In this article, we’ll show you how we use Figma branching in practice.
We’ll cover our top use cases and the real benefits we’ve noticed after starting to use it.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What is Figma branching?
Figma branching lets you work on changes in an isolated “branch” of a file without touching the main file.
A branch is where you can explore changes and new ideas. You can iterate, validate ideas, and collect feedback without risking accidental edits to work that’s already in use.
When the work in a branch is ready, you compare it with the main file. Figma shows a clear before-and-after view of what changed.
From there, you can resolve conflicts if needed and merge the branch back into main.
The goal is simple: keep the main file stable while still allowing fast and focused iteration.
Branching is especially useful on active projects. It helps us:
Avoid overwriting each other’s work
Keep changes traceable and reviewable
Separate exploration from approved design
Maintain a clean file that developers can trust
Figma’s official documentation explains the mechanics in detail, like how to create branches, request reviews, and merge changes.
We’ll show you how we use branching at DECODE to keep design and development on the same page.
How we use Figma branching at DECODE
At DECODE, once a project moves past the earliest stages, branching is the default way we handle meaningful design changes.
We want to keep the main file stable, clear, and trustworthy, while giving our designers space to work without friction.
So, how do we do it?
Every branch has a reviewer who isn’t the author.
Reviews validate changes before they reach main. They help catch logic gaps, missing states, and implementation risks early, when fixing them is still cheap.
The reviewer depends on the type of change:
QA engineers validate flows, edge cases, and overall consistency and testability.
Frontend engineers check UI feasibility, design system alignment, and interaction constraints.
Backend engineers weigh in on data, logic, and system constraints for early or complex work.
PMs validate scope, priorities, and client feedback.
Designers review each other’s work on shared projects.
We have a straightforward rule of thumb: if a change affects implementation or scope, the relevant role should review it.
This means designers don’t make product decisions in isolation and developers don’t uncover issues once work is already well underway.
Branching only works if files stay clean and predictable.
Branch naming is key to making it work in practice. Names should make it obvious what the branch is about and how it connects to development work.
We name branches so they map directly to real work the team is doing.
For features and flows, that usually means Jira task keys with a short description. Designers, developers, and PMs can then reference the same task without extra explanation.
For example:
PROJ-12 Client dashboard
PROJ-22 User profile settings
PROJ-27 Onboarding flow
PROJ-41 Edit file modal
This keeps design changes readable from a development point of view.
When we work on design system branches, we follow a slightly different rule.
We name them after the components or patterns being changed, since these updates often affect multiple parts of the product.
For example:
Button + IconButton
Modal header pattern
TextField + TextArea
This makes it immediately clear when a branch impacts the frontend and helps developers focus on exactly what changed.
And most importantly, we protect the main file.
It stays demoable and handoff-ready at all times. It reflects the approved, real state of the product, not experiments or half-finished ideas.
When something is merged into main, it sends a clear signal to the rest of the team that the work is ready to move forward.
Next up, we’ll discuss the top use cases for branching in a bit more detail.
Feature and flow updates
Feature and flow updates are the most common use case for branching.
Once a project is moving, we make most meaningful updates happen in their own branch.
This includes iterating on existing flows or designing new ones that are meant to go into development.
Each branch represents a clear unit of work – a feature, a revised user journey, or a defined set of changes tied to a task.
So, when anyone on the team sees a branch, they immediately know what it relates to and who needs to review it.
Our reviews are lightweight but consistent. Everyone knows what to review and why.
Branching updates keeps iteration fast without creating confusion.
Our designers can refine ideas, reviewers can give focused input, and developers can work from a clear, reliable file.
Client workshops
Client workshops are one of the clearest cases where Figma branching pays off.
For us, a workshop usually means a lot of ideas, fast feedback, and decisions that evolve as the conversation evolves.
Branches let us capture all of that without destabilizing the main file.
We typically create a separate branch for each workshop or major feedback round. That branch becomes the workspace for everything we discussed in that session, including:
New ideas
Alternative directions
Open questions
Client comments
This is important for a few reasons.
First, it keeps the main file clean. Second, it gives structure to the feedback we received during the workshop.
Instead of comments being scattered across the file, all workshop-related changes are grouped together.
