Best Practices for Naming, Structuring & Organizing Figma Components

Messy Figma files can seriously slow down teams, break designs, and frustrate developers. If your components are still named things like “Frame 43” or buried in folders called “Stuff,” it’s time for a system-wide cleanup. This guide offers a set of proven best practices for naming, structuring, and organizing Figma components — all aimed at helping you build smarter, cleaner, and more scalable design systems. Whether you’re working solo or collaborating with a larger team, these strategies will help you stay efficient, aligned, and future-proof.

Start with a clear, hierarchical naming convention. Use slash-based naming in the asset panel to organize components in a logical structure — for example: “Button / Primary / Filled” or “Input / With Icon.” Always begin broad and narrow down (Component / Type / Variant). Consistency is key; stick to one naming convention (e.g., always use “Filled” instead of mixing “Solid” in some places) and avoid abbreviations unless they’re universally understood. This approach improves asset search, accelerates onboarding, and streamlines the handoff from design to development.

Next, structure your files based on system layers. Divide your design system into focused files or pages, each handling a different level of abstraction. For instance: “Foundations” for tokens, color styles, and grids; “Components” for basic UI elements like buttons and inputs; “Patterns” for reusable sections like forms or navbars; “Templates” for full screen designs; and “Docs” for usage guides and contribution rules. Smaller, modular files are easier to manage and load faster, which helps performance.

When it comes to components, take full advantage of Figma’s properties and variants. Rather than duplicating the same button in multiple versions, build a single component with variants for size, state, or icon placement. Use component properties to control text, toggle icons, or swap instances dynamically. For example, a “Button / Primary” component might support small, medium, and large sizes, include left or right icons, and cover states like default, hover, and loading. This keeps your system lighter, more adaptable, and easier to maintain.

Use component descriptions to support developers during handoff. Figma now allows you to add descriptions to components — use this space to explain logic, describe variant behavior, and offer tips for implementation. In Dev Mode, these descriptions instantly help developers understand the purpose and usage of a component, reducing friction and guesswork.

Maintain consistent layout logic throughout your system. Every component should use Auto Layout and follow predictable spacing and padding rules. Stick to token-driven dimensions (like --spacing-md) rather than arbitrary pixel values, and name layers clearly — avoid “Rectangle 91” or “Group 99” in favor of “Background / Card Surface” or “Text / Label Small.” Clean layer naming improves file readability and makes debugging much easier.

Don’t just stop at buttons and form fields. Build reusable blocks that bridge the gap between components and templates. Think pricing sections, feature lists, call-to-action strips, login flows, or table rows. These pre-structured building blocks speed up page design and create more cohesive user experiences across your product.

Lastly, document everything. Even the most organized system can fail if it’s used incorrectly. Include usage guidelines directly in your Figma files — simple “Do / Don’t” notes go a long way. Add a “Start Here” page to explain naming conventions, token logic, and how to contribute to the system. Tools like Notion, Zeroheight, or Figma’s native documentation features can help you centralize this knowledge and keep the team aligned.

Voit follows all of these best practices. From its slash-based naming to over 10,000 token-powered variants, Voit is built to scale. Every component is documented, structured across layers, and fully ready for Dev Mode. If you’re looking for a system that combines clarity, efficiency, and depth — Voit is worth exploring.

In the end, naming and organizing your design system may seem tedious, but the payoff is huge. Without structure, even the best design ideas get lost in the mess. A well-structured system saves time, reduces bugs, and makes collaboration smoother. Think of your design system not just as a file, but as a product — one that deserves the same care, clarity, and consistency.

‍