From Figma to Next.js: A Complete Developer's Workflow

The gap between design and development has historically been one of the biggest challenges in web projects. At Star Works, we've refined our Figma-to-Next.js workflow to deliver pixel-perfect implementations that maintain design integrity while ensuring optimal performance.

The Challenge: Design-Development Handoff

Traditional design-to-code processes often result in:

• Misaligned spacing and typography
• Inconsistent component behavior
• Lost design details in translation
• Extended development timelines
• Frustrated designers and developers

Our streamlined workflow solves these problems systematically.

Phase 1: Design System Foundation

Extract Design Tokens

Before writing any code, we extract design tokens from Figma:

// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      colors: {
        primary: "#C3F00F",
        dark: "#0A0A0A",
        "gray-light": "#F5F5F5",
      },
      fontFamily: {
        kanit: ["Kanit", "sans-serif"],
        exo2: ["Exo 2", "sans-serif"],
      },
      spacing: {
        18: "4.5rem",
        88: "22rem",
      },
    },
  },
};

Benefits:

• Single source of truth for styling
• Easy theme updates
• Consistent spacing across components
• Type-safe design values

Phase 2: Component Architecture

Build a Component Library

We create reusable components that match Figma components exactly:

// components/Button.tsx
interface ButtonProps {
  variant: "primary" | "secondary" | "outline";
  size: "sm" | "md" | "lg";
  children: React.ReactNode;
}

export default function Button({
  variant = "primary",
  size = "md",
  children,
}: ButtonProps) {
  const baseStyles = "font-kanit font-bold transition-all duration-300";

  const variants = {
    primary: "bg-primary text-dark hover:bg-primary/90",
    secondary: "bg-dark text-white hover:bg-dark/90",
    outline: "border-2 border-white text-white hover:bg-white hover:text-dark",
  };

  const sizes = {
    sm: "px-4 py-2 text-sm",
    md: "px-6 py-3 text-base",
    lg: "px-8 py-4 text-lg",
  };

  return (
    <button className={`${baseStyles} ${variants[variant]} ${sizes[size]}`}>
      {children}
    </button>
  );
}

Phase 3: Layout Implementation

Use Figma's Auto Layout

Figma's Auto Layout maps directly to Flexbox/Grid:

// Figma: Auto Layout with 24px gap, vertical direction
<div className="flex flex-col gap-6">
  {/* Figma: Auto Layout with 16px gap, horizontal direction */}
  <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
    <Icon />
    <Text />
  </div>
</div>

Pro Tips:

• Use Figma's measurement tools to verify spacing
• Pay attention to min/max width constraints
• Implement responsive breakpoints early

Phase 4: Typography Precision

Match Font Properties Exactly

// From Figma: Kanit Bold 48px, line-height 110%, tracking -0.02em
<h1 className="font-kanit font-bold text-[48px] leading-[110%] tracking-tight">
  Hero Headline
</h1>

Use Figma's inspect panel to extract:

• Font family and weight
• Font size
• Line height (convert to %)
• Letter spacing (convert to em)

Phase 5: Animation and Interactions

Implement Figma Prototypes in Code

import { motion } from "framer-motion";

export default function AnimatedCard() {
  return (
    <motion.div
      initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 20 }}
      whileInView={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
      viewport={{ once: true }}
      transition={{ duration: 0.6 }}
      whileHover={{ scale: 1.02 }}
      className="card"
    >
      Content
    </motion.div>
  );
}

Phase 6: Responsive Design

Mobile-First Approach

<div
  className="
  grid 
  grid-cols-1 
  md:grid-cols-2 
  lg:grid-cols-3 
  gap-4 
  md:gap-6 
  lg:gap-8
"
>
  {/* Content */}
</div>

Phase 7: Quality Assurance

Our QA Checklist:

✅ Pixel-perfect spacing (use browser DevTools) ✅ Correct typography across all breakpoints ✅ Smooth animations at 60fps ✅ Component states (hover, active, disabled) ✅ Accessibility (ARIA labels, keyboard navigation) ✅ Performance (Lighthouse score 90+)

Tools We Use

Essential Extensions:

• Figma Dev Mode: Export production-ready code
• Figma Tokens: Sync design tokens automatically
• Tailwind CSS IntelliSense: Autocomplete for classes
• React DevTools: Debug component hierarchy

Real Project Example

For a recent e-commerce client:

• 40 Figma screens → 100+ components
• Design-to-code time: 3 weeks
• Pixel accuracy: 98%
• Performance score: 95/100
• Zero design revisions needed post-development

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Not using design tokens: Leads to inconsistency
2. Hardcoding colors: Makes theme changes painful
3. Ignoring responsive design: Mobile users suffer
4. Skipping component planning: Results in code duplication
5. Not testing on real devices: Surprises in production

The Star Works Advantage

Our Figma-to-Next.js process ensures:

• ⚡ Faster development (50% time reduction)
• 🎯 Pixel-perfect accuracy (98%+ match rate)
• 🚀 Better performance (95+ Lighthouse scores)
• 🔄 Easy maintenance (modular component system)
• 😊 Happy clients (zero design revision requests)

Conclusion

Converting Figma designs to Next.js doesn't have to be challenging. With the right workflow, tools, and attention to detail, you can deliver exceptional results that satisfy both designers and end-users.

Ready to transform your Figma designs into a stunning Next.js application? Let's talk about your project.

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About the Author: Priya Sharma is a UI/UX Developer at Star Works specializing in design systems and Figma-to-code implementations. She has successfully delivered 50+ design-to-development projects.