Creating variants in Figma revolutionizes the way we design interactive and consistent UI components.

Variants allow for streamlined design workflows, making it easier to manage multiple states of a component within one design system.

If you’ve struggled with maintaining consistency across various instances in your Figma projects, learning how to create variants in Figma is a game-changer.

You’ll discover streamlined methods for creating and managing these variant groups, harnessing properties, and ensuring seamless prototyping for all your design needs.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps of setting up variants, explaining everything from component libraries to Figma’s variants panel.

By the end, you’ll master how to integrate interactive components and use Figma’s auto-layout for efficiency.

Whether you’re dealing with button variants or complex user interface design, this guide will provide all the necessary tools and knowledge.

How to Create Variants in Figma: Quick Workflow

  1. Select a Main Component: Choose the component you want to create variants for.
  2. Access the Variant Creation Options:
    • Click on the Create component button in the right sidebar, or use the keyboard shortcut for your operating system.
    • Alternatively, right-click on the main component, navigate to Main component, and select Add variant.
    • You can also click on Add property in the right sidebar and choose Variant from the dropdown menu to create a new variant property.
  3. Add New Variants:
    • To add more variants, you can:
      • Select the component set and click in the right sidebar.
      • Click just below the component set.
      • Duplicate an existing variant using the appropriate keyboard shortcut for your operating system.
      • Drag other components into the component set.
  4. Naming Conventions: Use a slash naming convention for better organization. The text before the slash will be the name of the component set, while text after will be used as values for attributes.

Setting Up Variants

Preparing Your Design for Variants

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Organizing components for conversion into variants can feel challenging. Start by grouping similar elements. For instance, place buttons, toggles, and icons into their respective groups. This organizational step helps when you later convert them into variants.

Best practices for arranging layouts include standard methods like rows, columns, and grids. These layouts streamline the process.

Grids are useful as they allow for seamless alignment and spacing. Rows and columns can be particularly effective when dealing with dynamic components.

Avoiding common pitfalls when setting up components is crucial. Incorrect nesting can lead to problems later on. Ensure each component is nested correctly to avoid structural issues. Another common mistake is forgetting to label components clearly. Proper labeling ensures that you can identify and work with components easily.

Naming and Organizing Components

Using the slash naming system is essential for maintaining structure. This system organizes components hierarchically. It breaks down naming into subcategories, providing clarity. For instance: Button/Primary/Enabled vs. Button/Secondary/Disabled.

Creating descriptive property names and values makes your components more accessible and understandable. Names should be concise but informative. For example, State_Hover or Type_Large. These descriptors provide immediate context, making the design process smoother.

Practical examples for naming conventions include using consistent patterns. For interactive components, name them like Toggle/On and Toggle/Off. For size variations, use Button/SmallButton/Medium, and Button/Large. This consistency aids in quickly recognizing and distinguishing between components.

Adding Properties and Values

Steps to create and apply properties to variants are straightforward. First, select the components you want to convert. Then, use the Properties panel to add new properties such as StateSize, or Type. These properties define the specific variations of your components.

Defining attributes such as state, size, and type ensures clarity and usability. States might include DefaultHover, and ClickedSizes can range from Small to Large, depending on the use case. Types can denote variations like PrimarySecondary, and so forth.

Creating Variants

Steps to Combine Components as Variants

Start by selecting and grouping your components. Ensure they are all related — for example, different states of a button or various sizes of the same icon. Grouping similar items simplifies the process.

Next, use the “Combine as Variants” feature in Figma. Select the components, right-click, and choose “Combine as Variants.” This step converts them into a single set, easily manageable and modifiable.

For seamless conversion, follow a few tips. Double-check that your components have consistent naming conventions. This avoids any confusion when they become part of a variant set. Ensure all the components are properly aligned and spaced to maintain uniformity.

Customizing and Expanding Variants

Adding new variants to existing sets? First, duplicate an existing variant within the set. Adjust the duplicated variant to create a new design or state. This keeps the process consistent and simplifies future updates.

