Creating and Editing Components in Figma

Components are reusable elements in Figma that allow for consistent design and efficient editing. Understanding how to create and edit components is crucial for Agile Design, where rapid iteration and consistency are key.

Key Concepts

1. Creating Components
2. Editing Components
3. Instance Management
4. Overrides and Variants
5. Component Organization

1. Creating Components

To create a component in Figma, follow these steps:

• Select the element you want to turn into a component (e.g., a button, a form field).
• Right-click on the selected element and choose "Create Component" from the context menu.
• Name your component descriptively (e.g., "Primary Button", "Input Field").

Example:

Imagine you are designing a set of buttons for a website. By creating a "Primary Button" component, you ensure that all primary buttons across the site have the same design and behavior, maintaining consistency.

2. Editing Components

Editing a component allows you to make changes that will be reflected across all instances of that component. Here’s how to do it:

• Double-click on any instance of the component to enter its editing mode.
• Make the necessary changes to the component.
• All instances of the component will automatically update with the new changes.

Example:

Suppose you decide to change the color of the "Primary Button" component. By editing the component, all buttons on your website that use this component will update to the new color, ensuring a unified design.

3. Instance Management

Instances are individual copies of a component. Managing instances involves understanding how changes to the master component affect these copies. Here’s how to manage instances:

• Instances inherit all properties from the master component but can be overridden locally.
• To override a property, right-click on the instance and choose "Detach Instance" or manually change the property.

Example:

Consider a "Card" component used on multiple pages. If you need a specific card to have a different background color, you can override that property for that instance without affecting other cards.

4. Overrides and Variants

Overrides allow you to change specific properties of an instance without detaching it. Variants are a way to create different versions of a component. Here’s how to use them:

• To override a property, select the instance and change the desired property in the Properties panel.
• To create a variant, select the component, go to the Variants panel, and create a new variant with specific properties.

Example:

For a "Button" component, you might create variants like "Primary Button", "Secondary Button", and "Disabled Button". Each variant can have different colors and states, allowing for flexible use in different contexts.

5. Component Organization

Organizing components helps maintain a clean and efficient design system. Here’s how to organize components:

• Create folders and subfolders to group related components (e.g., "Buttons", "Forms", "Navigation").
• Use descriptive names and consistent naming conventions.
• Regularly review and update your component library to ensure it remains relevant and efficient.

Example:

Imagine a design system with a "Components" folder containing subfolders like "Buttons", "Forms", and "Cards". This organization makes it easy to find and reuse components, ensuring consistency and efficiency in your design process.

By mastering these concepts—creating and editing components, managing instances, using overrides and variants, and organizing components—you can create a robust and efficient design system in Figma, supporting Agile Design principles.