A Figma UX checklist saves you from the moment we all dread: dev says “It looked fine in the file,“ and marketing says “It reads weird on mobile,“ and suddenly your launch date starts sweating. We have seen this pattern on WordPress and WooCommerce builds more times than we would like to admit.
Quick answer: treat your Figma file like a product spec, not an artboard pile. Scope first, build a stable foundation, design the happy path, run accessibility checks, test a simple prototype, then hand off to WordPress with clear acceptance criteria.
Key Takeaways
- Use a Figma UX checklist to treat your design file like a product spec—define scope, success metrics, and constraints before you touch frames to prevent rework and launch surprises.
- Build a reliable Figma foundation with clear pages, naming/versioning, and reusable styles/variables so WordPress and WooCommerce handoffs stay consistent and fast.
- Design the happy path first (landing → browse/detail → cart/checkout or lead form) and then cover real-world states like errors, empty/loading, and stock scenarios to reduce developer guesswork and bugs.
- Bake accessibility into the workflow by checking WCAG 2.2 AA contrast, readable type scales, 44×44 tap targets, and logical keyboard focus order directly in Figma.
- Prototype only to answer the riskiest questions, run 5–8 usability tests with task-based scripts, and iterate with a simple change log to keep decisions aligned.
- Close the Figma UX checklist with a developer handoff and acceptance criteria—annotate breakpoints/behaviors, export clean SVGs and optimized images, and verify SEO fields and Core Web Vitals-ready performance in staging.
Define The UX Scope Before You Touch Any Frames
If you skip scope, your Figma UX checklist turns into a vibe check. Scope keeps the work small, testable, and shippable.
Clarify The Primary User, Job-To-Be-Done, And Success Metric
Pick one primary user for the first pass. Not “everyone with a credit card.“ A real person with a real goal.
Use a simple line:
- User: who they are (new shopper, returning customer, clinic admin, restaurant manager)
- Job-to-be-done: what they came to do (book, buy, compare, request a quote)
- Success metric: what you will measure (checkout completion, form submits, demo requests, average order value)
Entity logic matters here: a clear user definition affects design decisions. It stops random features from sneaking in.
If you run an eCommerce site, you can tie success to numbers you already track in GA4 or your platform reports. If you run lead gen, you can tie it to qualified form fills and call clicks.
Set Constraints: Devices, Accessibility Level, Content Sources, And Deadline
Constraints keep you honest. They also keep you from building a “desktop masterpiece” that breaks on an iPhone.
Decide this up front:
- Devices: mobile-first, desktop-first, or equal priority
- Breakpoints: pick the ones your WordPress theme will really support
- Accessibility level: aim for WCAG 2.2 AA unless you have a reason not to
- Content sources: who owns product copy, photos, policies, and FAQs
- Deadline: and what gets cut first if time runs short
A deadline affects scope. Scope affects quality. That chain is normal. The trick is to make it explicit.
Audit Inputs: Brand, Analytics, SEO Targets, And Existing Pages
Before we design anything, we collect the stuff that already exists:
- Brand rules: logo usage, colors, type, photography style
- Analytics: top landing pages, top exits, device split, conversion rate
- SEO targets: priority pages and intent (buy, compare, learn, local)
- Existing pages: what already works, what users complain about
If you have Search Console data, use it. A query report affects page layout because it reveals intent.
For WordPress projects, we often map this audit into a simple content inventory. If you want a companion read, see our guide on WordPress SEO basics for small business sites.
Build A Reliable Figma Foundation (So Teams Stop Re-Doing Work)
A Figma UX checklist is not only about screens. It is about repeatable decisions. Your foundation makes that repeatable.
Pages, Naming, And Versioning That Survive Handoffs
Set up your file so another human can ship it without telepathy.
We use pages like:
- 00 Read Me (scope, links, decisions, owners)
- 01 IA + Flows
- 02 Components
- 03 Templates (page layouts)
- 04 Screens
- 05 Prototype
Naming rules:
- Frames start with platform:
M-orD- - Components start with group:
Button/Primary,Form/Input - Variants follow state:
Default,Hover,Focus,Disabled,Error
Versioning: use Figma’s built-in history, and write short notes like “Checkout error states added.“ Notes affect speed because they cut rework.
Styles And Variables For Color, Type, Spacing, And Tokens
Do not hard-code colors on every layer. Your future self will hate you.
Create:
- Color styles (surface, text, border, semantic states)
- Type styles (H1, H2, body, label, caption)
- Spacing tokens (4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48)
Variables affect consistency. Consistency affects trust. And trust affects conversion. That is not poetic, it is just how users behave.