Adjusting layouts and appearances within a component set is integral. Use Figma’s tools to modify the layout of each variant. Ensure each one fits the design system and appears coherent when toggled or switched during prototyping.

Examples of common variant types include buttons, toggles, and icons. For buttons, consider variations like primary, secondary, and disabled states. Toggles might have on and off states, while icons could vary by size or style (e.g., filled vs. outlined).

Fixing Conflicts and Errors in Variants

Resolving duplicate property-value combinations is essential. If two variants share the same property values, adjust one to ensure uniqueness. This differentiation is crucial for maintaining clear and functional variants.

Identifying and correcting corrupted variants involves checking for inconsistencies. Corruption often appears as missing properties or unresponsive elements. Correct these by reapplying the original values or properties.

Enhancing Variants with Interactivity

Introduction to Interactive Components

Interactive components make prototypes come alive. They allow interactions between variants, offering a real-feel experience for users.

Benefits? Immense. Think seamless transitions, enhanced user feedback, and a streamlined design workflow.

Creating Variant Interactions

Use the “Change to” prototype action to switch between variants smoothly. Select your base component, head over to the Prototype tab, and set the interaction to “Change to”.

Steps to connect variants are straightforward. Choose your trigger (e.g., On Click, On Hover), then link it to the desired variant.

For practical use, consider hover states and pressed states. You can turn a static button into an interactive element that responds to user actions.

Adding Advanced Interactions

Layering interactions within prototypes adds depth. Combine regular actions with variant-specific interactions for more complexity.

  • Interaction priority is key. Decide which trigger comes first if multiple triggers exist.
  • Handling same and different triggers means anticipating user actions and planning accordingly.

Complex interactions? Strategies include mapping out user flows and testing iterations.

Managing States Across Frames

To memorize and share states, utilize Figma’s prototyping capabilities. Let’s say you have a toggle switch; keep its state consistent as users navigate through frames.

Adjusting state settings is often necessary for resets, especially when a prototype has multiple interaction points.

Best practices for state management? Regular checks and consistency. Ensure states behave as expected through thorough testing.

Practical Applications of Variants

Building Interactive Design Systems

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Variants transform a static design system into a dynamic one. Modeling buttons, forms, and navigation components with variants is straightforward. For buttons, create primary, secondary, and disabled states. Forms can have active, error, and success states.

Advanced states like hover, focus, and active enhance user interaction. When a user hovers over a button, it visually changes, providing immediate feedback. Focus states indicate where a user’s attention is, like an active input field in a form. Active states show selections, such as a clicked button in a navigation bar.

Enhancing Prototyping Efficiency

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Variants streamline prototypes. They reduce redundant frames and connections. Instead of duplicating frames for each button state, use one set of variants. This simplifies the prototype and keeps it clean.

Checkbox groups and toggles benefit immensely from variants. One variant set handles all states — checked, unchecked, indeterminate. For toggles, manage on and off states within a single component. This approach minimizes complexity and keeps prototypes efficient.

Best Practices for Maintaining Variants

Keeping Variants Organized

Naming and arranging properties for clarity starts by using consistent and descriptive names. A clear system prevents confusion later. Use a slash naming system to keep everything structured — think Button/Primary/ActiveCard/Large/WithImage.

Creating logical groupings within component sets makes everything accessible. Group similar items together. For example, keep all button variants in one group, all card variations in another. Logical groupings reduce the time spent searching.

Maintaining visual consistency across variants is essential. All variants should look like they belong to the same family. Consistency in style, color, and typography is non-negotiable. This not only helps in prototyping but also ensures a smooth user experience.

Publishing and Sharing Variants

Steps to publish component sets to a shared library:

  1. Select the component set, and click “Publish.”
  2. Make sure all elements are named properly; clarity is key.
  3. Hit that publish button, and share the library with your team.

Collaborating with team members using shared libraries is a breeze. Everyone gets access to the same set of well-organized components, making teamwork more efficient. It’s an immediate boost to productivity.

