Optimizing CMS Designs for Research Websites and Figma Workflow Tips

Rajiv · 2024-07-23T12:23:08.721Z

Two questions: 1. I’m building a comprehensive CMS website that is for research / knowledge. It contains different types of content (with their own page design), but I want them to be part of the same collection. Is the best way of doing this to create different designs, and then to apply ‘conditional visibility’ on a design based on the type of content (e.g. blog vs event). It seems the only way to combine items into a single collection list is to ensure they are part of the same CMS. 2. When designing on Figma, do you start with an auto-layout applied to elements? Or, do people start with free designs and then apply auto-layout afterwards?

Rajiv

·Jul 23, 2024 12:23 PM

Two questions:

1.
I’m building a comprehensive CMS website that is for research / knowledge. It contains different types of content (with their own page design), but I want them to be part of the same collection. Is the best way of doing this to create different designs, and then to apply ‘conditional visibility’ on a design based on the type of content (e.g. blog vs event). It seems the only way to combine items into a single collection list is to ensure they are part of the same CMS.
2.
When designing on Figma, do you start with an auto-layout applied to elements? Or, do people start with free designs and then apply auto-layout afterwards?

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1 comment

· Sorted by Oldest

Matt J.
·
Rajiv
1.
Yeah that is definitely one way to do it, likely the easiest way too. My concern with this setup is how often is this collection being updated? If the collection items are known - and not changing often - then I would go this route. If they are not known and change often, I would look at webflow component slots and taking a hard look at the design system for these pages.
2.
I was resistant to auto layout at first but now I pretty much use it for everything - so yeah start with the main components detached but keep auto layout on unless absolutely necessary to turn off.

Matt J.
·
Rajiv
1.
Yeah that is definitely one way to do it, likely the easiest way too. My concern with this setup is how often is this collection being updated? If the collection items are known - and not changing often - then I would go this route. If they are not known and change often, I would look at webflow component slots and taking a hard look at the design system for these pages.
2.
I was resistant to auto layout at first but now I pretty much use it for everything - so yeah start with the main components detached but keep auto layout on unless absolutely necessary to turn off.