Mastering Responsive Grids in Figma

Sep 14, 2024

Responsive Grid Layouts in Material Design

Introduction

  • Tutorial by Tim at Design Academy.
  • Focus on creating responsive grid layouts in Material Design using Figma.
  • Discuss key concepts before practical application.

Key Concepts

Columns, Margins, and Gutters

  • Columns: Vertical divisions that components align to.
  • Margins: Space on the far left and right of the screen.
  • Gutters: Space between columns.
  • Importance of understanding these for effective grid design.

Customizing the Grid

  • Grids can be customized horizontally or vertically.
  • Best practices for customization discussed.

Grid Layout Behavior

Fixed vs. Responsive Grid Layouts

  • Fixed Grid Layout: Set number of columns regardless of screen size.
  • Responsive Grid Layout: Adapts number of columns based on screen size.

UI Regions

  • Fixed areas like side navigation and app bars.
  • Essential for consistency across different screen sizes.

Exploring Material Design Resources

  • Material Design website provides guidance on breakpoints.
  • Breakpoint ranges vary from mobile to massive screens.
  • Example breakpoints:
    • Mobile (360 dips): 4 columns
    • Tablet (600 dips): 8 columns

Detailed Breakdown

Columns

  • Width defined using percentages for adaptability.
  • Components snap to columns for organized design.

Gutters

  • Fixed values at breakpoints; change based on screen size.
  • Wider gutters for larger screens help to avoid clutter.

Margins

  • Fixed values that adapt with screen size.
  • Wider margins on large screens for enhanced whitespace.

Customization Insights

  • Balance between too tight and too wide gutters/margins.
  • Adjust gutters for spacing consistency.
  • Typography considerations: 40-60 characters per line ideal.

Horizontal Grids

  • Layout grids can be customized for horizontal scrolling UI.
  • Margins and columns oriented left-to-right.

Building Breakpoints in Figma

  • Example of creating grid styles in Figma.
  • Process:
    1. Create frame with specified width.
    2. Set up layout grid with columns, margins, and gutters.
    3. Turn it into a style and name it according to breakpoint.
  • Encourage practical application by creating various grid styles.

UI Regions

Types of UI Regions

  1. Fixed UI Regions: Always displayed (e.g., side navigation).
  2. Persistent UI Regions: Displayed on command (e.g., hamburger menu).
  3. Temporary UI Regions: Overlays that don't affect grid (appears/disappears).

White Frames

  • Structured layouts serving as templates for designs.
  • Provide a consistent starting point for layouts.

Conclusion

  • Practical exercise to create grid styles in Figma.
  • Encourage students to replicate the process for hands-on learning.
  • Emphasize the importance of adapting styles for different devices and breakpoints.