10 Essential Figma Components for Revolutionary Design:

Componentization [referring to components] is an approach to software development that breaks software into identifiable, reusable pieces that application and web developers can independently use, build, and deploy in their products. 

Componentization in Figma is a design system feature that allows designers to create reusable elements. Not only for them, but also for devs! This helps to maintain consistency and efficiency along the design process. 

Figma components can be anything – from buttons and icons to entire pages or templates. When a Figma component is updated, the changes are fully reflected in the design file.

This helps streamline the design process and reduces the amount of manual work needed to keep designs consistent and up to date. The same principles are at the core of our UX/UI Design and Development Services, where scalable design systems, reusable components, and close collaboration between designers and developers help accelerate delivery while ensuring a consistent user experience across every digital product.

What’s the T when using Figma components? It’s cloud-based and has been gaining popularity for its intuitive interface and collaborative features. One of its most powerful features is Componentization. This concept comes from using Figma components, so first let’s get down to the basics…

Figma Components are pre-designed elements that can be reused multiple times in a design project. They can be anything from a simple button to a complex navigation bar, and can be edited in one place and updated in all instances.

Let’s go over some examples of Figma components. 

To create a button in Figma is a simple process. Just follow these steps and let magic happen:

1. Create a new frame by selecting the “Frame” tool from the left-side panel and dragging it onto the canvas.
2. Add a rectangle: select the “Rectangle” tool from the left-side panel and drag it onto the canvas.
3. Adjust the size and color: do it to the desired size for your button. Then change the rectangle’s color to match your desired button color; keep the design in mind!
4. Add text: select the “Text” tool from the left-side panel and type in your desired button text. You can adjust the font, size, and color of the text to match your desired button design.
5. Group the elements: select both elements, then right-click and choose “Group”. This will create a single button component that can be easily reused and adjusted.
6. Save as Figma component: To make it reusable, right-click the grouped elements and select “Create Component”. 

Tip: You can then save the component to your Assets panel for easy access in future projects. You can also add design elements or adjust the button’s shape and design to meet your specific needs.

To create a complex navigation bar in Figma as a component involves several steps, but no worries! The process is straightforward. Follow these steps to rock it:

1. Create a new frame by selecting the “Frame” tool from the left-side panel and dragging it onto the canvas.
2. Add a rectangle: select the “Rectangle” tool from the left-side panel and drag it onto the canvas.
3. Add text to each rectangle to represent the navigation items. Select the “Text” tool from the left-side panel and type in.
4. Group the elements: Group the rectangle and text elements together for each navigation item.
5. Create Figma component: right-click the grouped elements and select “Create Component”. Save the component to your Assets panel for easy access in future projects.
6. Repeat for all navigation items: repeat the steps for each item in your bar.
7. Arrange navigation items and components in the desired order to create your navigation bar. You can do this by selecting each component and adjusting its position.
8. Style the navigation bar: Add additional elements and adjust it to meet your specific design needs. Add background colors, borders, shadows, and other design elements as desired.

Remember to follow a well-thought-out design! You can create a complex navigation bar as a Figma Component. Adjust the design and style of the navigation bar to meet your specific needs and preferences.

To create any Figma Component, you simply need to select the elements you want to reuse and click “Create Component” in the right-hand panel. The Figma component will then be saved in the Assets panel, where it can be easily found and reused in other products.

We know it’s redundant, but remember this asset: once you have created a Figma component, you can make changes to it in one place, and those changes will automatically be reflected in all instances of the Figma component.

For example, if you change the color of a button Component, all instances of the button in your design will automatically update to the new color, even the code behind it! If you want to check it, just look into Figma’s Help Center.

Even though it may seem that understanding the basics is enough, you should always go one step further to become an expert in Figma Components. Get it, learn it, and sound like a Pro in your next weekly [Want to explore Scrum? Or become a Scrum Master?] or any methodology you apply at work. Some key concepts:

Consistency: Figma components ensure that designs are consistent and uniform throughout a project. This is especially important for larger projects with many pages and elements, as it can be difficult to keep track and ensure consistency without a system in place. So, Figma offers it. 

Efficiency: Componentization saves time by enabling designers to reuse and share elements rather than recreating them each time they are needed. It comes in handy for repetitive elements such as buttons, icons, and headers.

Collaboration: Figma components can be shared with team members and updated easily, enabling designers to collaborate on a design project. And let’s be honest, we do need some help to work collaboratively.

Responsiveness: Components in Figma are responsive only if you create an auto-layout. Meaning that they automatically adjust to different screen sizes and device types. This helps designers avoid manually adjusting each instance of the Figma component.

Watch the video to see how the Figma Autolayout works!

Autolayout Effectus web Example

Design System Creation: Componentization in Figma can be used to create a design system, which is a set of standardized design elements and guidelines for a company or project. This helps to ensure consistency, quality, and branding in designs. Set the frame!

All in all, componentization helps to streamline the design process and make it easier for designers, owners, and managers to work together, following the same line of thought. If you’re a Figma user, we highly recommend using the [Figma components] feature to improve your team’s workflow.

Check this auto-layout tips!

