how to create component set in figma

3 min read 11-12-2024

Figma's component sets are a game-changer for streamlining your design workflow. They allow you to create reusable design elements, ensuring consistency and speeding up your design process. This guide will walk you through creating and managing component sets in Figma, from basic setup to advanced techniques. Learn how to leverage this powerful feature to create efficient and scalable designs.

Understanding Figma Components and Component Sets

Before diving into the creation process, let's clarify the difference between a component and a component set.

Component: A single reusable design element, like a button, input field, or icon. Changes made to the master component automatically update all instances.
Component Set: A collection of related components organized into a single, easily manageable library. This keeps your design system neatly organized and readily accessible.

Creating Your First Component Set in Figma

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a component set:

Step 1: Prepare Your Components

Begin by creating the individual components you want to include in your set. Make sure each component is well-designed and consistent with your overall design style. You'll want to consider different states (hover, active, disabled) for interactive elements like buttons.

Step 2: Organize Your Components

Group related components together. For example, you might group all your buttons together, all your input fields together, and so on. This will make it easier to manage and navigate your component set later.

Step 3: Create the Component Set

Select all the components you want to include in your set.
Right-click and select "Create Component Set."
Name your component set something descriptive and meaningful (e.g., "Button Set," "Form Elements," "UI Kit").
Choose a location: Decide where to save your component set. You can save it to your current file, or to a separate Figma file dedicated to your design system. Creating a dedicated file is highly recommended for better organization and version control.

Step 4: Publish Your Component Set (Optional but Recommended)

Publishing your component set allows you to share it with others or access it across different Figma files.

Open the component set file.
Go to the "File" menu and select "Publish design..."
Choose a name and visibility settings. You can publish it publicly or keep it private for internal use.
Copy the link and share it with your team.

Managing Your Component Set

Once you've created your component set, there are several ways to manage and update it:

Updating Components

Changes made to a master component will automatically update all instances across all your designs. This is a major benefit of using components. This means that updating a button style will automatically update it everywhere in your designs.

Adding New Components

You can add new components to your existing set. Simply create the new component, select it, and right-click. Choose "Add to Component Set" and select your desired set.

Removing Components

To remove a component from your set, select the component in the design, right-click, and choose "Remove from Component Set."

Advanced Techniques: Utilizing Variants

Figma's component variants allow for even more flexibility and efficiency. Variants allow you to create multiple versions of a component with different properties (e.g., different button sizes, colors, or icons) all from a single master component. This dramatically reduces file size and maintenance overhead.

Creating Variants

Create a master component.
Duplicate the master component.
Modify the properties of the duplicated components (e.g., color, size, text).
Select all variants and click "Create Variants." Figma will automatically organize them into a variant set.

Best Practices for Component Sets

Naming Conventions: Use consistent and descriptive naming conventions for both components and component sets.
Organization: Organize components logically within your sets.
Version Control: Maintain different versions of your component sets to track changes and revert if needed.
Documentation: Document your component set with clear guidelines and usage examples.

By following these steps and best practices, you can create well-organized, reusable component sets that streamline your design process and ensure consistency across all your projects. This will significantly boost your design efficiency and allow you to focus on the creative aspects of your work. Mastering Figma's component sets is a key step towards becoming a more efficient and effective designer.