That makes it much easier to review the discussion and major changes afterwards.
And third, it makes our progress visible.
After each workshop, we can clearly show “what changed since last time” by comparing the workshop branch with the main.
Design system changes
Design system changes carry more weight than other design updates.
A small tweak can affect dozens of screens and flow through directly to frontend code. That’s why we always handle them in dedicated branches.
Once a design system is in place, any meaningful change happens in its own branch. This includes updates to:
Tokens or variables
Component structure
Variants
Patterns
Documentation
Our goal is to isolate frontend-impacting changes and make them easy to review.
Frontend engineers need full visibility and Figma’s visual comparison helps a lot in this context.
They can see exactly what changed, even small adjustments like spacing, border radius, or state behavior.
We merge design system branches only when changes are approved and ready to be built. That keeps things clear for both design and development.
Key benefits of Figma branching
Next, we’ll cover the main benefits we noticed after we started using branching in Figma.
Improved quality control
Figma branching improves quality by adding a clear review step.
Every branch gets reviewed by someone else on the team.
QA checks flows and edge cases, PMs validate scope and intent, and developers flag implementation risks early.
This means that design decisions don’t depend on just the designer’s point of view.
Just as important, we can catch issues and bugs much sooner.
Instead of developers finding gaps mid-development, we catch them when they’re easier to fix and development doesn’t stall.
Standardization and better operational efficiency
Branching helps us stay organized as projects grow and evolve.
By using consistent branch naming, reviews, and merge rules,our Figma files stay predictable.
Anyone on our design team can open a file and quickly understand what’s in progress, what’s approved, and what’s ready for development.
So, if someone has to join mid-project or fill in temporarily for a teammate, they don’t need a detailed walkthrough to get started.
That consistency saves us a lot of time and benefits everyone on the team.
Developers don’t have to guess which design is final. PMs can see what’s waiting for review and what’s already approved without digging through endless comment chains.
Branching also keeps our files healthy.
Before branching, the easiest way to version like this was duplicating specific pages. Over time, that slows files down and makes them much harder to navigate.
Branching avoids that by keeping changes isolated and easy to merge or close.
The result is we spend less time searching or cleaning up bloated design files, and more time actually doing the work.
Better communication between design and development
Figma branching gives design and development a shared language.
Instead of relying on Slack messages or ad-hoc meetings, branches show what’s in progress, what changed, and what’s ready.
For developers, this is critical.
When they open the file, they don’t need to guess which screens are exploratory or outdated. If it’s in main, it’s approved and ready for development.
And when a designer requests a review, reviewers see a direct comparison between the branch and main. That makes even small changes obvious.
Merging a branch sends a clear message that the work is approved and development can move forward.
And the result is less back-and-forth and fewer misunderstandings.
Figma branching: FAQs
Each branch should represent a meaningful unit of work.
A feature, a flow update, a workshop outcome, or a design system change. Too many tiny branches creates noise and makes reviews harder.
If a branch is hard to explain in one sentence, it’s probably too big.
Leaving branches open after they’re merged into main.
Unmerged, abandoned branches can lead to confusion down the line.
Regular cleanup and clear merge decisions are key to making the most out of branching.
No. Even small teams benefit from having a stable main file and a clear review step.
In fact, branching is often more valuable when you have only one designer on a project, because it introduces shared responsibility and early validation of all design decisions.
Conclusion
We use Figma branching because it makes day-to-day work clearer.
And everyone on the team benefits from that.
This is how we like to work at DECODE. Making transparent decisions and keeping design and development closely connected.
If you want to hear how this looks from the inside, check out our Roles, Revealed series on YouTube.
Our product designers talk openly about their role, how they work with engineers and PMs, and how practices like this shape real projects.
Matej sees product design from every angle. He started in graphic design, studied Economics, and even dabbled in development - giving him a rare mix of structured thinking, client perspective, and deep empathy for users. That 360-degree view helps him design world-class UIs while keeping complex systems intuitive and seamless.
A night owl at heart, he’s just as obsessed with typography as he is with the NBA. Whether he's fine-tuning pixels or analyzing late-night basketball games, Matej is all about the details that make a difference.