At this stage, you know that it enables you to create UI elements and promote consistency in whatever design you’re working on; you can also explore these design kits. But still, there are some profitable aspects about Figma components that will scale your team’s product development:

Dynamic Properties: Figma components can have dynamic properties, such as auto-resizing and responsive behavior, that automatically adjust based on the content they contain. Images and clicks

Variants: it lets you create multiple variants of a Figma component, each with its own set of styles and properties. This makes it easy to create different versions of a UI element without having to recreate it from scratch. Images and clicks?

Speed: Using Figma components can greatly speed up the design process, as designers can easily create new UI elements by using existing Figma components as building blocks. Images and clicks?

After all is said and done, Figma’s componentization features allow designers to create and maintain high-quality designs, making it a valuable tool for UX and UI design and, therefore, the product! If you want to keep exploring UX and UI, just click here!

Watch the video to see how the Figma Variants work!
Effectus Web – Figma variants – Card component

Check these tips to improve your workflow!

Dynamic cards: Figma components can be used to create cards that automatically adjust based on their content. For example, a component for a product card could be set up to automatically adjust its height based on the length of the product description.

Global color palette: Designers can create a color palette component and reuse it across multiple pages and documents, making it easy to maintain color consistency throughout a design. Having a thoughtfully designed palette that is congruous with the product has a deep impact on the user.

Icon library: Designers can create an icon library component and reuse it across multiple pages and documents. It reduces the time spent on searching for and inserting icons. Go for these Figma components.

Modal windows: These Figma components can be used to create reusable modal windows that can be triggered by buttons or other UI elements.

By leveraging componentization, designers can work more efficiently and effectively, focusing on creating high-quality designs.

Picture the following scenario in your mind: you’re designing an e-commerce website, and you want to create a product card for each item for sale. You can create a Figma component for a product card that includes the product image, title, description, and price. 

What’s the best part of it? For each product, you can simply create an instance of the product card component and fill in the relevant information for each case.

So, let’s cut to the chase: using Figma components ensures each product card has a consistent layout, style, and color palette, maintaining the overall look and feel of your design. Remember, minding the design is crucial for us! 

Here are three real-world examples of how Figma componentization has been used to streamline the design process and improve overall design quality, but first visit Effectus Website to see Figma’s components in a product, use it as an inspiration, and become your team’s A-level designer:

Reusable UI Libraries: One of the most popular uses of Figma componentization is creating reusable UI libraries that can be shared across multiple projects or teams. This allows designers to work more efficiently by using pre-existing UI elements. No need to start from scratch.

Design System: Figma components can be used to build a design system that serves as a single source of truth for a company’s design standards, guidelines, and assets. A design system enables teams to collaborate on design projects and helps reduce design errors. Mind the Brand!

We can’t deny the role AI has nowadays. So, let’s embrace it as a tool to enhance our processes and keep on learning. Can it be used to enhance Figma components? No doubts!

Component suggestion and generation: AI can analyze the design patterns in your Figma files and suggest new components or generate them automatically, based on best practices and design standards. Here you’ll find some examples:

• Image recognition: AI can use computer vision techniques to analyze the visual elements of your designs and identify patterns and similarities between them. For example, it can recognize that several buttons have a similar shape or color scheme and suggest a new component that follows those patterns.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP): AI can also analyze the text in your designs to identify common patterns and suggest new components. For example, if several pages in your design share a similar header or footer, it suggests creating a new component for that section.
• Machine learning analyzes design patterns in your Figma files and suggests new Figma components based on them. For example, it can learn from your existing designs to identify reps and suggest new Figma components.
• Rule-based systems: Use rule-based systems to analyze your designs and suggest new Figma components based on standards and best practices. For example, checks that new components follow accessibility guidelines and other design principles.

To implement these techniques, you may need to use a third-party plugin or tool that integrates with Figma. Some examples of such tools include Sigmind.ai, Humaaans, and Sketch2React.

Extra bonus on how AI can come in handy! 

• Design validation and optimization: AI can analyze your Figma designs to identify potential issues or inconsistencies and suggest optimizations that improve accessibility, performance, or user experience.
• Asset management and version control: AI can help manage your Figma components by automatically tagging and categorizing them, detecting duplicates, and versioning them over time, making it easier to collaborate and maintain design consistency.
• Intelligent prototyping: AI can suggest interactions, animations, and transitions for your Figma components, making it easier to create realistic prototypes with minimal effort.
• Accessibility and usability testing: AI can provide automated feedback on the accessibility and usability of your Figma components, flagging potential issues and suggesting solutions that improve the overall quality of your designs.

There are several AI-powered tools and plugins available in the market that can help you achieve these benefits. You can explore and evaluate the tools based on your requirements and goals to choose the one that fits your needs. 

Do you feel like navigating through AI? Check our post on the Role of AI in the Industry.

Could we twist your arm then? Be ready to excel with Figma Components and, most importantly, avoid design inconsistencies. Check more Figma tips here! 

Don’t underestimate the role of Figma components in the collaboration, prototyping, and handoff to development processes. Hand in a polished and thoroughly triple-checked design that shows the knowledge, enthusiasm, and talent behind it!