Mobile-first design workflow in Figma - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to set the frame size for a mobile-first design in Figma.

Figma

frame.resize([1], 812)  // Set width for iPhone X height fixed

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A375

B1024

C1440

D1920

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using desktop widths like 1024 or 1440 instead of mobile width.

The width 375 pixels is the standard width for iPhone X, a common mobile-first design target.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to add a vertical layout grid suitable for mobile screens in Figma.

Figma

frame.layoutGrids = [{ type: '[1]', sectionSize: 8, visible: true }]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Arows

Bcolumns

Cgrid

Dnone

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing 'columns' which is more common for desktop layouts.

Vertical layout grids use rows to help align content vertically on mobile screens.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to set constraints for a mobile-first button component in Figma.

Figma

button.constraints = { horizontal: '[1]', vertical: 'TOP' }

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ACENTER

BSCALE

CLEFT_RIGHT

DRIGHT

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'CENTER' which fixes the center but not width.

For responsive width on mobile, 'LEFT_RIGHT' constraint makes the button stretch horizontally.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a responsive mobile-first text style with proper font size and line height in Figma.

Figma

textStyle = { fontSize: [1], lineHeight: [2] }

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A16

B24

C20

D28

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using desktop font sizes like 20 or 28 which are too large for mobile body text.

Common mobile text uses 16px font size with 24px line height for readability.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to define a mobile-first color style with primary color, opacity, and blend mode in Figma.

Figma

colorStyle = { color: '[1]', opacity: [2], blendMode: '[3]' }

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A#007AFF

B0.8

CNORMAL

D#FF9500

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using blend modes other than 'NORMAL' which can cause unexpected color effects.

#007AFF is a common blue primary color for mobile apps, opacity 0.8 for slight transparency, and blend mode 'NORMAL' for default blending.

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