Why efficient workflows save time in Figma - Business Case Study

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a business analyst working with the design team.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to show how efficient workflows in design projects save time and improve productivity.

📊 Data: You have data on time spent on design tasks with and without efficient workflows, including task names, time taken in hours, and number of revisions.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a simple dashboard in Figma that visually compares time spent on tasks with and without efficient workflows, highlighting time saved.

Sample Data

Task	Time Without Workflow (hours)	Time With Workflow (hours)	Revisions Without Workflow	Revisions With Workflow
Wireframing	8	5	4	2
Prototyping	10	6	5	3
User Testing	6	4	3	1
Final Design	12	7	6	3
Handoff	4	2	2	1

1

Step 1: Create a new Figma file and name it 'Workflow Efficiency Dashboard'.

No formula needed.

Expected Result

A new Figma file ready for design.

2

Step 2: Add a title text box at the top center with the text 'Time Saved by Efficient Workflows'.

Use Text tool, font size 24pt, bold, center aligned.

Expected Result

Title clearly visible at the top.

3

Step 3: Create a bar chart comparing 'Time Without Workflow' and 'Time With Workflow' for each task.

Use rectangles for bars: For each task, draw two bars side by side. Height proportional to hours (e.g., 1 hour = 10px height). Label each bar with the time value.

Expected Result

Bar chart showing time differences for each task.

4

Step 4: Add labels below each pair of bars with the task names.

Use Text tool, font size 12pt, center aligned under bars.

Expected Result

Task names clearly labeled under bars.

5

Step 5: Add a legend explaining which color represents 'Without Workflow' and which represents 'With Workflow'.

Create two small colored rectangles with text labels next to them.

Expected Result

Legend clearly explains bar colors.

6

Step 6: Add a summary text box below the chart showing total time saved across all tasks.

Calculate total time without workflow: 8+10+6+12+4=40 hours; total time with workflow: 5+6+4+7+2=24 hours; time saved = 16 hours.

Expected Result

Text: 'Total Time Saved: 16 hours' displayed clearly.

7

Step 7: Add a note explaining that fewer revisions also contribute to time savings and improved quality.

Use Text tool, font size 14pt, italic, placed below summary.

Expected Result

Note visible: 'Efficient workflows reduce revisions, saving additional time and improving quality.'

Final Result

--------------------------------------------------
|           Time Saved by Efficient Workflows     |
|------------------------------------------------|
| Task       | Without Workflow | With Workflow   |
|------------------------------------------------|
| Wireframing| ████████ (8h)    | █████ (5h)      |
| Prototyping| ██████████ (10h) | ██████ (6h)     |
| User Testing| ██████ (6h)      | ████ (4h)       |
| Final Design| ████████████(12h)| ███████ (7h)    |
| Handoff    | ████ (4h)        | ██ (2h)         |
|------------------------------------------------|
| Total Time Saved: 16 hours                      |
| Note: Efficient workflows reduce revisions,    |
| saving additional time and improving quality.  |
--------------------------------------------------

✓Efficient workflows reduce total design time from 40 to 24 hours.

✓Time saved is 16 hours across five key design tasks.

✓Number of revisions is roughly halved, indicating better quality and less rework.

✓Visual comparison clearly shows time savings per task.

Bonus Challenge

Add an interactive component in Figma that allows toggling between viewing time spent and number of revisions for each task.

Show Hint

Use Figma's interactive components feature to create toggle buttons and swap between two bar charts.