Mobile-first design workflow in Figma - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a UX designer at a startup company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to create a mobile-first design workflow for a new sales dashboard app. The goal is to ensure the dashboard is easy to use on smartphones before scaling up to tablets and desktops.

📊 Data: You have access to user research data showing that 70% of users access sales data on mobile devices. You also have sample sales data to visualize, including monthly sales, regions, and product categories.

🎯 Deliverable: A step-by-step mobile-first design workflow in Figma that includes wireframes for mobile screens, scaling strategies for larger screens, and a prototype demonstrating key dashboard features.

Sample Data

Month	Region	Product Category	Sales Amount
January	North	Electronics	12000
January	South	Clothing	8500
February	North	Electronics	15000
February	East	Clothing	7000
March	South	Electronics	13000
March	East	Clothing	9000
April	North	Clothing	11000
April	South	Electronics	14000

1

Step 1: Create a new Figma file and set the frame size to a common mobile screen size (e.g., 375x812 pixels for iPhone X).

In Figma, click 'Frame' tool and select 'iPhone X' preset or set custom size 375x812.

Expected Result

A blank mobile-sized frame ready for design.

2

Step 2: Design a simple wireframe for the sales dashboard focusing on key metrics: total sales, sales by region, and sales by product category.

Use rectangles and text to create placeholders for charts and numbers. Arrange vertically for easy scrolling.

Expected Result

A clean mobile wireframe showing placeholders for total sales, a region sales bar chart, and a product category pie chart.

3

Step 3: Add interactive prototype links between dashboard elements and detail screens for regions and product categories.

Use Figma's 'Prototype' tab to link the region bar chart to a detailed region sales frame, and the product category chart to its detail frame.

Expected Result

Clickable prototype that navigates from summary dashboard to detailed views on tap.

4

Step 4: Test the prototype on a mobile device using Figma Mirror or share a mobile-friendly link to stakeholders for feedback.

Open Figma Mirror app on phone or share prototype link with 'View on mobile' option enabled.

Expected Result

Stakeholders can interact with the prototype on their phones and provide feedback.

5

Step 5: Create additional frames for tablet and desktop sizes, scaling up the mobile design by adding more charts and rearranging layout for larger screens.

Duplicate mobile frame, resize to tablet (e.g., 768x1024) and desktop (e.g., 1440x1024), rearrange elements into grid layout.

Expected Result

Responsive design frames showing how the dashboard adapts to bigger screens with more data visible at once.

6

Step 6: Document the mobile-first workflow steps and design decisions in a Figma page or external document for team reference.

Add text blocks describing each step and rationale for mobile-first approach.

Expected Result

Clear documentation that explains the workflow and supports future design updates.

Final Result

┌───────────────────────────────┐
│       Sales Dashboard          │
├───────────────────────────────┤
│ Total Sales: $89,500           │
│                               │
│ [Bar Chart: Sales by Region]   │
│  North |███████               │
│  South |█████                 │
│  East  |████                  │
│                               │
│ [Pie Chart: Sales by Category] │
│  Electronics 60%              │
│  Clothing 40%                 │
└───────────────────────────────┘

Bonus Challenge

Add accessibility features to your Figma prototype, such as color contrast checks and keyboard navigation hints.

Show Hint

Use Figma plugins like 'Able' or 'Contrast' to test color contrast. Add notes on keyboard focus order and ARIA roles in your design documentation.

Practice

1. What is the main idea behind mobile-first design in Figma?

easy

A. Start designing for small screens before larger ones

B. Design only for desktop screens

C. Create designs without considering screen size

D. Start with the largest screen and scale down

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand mobile-first design concept

   Mobile-first means beginning your design on small screens like phones.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Only Start designing for small screens before larger ones correctly describes starting with small screens first.

3. Final Answer:

   Start designing for small screens before larger ones -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Mobile-first = Start small screens first [OK]

Hint: Remember: mobile-first means start small, then scale up [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking mobile-first means designing only for desktop
• Ignoring screen size order
• Starting with large screens first

2. Which Figma feature helps create flexible layouts that adjust automatically when screen size changes?

easy

A. Vector Networks

B. Auto Layout

C. Pen Tool

D. Slice Tool

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify layout tools in Figma

   Auto Layout arranges elements and adapts them when resizing frames.

2. Step 2: Eliminate unrelated tools

   Pen Tool and Vector Networks are for drawing; Slice Tool is for exporting parts.

3. Final Answer:

   Auto Layout -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Flexible layouts = Auto Layout [OK]

Hint: Auto Layout adjusts elements automatically on resize [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing drawing tools with layout tools
• Using Slice Tool for layout
• Ignoring Auto Layout's role in responsiveness

3. Given a Figma frame set to 375px width (mobile), you apply Auto Layout with horizontal spacing and constraints set to 'Left and Right'. What happens when you resize the frame to 768px (tablet)?

medium

A. Elements stretch horizontally to fill the wider frame

B. Elements stay fixed size and do not move

C. Elements overlap each other

D. Elements disappear from the frame

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Auto Layout with horizontal spacing and constraints

   Auto Layout with left and right constraints makes elements stretch or space out when frame width changes.

2. Step 2: Predict behavior on resizing from 375px to 768px

   The elements will stretch horizontally to fill the larger width.

3. Final Answer:

   Elements stretch horizontally to fill the wider frame -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Auto Layout + constraints = stretch on resize [OK]

Hint: Left and right constraints stretch elements on wider frames [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming elements stay fixed size
• Thinking elements overlap
• Believing elements disappear

4. You designed a mobile screen in Figma but when scaling up to desktop size, the layout breaks and elements overlap. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The frame size was set too small initially

B. You used too many colors in the design

C. Auto Layout was not used or constraints are missing

D. The text font size is too large

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify why layout breaks on scaling

   Without Auto Layout or proper constraints, elements do not adjust and can overlap when resizing.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   Frame size, colors, or font size do not cause layout overlap on scaling.

3. Final Answer:

   Auto Layout was not used or constraints are missing -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Layout breaks = Missing Auto Layout or constraints [OK]

Hint: Always use Auto Layout and constraints for responsive designs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Blaming colors or font size for layout issues
• Ignoring Auto Layout importance
• Not checking constraints settings

5. You want to create a mobile-first dashboard in Figma that adapts from 375px (mobile) to 1024px (desktop). Which workflow best ensures a smooth scale-up?

hard

A. Design only mobile frame and export as is for all devices

B. Design desktop frame first, then shrink elements manually for mobile

C. Create separate unrelated frames for each device size without linking

D. Design mobile frame with Auto Layout and constraints, then duplicate and adjust for tablet and desktop

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand mobile-first workflow

   Start with mobile frame using Auto Layout and constraints for flexibility.

2. Step 2: Scale design by duplicating and adjusting for larger screens

   Duplicating and adjusting keeps consistency and adapts layout smoothly.

3. Step 3: Evaluate other options

   Designing desktop first or unrelated frames causes more work and inconsistency.

4. Final Answer:

   Design mobile frame with Auto Layout and constraints, then duplicate and adjust for tablet and desktop -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Mobile-first + Auto Layout + scale-up = Design mobile frame with Auto Layout and constraints, then duplicate and adjust for tablet and desktop [OK]

Hint: Start mobile with Auto Layout, then duplicate and adjust up [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Starting with desktop design first
• Not using Auto Layout or constraints
• Creating unrelated frames for each device