Figma Design Brief Skill
Converts a product requirement or feature request into a structured design brief — everything a designer needs to open Figma and start building confidently.
Required Inputs
- Feature or requirement (paste PRD snippet, ticket, or describe the feature)
- User goal (what is the user trying to accomplish?)
- Platform (iOS / Android / Web / Responsive / All)
- Existing components available (optional)
- Timeline (when does design need to be ready?)
Output Structure
1. Brief Header
Feature, PM, Designer, Platform, Design due, Dev handoff dates.
2. What We Are Designing and Why
- The goal: [One sentence — user problem being solved]
- Context: [2-3 sentences. Why now? What triggers this?]
- Success looks like: [Specific observable outcome]
3. User Flows to Design
Flow N: [Flow name]
- Entry point: [Where user starts]
- Steps: [Numbered key steps]
- Exit point: [Where flow ends]
- Edge cases: [empty state, error state, loading state]
4. Screens Required
| Screen | New / Update | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [Screen] | New | [Key requirement] |
5. Components Needed
| Component | In library? | Action |
|---|---|---|
| [Component] | Yes/No/Needs variant | Use/Create/Extend |
6. Constraints and Requirements
- Must haves: [Non-negotiable constraints]
- Must avoid: [Design patterns to not use]
- Accessibility: [WCAG level, touch target sizes]
7. Open Questions
- [Question — with owner]
Quality Checks
- Goal is outcome-focused (not "design the feature")
- All flows include edge cases
- Components table identifies create vs reuse
- Constraints include accessibility requirements
- Open questions have owners
Anti-Patterns
- Do not write a design brief that describes the solution — the brief must describe the problem and constraints, not the design answer
- Do not skip the success criteria — designers need to know what "done" looks like before starting
- Do not omit existing components to reuse — briefs that ignore the design system lead to inconsistent implementations
- Do not leave open questions unresolved — escalate them before design work starts, not during it
- Do not confuse requirements with design instructions — the brief defines what, not how
Example Trigger Phrases
- "Write a design brief for [feature]"
- "Turn this PRD into a Figma design brief"
- "Brief the designer on what to build for [requirement]"
- "Create a design spec for [feature] for Figma"
- "What does the designer need to know to design [feature]?"