Managing Figma: Building a Robust Design System Infrastructure

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Did you miss our latest FEDSA session on managing Figma? No worries! This deep dive with Justin from NML covered everything you need to know about structuring and optimising Figma for design teams, developers, and smooth collaboration. Whether you're managing multiple clients or working on a product, this talk is packed with insights on organising files, maintaining consistency, and avoiding costly mistakes.

What We Covered:

Figma is a powerful design tool, but without a solid structure, things can get messy fast. In this session, Justin walked us through the best practices for:

• Setting up teams, projects, and files to ensure clarity and ease of access.

• Controlling permissions and billing to prevent unexpected costs (especially with Figma’s recent pricing changes!).

• Creating and maintaining a design system that improves efficiency and developer collaboration.

• Using Dev Mode effectively so developers can easily find what they need and keep designs up to date.

• Archiving and version control tips to maintain a clean and well-documented Figma workspace.

Key Takeaways:

Structure matters – Organising Figma into clear teams, projects, and files saves time and improves collaboration.

Lock down permissions – Always set new users to viewer restricted to avoid accidental billing surprises.

Design systems are essential – A well-maintained system with clear naming conventions and reusable components speeds up design and development.

Dev Mode is a game-changer – Developers can compare changes, explore component properties, and even open designs in VS Code for a seamless handoff.

Figma’s AI & API can help – While still evolving, these features offer automation and improved workflows when used correctly.

Watch the Full Talk

Curious to see how all these strategies come together? Catch the full session here.