I’ve seen so many designers (including my past self!) overlook the simple things in Figma. But in real projects, it’s not always the fancy tricks that matter—it’s the basics, done right.

Here are 3 tiny habits I use in Figma every day that keep my designs clean, scalable, and dev-friendly:

1. Use Auto Layout — even for static screens
You might think “I don’t need Auto Layout here,”
but trust me—future you will thank you.
It keeps your spacing consistent and makes changes a breeze.

2. Name your layers
No need to be a perfectionist—but “Rectangle 297” isn’t helping anyone.
Clean layer names = faster handoff + less chaos.

3. Use styles for colors and text
If you’re not using shared styles, your design system is already broken.
Colors and typography should be consistent and easy to update globally.

Good Figma files feel like a conversation.
They tell the next designer (or dev) where things are, why they’re there, and how to use them.

What are your favorite Figma habits that changed the way you design?

Let’s share some!