Figma to Code: Streamlining Your Design-to-Development Workflow
By on 10/29/2025
The transition from design to code is often friction-filled. Establishing efficient workflows between Figma and development reduces miscommunication and accelerates delivery.
Design System Foundations
Before touching code, establish a design system in Figma. Create reusable components, consistent spacing scales, and a limited color palette. These constraints in design translate directly to CSS variables and component libraries in code. A well-structured Figma file with clear naming conventions makes development significantly faster.
Leveraging Figma’s Dev Mode
Figma’s Dev Mode provides developers with accurate measurements, spacing, and CSS properties. It shows you exactly what properties designers applied, eliminating guesswork. However, don’t blindly copy Figma’s CSS – it often generates verbose code that doesn’t follow best practices. Use it as a reference, then implement properly structured code.
Component Parity
Match Figma components to code components. When designers create a Button component in Figma with variants for primary, secondary, and disabled states, create corresponding React or Vue components with props that mirror these variants. This creates a shared language between designers and developers.
Design Tokens for Consistency
Extract design tokens from Figma – colors, typography, spacing, shadows, and border-radius values. Convert these to CSS custom properties or JavaScript constants. Tools can automate this extraction, ensuring your code always reflects the current design system. Update tokens in one place to maintain consistency across your entire application.
Responsive Considerations
Designers typically create desktop and mobile versions. Developers must fill in the gaps for tablet and intermediate sizes. Discuss responsive behavior early. Should elements stack, hide, or resize? Clear guidelines prevent developers from making assumptions that might not match design intent.
Prototyping Interactions
Figma prototypes communicate intended interactions. Pay attention to animation durations, easing, and state transitions in prototypes. These details significantly impact user experience but are often lost in translation. Record screen captures of prototypes for reference during development.