Components With Clear States: Hover, Focus, Error, Loading, Empty
Most projects fail in the states, not the defaults.
Build components that include:
- Buttons: default, hover, focus, disabled, loading
- Inputs: default, focus, filled, error, success
- Cards: normal, hover, selected
- Tables/lists: empty state, loading skeleton
If you design for WooCommerce, include:
- out of stock
- backorder
- coupon applied
- shipping estimate unavailable
State coverage affects developer guesses. Developer guesses affect bugs.
Design The Happy Path First, Then Cover The Real World
We always start with the happy path because it gives you a spine. Then we stress-test it with reality.
Information Architecture And Navigation Rules
Write navigation rules in plain English:
- What lives in the top nav?
- What lives in the footer?
- When do we use search?
- What pages must exist for trust? (shipping, returns, privacy, contact)
IA affects findability. Findability affects time-on-site. Time-on-site affects conversions when intent is high.
For content-heavy WordPress sites, we often sketch categories and tags early so the CMS structure matches the UX.
Key Screen Flows: Landing, Browse, Detail, Form, Checkout Or Lead Capture
Your Figma UX checklist should force you to design the money flows:
- Landing page to next click
- Browse to filters to selection
- Product detail to add-to-cart
- Cart to checkout
- Checkout to confirmation
For lead gen:
- Landing to proof to form
- Form to thank-you
- Thank-you to next step (call booking, email confirmation)
Flow clarity affects drop-offs. Drop-offs affect revenue. This is where “pretty” stops mattering.
Microcopy And Content Checks: Clarity, Reading Level, And Trust Signals
Microcopy is UX. It tells the user what happens next.
Check:
- Button labels: “Pay now” beats “Submit” in checkout
- Error messages: say what to fix, not what went wrong
- Form labels: avoid clever. Choose clear.
- Reading level: keep it simple unless you serve a specialist audience
Trust signals that often move the needle:
- shipping and returns near the buy button
- security and payment icons (used honestly)
- real contact options
- reviews with dates
If you build in WordPress, you also need content ownership. Someone must update policies and FAQs after launch. Stale copy affects trust fast.
If you want a practical companion, our website copywriting for service businesses pairs well with this step.
Accessibility Checks You Can Run Inside Figma
Accessibility is not a final polish step. It is a design input. And yes, you can do a lot of it inside Figma.
Color Contrast, Type Scale, And Tap Targets
Start with contrast.
- Use contrast checking tools and aim for WCAG AA
- Avoid light gray text on white backgrounds (it always fails somewhere)
- Keep body text readable on mobile
Tap targets:
- Aim for at least about 44 by 44 CSS pixels for touch controls
Bigger targets affect usability. Better usability affects completion rates.
Keyboard And Focus Order: Visible Focus And Logical Progression
Even if you never ship a keyboard-only product, you still need a logical focus order.
Design:
- visible focus rings
- focus states for links and buttons
- a clear order through forms and modals
Focus order affects assistive tech users. It also affects power users who tab through forms.
Error Prevention And Recovery: Validation, Inline Help, And Alerts
Most “bad UX” shows up when something goes wrong.
Add:
- inline validation for email and phone
- password rules shown before the error
- clear alert text for failed payments
- confirmation for destructive actions
Error recovery affects support volume. Support volume affects team stress. We like fewer tickets.
Sources for accessibility baselines:
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (W3C, 2023)
- Touch target size guidance (W3C, 2023)
Prototype And Test Without Overbuilding
You do not need a movie-quality prototype to learn something. You need a prototype that answers the risk question.
Choose Prototype Fidelity: Clickable Wireframes Vs High-Fidelity
Pick fidelity based on what you need to learn:
- Clickable wireframes: test flow, labels, order, and confusion points
- High-fidelity: test trust, brand feel, and visual hierarchy
High fidelity affects stakeholder confidence. Wireframes affect speed. Choose the tool for the job.
Usability Test Script: Tasks, Time-On-Task, And Drop-Off Notes
Keep testing simple. We run 5 to 8 sessions and listen for repeated confusion.
Write tasks like:
- “Find a product under $50 and check shipping cost.”
- “Book an appointment for next Tuesday.”
Track:
- time-on-task
- where they hesitate
- where they quit
- what they say out loud
User friction affects conversion. Your notes tell you where the friction lives.
Iterate With A Change Log And Decision Notes
This is the part teams skip, then they argue later.