Version control and updates for published variants are crucial. When an update is necessary, publish the changes. Notify the team to update their libraries. This ensures everyone is in sync, using the latest versions.

Testing and Validating Variants

Reviewing interactive behavior in prototypes ensures everything works as expected. Go through the prototype and interact with each variant. Look for any inconsistencies or unexpected behaviors.

Conducting usability tests is a must. Test with actual users to catch any issues you might have missed. Pay attention to how they interact with the variants and gather their feedback.

FAQ on How To Create Variants In Figma

How do I create variants in Figma?

Start by selecting your component, then click on the “Create Multiple Components” button. Organize them into a component set, then use the “Properties” panel to define the properties and variants. This way, you can manage various states easily, from hover effects to button designs.

What are component sets in Figma?

Component sets are collections of related components that share structural similarities. Think of them as groups where each item exists as a variant.

This is highly useful for managing different button styles or interactive components in a unified way.

Can I use auto-layout with variants?

Absolutely. Auto-layout works seamlessly with variants, allowing you to maintain responsive design principles.

When creating multi-state elements, auto-layout can help you ensure components resize or adapt correctly, especially useful in designs that must scale between different screen sizes.

How do I switch between variants?

Switching is simple. Select the component instance you want to change, then use the dropdown in the right-side panel to select the desired variant.

Figma makes it easy to toggle different states without duplicating layers or creating redundant elements.

What are the advantages of using variants?

Variants streamline design systems development, maintain consistency, and save time. You can create complex interactive components, reduce redundancy, and keep your projects organized.

It’s particularly powerful in collaborative environments, like those managed on platforms such as Asana and Slack.

How do I name variants effectively?

Naming conventions should reflect the states or properties clearly, like “Button/Primary/Active” or “Icon/Disabled”.

This helps to identify each variant quickly, especially when you’re working with a large component set. Always use a consistent pattern for ease of use.

Can I prototype with variants in Figma?

Yes, prototyping with variants is straightforward. Once your variants are set up, use Figma’s prototyping tools to link different states.

This is ideal for showcasing interactions such as hover states, click events, or form inputs. It makes your prototypes more realistic.

Are there best practices for using variants?

Using descriptive and consistent naming conventions is crucial. Utilize Figma’s design systems and keep your component sets organized.

Integrate variants with other elements like auto-layout and ensure they align with your design tokens for maximum efficiency.

Can I use plugins with variants?

Indeed, many Figma plugins support variants. Plugins can help manage and manipulate variants, automate tasks, and keep your design systems consistent.

Tools like Anima or Stark can integrate with your variants, enhancing their functionality.

How do variants affect collaborative design?

Variants significantly improve collaboration. Team members can easily understand and reuse components, ensuring consistency across the project.

This helps streamline workflows, especially when combined with collaborative tools like GitTrello, and Webflow.

Conclusion

Mastering how to create variants in Figma can dramatically improve your design process, making it more efficient and consistent. Variants streamline design systems and allow for easy manipulation of different states, enhancing both usability and maintainability across projects.

By leveraging component sets, auto-layout, and prototyping tools, you create a more cohesive design ecosystem. Naming conventions play a crucial role in keeping everything organized and understandable, especially in collaborative environments.

Utilize plugins and best practices to maximize the functionality and efficiency of your variants. This integration ensures that your projects not only look good but also function seamlessly across various interactions and states.

With a deep understanding of creating and managing variants in Figma, your design workflow will be more efficient, consistent, and collaborative. Utilize this knowledge to build smarter, more adaptable UI elements that meet the needs of any project. Adopting these methods in your routine will undeniably elevate your design capabilities.

Author

Bogdan Sandu is the principal designer and editor of this website. He specializes in web and graphic design, focusing on creating user-friendly websites, innovative UI kits, and unique fonts.Many of his resources are available on various design marketplaces. Over the years, he's worked with a range of clients and contributed to design publications like Designmodo, WebDesignerDepot, and Speckyboy among others.