As a design system builder and engineer, I’ve noticed that Figma’s component documentation—specifically, the component “Description” field—is currently buried in the component configuration panel. This limits its visibility during handoff, onboarding, and day-to-day use.
Opportunity for improvement:
Just as engineering disciplines rely on disciplined nomenclature and readily available documentation for clarity and scalability, design systems need robust, frictionless access to component descriptions. Bringing these principles to Figma’s UX would benefit teams of all sizes—especially those treating design as an engineering problem.
Suggestion:
- Give the Description field its own space in the right toolbar, separate from deep configuration.
- Allow toggling visibility (e.g., an “info” or “eye” icon).
- By surfacing this information naturally—similar to a tooltip—users can reference component context without extra clicks, boosting clarity and alignment.
Benefits:
- Faster onboarding for new teammates
- Smoother design/development handoff
- Reduced ambiguity in component purpose and usage
- A workflow that feels as organized and rigorous as the engineering world Figma increasingly supports
Why it matters:
As design systems mature, the division between software and engineering disciplines continues to narrow. A more disciplined, accessible documentation strategy in Figma will drive adoption and best practices for both designers and engineers.
