Responsive grid systems in Figma - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to define a 12-column grid in Figma.

Figma

grid = {"type": "[1]", "count": 12, "gutter": 16}

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

Acolumns

Brows

Clayers

Dframes

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'rows' instead of 'columns' for a vertical grid.

Confusing 'layers' or 'frames' with grid types.

In Figma, a responsive grid is usually defined using columns. Here, setting "type" to "columns" creates a 12-column grid.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to set the gutter width between columns to 24 pixels.

Figma

grid_settings = {"type": "columns", "count": 12, "gutter": [1]

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

A16

B12

C32

D24

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Setting gutter to 12 which is too narrow for typical designs.

Confusing gutter with margin or padding.

The gutter is the space between columns. Setting it to 24 pixels increases spacing for better readability.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly apply a margin of 20 pixels on both sides of the grid.

Figma

grid_settings = {"type": "columns", "count": 12, "gutter": 24, "[1]": 20}

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

Apadding

Boffset

Cspacing

Dmargin

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'margin' or 'padding' which are CSS terms but not Figma grid properties.

Using 'spacing' which is not a valid property here.

In Figma grids, 'offset' defines the margin space on the sides of the grid. Using 'offset' with 20 pixels applies the margin correctly.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a responsive grid that switches from 12 columns on desktop to 4 columns on mobile.

Figma

responsive_grid = {"desktop": {"type": "[1]", "count": 12}, "mobile": {"type": "[2]", "count": 4}}

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

Acolumns

Brows

Cframes

Dlayers

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'rows' for mobile grid which is incorrect for column-based layouts.

Mixing grid types between desktop and mobile.

Both desktop and mobile grids use columns, but with different counts to adapt layout responsively.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to define a grid with 12 columns, 20px gutter, and 24px offset.

Figma

grid_config = {"type": "[1]", "count": [2], "gutter": [3], "offset": 24}

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

Acolumns

B12

C20

Drows

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'rows' instead of 'columns' for grid type.

Confusing gutter and offset values.

This configuration sets a 12-column grid with 20 pixels gutter and 24 pixels offset margin for balanced spacing.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a responsive grid system in Figma for BI dashboards?

easy

A. To add animations to dashboard elements

B. To change font styles automatically

C. To create complex formulas for data calculations

D. To organize content so it looks good on all screen sizes

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand responsive grids

   Responsive grids help arrange content so it adapts to different screen sizes.

2. Step 2: Identify the main goal in BI dashboards

   BI dashboards need to look clear and organized on phones, tablets, and desktops.

3. Final Answer:

   To organize content so it looks good on all screen sizes -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Responsive grids = organize content for all screens [OK]

Hint: Responsive grids adapt layout to screen size [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing grids with animations
• Thinking grids create formulas
• Assuming grids change fonts automatically

2. Which of the following is the correct way to add a 12-column grid in Figma for a responsive layout?

easy

A. Set Columns to 6, Type to Rows, Gutter to 12px, Margin to 24px

B. Set Rows to 12, Type to Rows, Gutter to 24px, Margin to 16px

C. Set Columns to 12, Type to Columns, Gutter to 16px, Margin to 24px

D. Set Columns to 12, Type to Rows, Gutter to 24px, Margin to 16px

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify grid settings for columns

   A 12-column grid means Columns = 12 and Type = Columns.

2. Step 2: Check gutter and margin values

   Common gutter is 16px and margin is 24px for spacing in responsive grids.

3. Final Answer:

   Set Columns to 12, Type to Columns, Gutter to 16px, Margin to 24px -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   12 columns + gutter 16px + margin 24px = correct grid setup [OK]

Hint: Columns = 12 and Type = Columns for responsive grids [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing rows with columns
• Swapping gutter and margin values
• Setting wrong grid type

3. Given a Figma frame with a 12-column grid, gutter 20px, and margin 40px, what happens if you resize the frame from 1200px wide to 600px wide?

medium

A. Columns stay the same width, margins and gutters shrink proportionally

B. Columns, gutters, and margins all shrink proportionally to fit the new width

C. Margins stay fixed, columns and gutters adjust to new width

D. Grid disappears and layout breaks

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand responsive grid behavior on resize

   In responsive grids, columns, gutters, and margins adjust proportionally when frame size changes.

2. Step 2: Apply to given sizes

   When width halves from 1200px to 600px, all grid parts shrink to keep layout consistent.

3. Final Answer:

   Columns, gutters, and margins all shrink proportionally to fit the new width -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Responsive grid parts shrink proportionally on resize [OK]

Hint: All grid parts resize proportionally in responsive grids [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking margins stay fixed
• Assuming columns keep same width
• Believing grid disappears on resize

4. You set a 12-column grid in Figma but notice your dashboard elements overlap when resizing smaller screens. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. Breakpoints are missing or not set properly

B. Margins are set to zero, leaving no space on edges

C. Grid type is set to Rows instead of Columns

D. Gutter size is too small, causing columns to merge

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze overlapping issue on small screens

   Overlapping usually happens if layout doesn't adjust at different screen sizes.

2. Step 2: Check grid and breakpoint settings

   Without breakpoints, grid doesn't adapt, causing overlap on smaller screens.

3. Final Answer:

   Breakpoints are missing or not set properly -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Missing breakpoints cause overlap on small screens [OK]

Hint: Set breakpoints to adjust layout on different screen sizes [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Blaming gutter size for overlap
• Ignoring breakpoints importance
• Confusing grid type with overlap cause

5. You want to design a BI dashboard in Figma that looks good on desktop and mobile. Which combination of grid settings and breakpoints is best for a responsive layout?

hard

A. Desktop: 12-column grid with 24px margin; Mobile: 4-column grid with 16px margin and breakpoint at 600px

B. Desktop: 6-column grid with 16px margin; Mobile: 12-column grid with 24px margin and breakpoint at 800px

C. Desktop: 12-row grid with 24px margin; Mobile: 4-row grid with 16px margin and breakpoint at 600px

D. Desktop: 12-column grid with 0 margin; Mobile: 4-column grid with 0 margin and no breakpoints

Solution

1. Step 1: Choose appropriate grid columns for desktop and mobile

   Desktop needs more columns (12) for detailed layout; mobile uses fewer (4) for simplicity.

2. Step 2: Set margins and breakpoints for spacing and layout switch

   Margins of 24px desktop and 16px mobile provide good spacing; breakpoint at 600px switches layout properly.

3. Final Answer:

   Desktop: 12-column grid with 24px margin; Mobile: 4-column grid with 16px margin and breakpoint at 600px -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Proper columns, margins, and breakpoint = responsive layout [OK]

Hint: Use fewer columns and smaller margins on mobile with breakpoints [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using rows instead of columns for grids
• No breakpoints causing poor mobile layout
• Zero margins causing cramped design