Keep a small log:
- change
- reason
- date
- owner
Decision notes affect alignment. Alignment affects speed when you build it in WordPress.
If you want to go deeper on controlled rollouts, our WordPress staging checklist helps you ship changes without breaking production.
Developer Handoff For WordPress And WooCommerce Builds
A Figma UX checklist must end with handoff rules. Handoff affects build time, and build time affects budget.
Annotate Behaviors: Breakpoints, Sticky Elements, And Animations
Do not make developers guess.
Annotate:
- breakpoints and layout shifts
- sticky headers and when they collapse
- hover and focus behavior
- modal open and close behavior
- error display timing
Behavior clarity affects QA. QA affects launch stability.
Asset Export, SVG Hygiene, And Image Performance Requirements
WordPress sites win when assets stay clean.
Checklist:
- export icons as clean SVG
- avoid strange masks and hidden layers
- name assets like
icon-search.svg - define image sizes per template
- set performance rules (WebP where possible, compress uploads)
Asset hygiene affects page speed. Page speed affects SEO and conversion.
Reference for performance and search signals:
- Core Web Vitals (Google Search Central, regularly updated)
Acceptance Checklist: What “Done” Means In Staging
Define done before build starts. We use a short acceptance list:
- responsive layouts match approved breakpoints
- components match Figma styles and states
- forms validate and show errors clearly
- checkout or lead capture works end to end
- exports and icons look sharp on retina screens
- content and SEO fields exist in WordPress (titles, meta, schema where needed)
- accessibility checks pass for contrast and focus
Staging acceptance affects launch confidence. Launch confidence affects how fast you can run the next experiment.
Conclusion
A Figma UX checklist is not busywork. It is how we keep projects calm. Scope reduces surprises. Components reduce rework. States reduce bugs. Testing reduces guesswork.
If you want to put this into a real WordPress or WooCommerce pipeline, start small: pick one flow, run the checklist, ship it, measure the result, then expand. That rhythm keeps teams sane.
If you would like us to review your Figma file before development, we can do a quick UX and handoff audit and tell you what will break in WordPress, what will slow down build time, and what will confuse users.
Frequently Asked Questions about a Figma UX Checklist
What is a Figma UX checklist, and why should I use one before development?
A Figma UX checklist is a step-by-step QA process that treats your Figma file like a product spec, not a pile of artboards. It reduces rework and launch surprises by clarifying scope, building a solid component foundation, covering real UI states, checking accessibility, testing a prototype, and defining WordPress-ready acceptance criteria.
How do I define UX scope in a Figma UX checklist before designing screens?
Start by naming one primary user, their job-to-be-done, and a measurable success metric (like checkout completion or qualified form fills). Then set constraints—devices and breakpoints, target accessibility level (often WCAG 2.2 AA), content owners, and deadline. This keeps the work small, testable, and shippable.
What should a reliable Figma foundation include for clean handoffs?
A strong foundation includes clear file pages (Read Me, IA/Flows, Components, Templates, Screens, Prototype), consistent naming for frames and components, and usable version notes. Add styles and variables for color, type, and spacing tokens, plus components that include hover, focus, error, loading, and empty states to prevent developer guesswork.
Which accessibility checks can you run inside Figma as part of a Figma UX checklist?
In Figma, you can check color contrast against WCAG targets, ensure readable type scale on mobile, and design touch controls around ~44×44 CSS pixels. You should also design visible focus rings and logical focus order for forms and modals, plus clear inline validation and recovery messages for errors and failed actions.
Clickable wireframe or high-fidelity prototype—which is best for testing?
Use clickable wireframes when you need to validate flow, labels, and task order quickly. Choose high-fidelity prototypes when you must test trust, brand feel, and visual hierarchy. A good rule is to match prototype fidelity to the biggest risk: confusion and drop-offs usually need speed, while credibility often needs polish.
How do I hand off a Figma UX checklist to WordPress or WooCommerce without delays?
Annotate behaviors like breakpoints, sticky headers, hover/focus states, modal timing, and error display rules. Keep exports clean (named SVGs, no hidden masks), define image sizes and performance requirements (WebP where possible), and agree on “done” in staging—responsive match, component states, form validation, SEO fields, and accessibility checks.
Some of the links shared in this post are affiliate links. If you click on the link & make any purchase, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost of you.
We improve our products and advertising by using Microsoft Clarity to see how you use our website. By using our site, you agree that we and Microsoft can collect and use this data. Our privacy policy has more details.
