicked on 'On click', and Clicked back to Default on 'After delay'

C. Use one variant and change colors manually during preview

D. Create two variants only and ignore the Clicked state

Solution

1. Step 1: Plan variants for all states

   Create three variants named Default, Hover, and Clicked to represent each button state.

2. Step 2: Add interactions for smooth transitions

   Link Default to Hover on 'While hovering', Hover back to Default on 'Mouse leave', Default to Clicked on 'On click', and Clicked back to Default on 'After delay' to simulate button behavior.

3. Final Answer:

   Create three variants and add interactions: Default to Hover on 'While hovering', Hover to Default on 'Mouse leave', Default to Clicked on 'On click', and Clicked back to Default on 'After delay' -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Variants + interactions = smooth multi-state button [OK]

Hint: Use variants plus interactions for all states [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using separate components instead of variants
• Not adding reverse interactions for hover
• Ignoring the Clicked state