Using Figma variants for better error handling design

Product designers, inherently optimistic, often focus on ideal scenarios, which can lead to overlooking potential failure modes in a product's design. Unlike developers, who routinely anticipate and test for errors, designers tend to critique their work mainly for aesthetic and usability issues, often neglecting error handling and interaction failures. This gap highlights the need for better communication and collaboration between designers and developers to address both product-side and user-side errors. Modern tools like Figma, with features such as variants and auto-layout, have improved the ability to design multiple states for components, making it easier for designers to manage and document error states efficiently. These advancements help bridge the gap between design and development, fostering a more seamless integration of error handling in user interfaces. As design tools evolve, they increasingly support the creation of nuanced, state-rich prototypes, enabling designers to better parallel the work of developers and enhancing the overall user experience.