Instantly Convert Figma to Code Using Figma MCP: A Complete UseCase

🚀 Why Figma MCP Is a Game-Changer

In daily development processes, after Figma completes the UI design, it is handed over to developers for subsequent code development. In the past, this required significant development resources and long cycles. In recent years, some Figma to code plugins have emerged, but the conversion effects and workflows were not very satisfactory. After the advent of AI IDEs, using Figma screenshots to generate UI code with the IDE improved the results, but the fidelity to the design was not high. That changed dramatically with the introduction of Figma MCP.

🔍 What Is Figma MCP?

Figma MCP allows AI editors to transform your Figma designs into clean front-end code using structured design data—not just images. Below, I will use Figma Context MCP, one of the two popular community implementations of Figma MCP (the other being cursor-talk-to-figma-mcp), to demonstrate how to instantly convert Figma designs into front-end code. There's also an official implementation—Figma Dev Mode MCP Beta, released on June 4, 2025—which provides deeper integration within Figma's Dev Mode interface. In this article, we focus on the community version for hands-on learning while sharing the project's workflow, analyzing the principles of Figma Context MCP, and highlighting potential considerations from my perspective.

🧪 Figma MCP Usecase: Convert a Figma Login Page into Code

First, let's look at the results. I selected a login design page from the Figma template community as a test file and converted it into code. After running the code, I found that it almost perfectly matched the design—very impressive. The entire conversion process was smooth, and the fidelity of the result was high.

My Runtime Environment:

• Cursor 1.1.3 : Agent mode (Auto Run) + Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Thinking)

• Figma Desktop App version 125.5.6

Prompt Used:

Please implement this Figma design into HTML.  

Figma File: https://www.figma.com/design/9pq4u5zyCxKjWpk4o9bPyq/LoginUIConcept--Community-?node-id=2-2&t=vRovHFc5sHV3qiPE-4  

Requirements:  
1. Use Tailwind CSS via CDN, and do not use any traditional CSS or <style> tags.  
2. Provide clean, modular, and well-structured HTML code for all pages included in the design.  
3. Ensure that the code is readable and easy to maintain.  
4. For any missing or placeholder images in the Figma design, use appropriate Unsplash images as default plugin cover images.Please implement this Figma design into HTML.  

Figma File: https://www.figma.com/design/9pq4u5zyCxKjWpk4o9bPyq/LoginUIConcept--Community-?node-id=2-2&t=vRovHFc5sHV3qiPE-4  

Requirements:  
1. Use Tailwind CSS via CDN, and do not use any traditional CSS or <style> tags.  
2. Provide clean, modular, and well-structured HTML code for all pages included in the design.  
3. Ensure that the code is readable and easy to maintain.  
4. For any missing or placeholder images in the Figma design, use appropriate Unsplash images as default plugin cover images.

My GitHub Project:

If you're interested, you can follow my steps to reproduce the Figma design to code process and share it with fellow MCP enthusiasts.

🛠 Getting Started with Figma Context MCP for Code Generation

1. Prerequisites

• Node.js.

• A Figma account with access to personal access tokens.

2. Prepare Your Figma Design File and Generate Your Figma API Access Token

• Prepare your Figma design file.

• Visit Figma Personal Access Tokens, create a token, and copy it securely.

3. Choose an AI Editor/IDE/ChatBot

• Use an AI IDE/Editor/ChatBot that supports MCP (e.g., Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Claude, etc.).

• Open Agent mode and select an LLM that supports MCP (in Cursor; similar in other editors).

4. Add Figma MCP Server Config to Your AI Editor

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Figma MCP": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "figma-developer-mcp",
        "--figma-api-key=YOUR-KEY",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Figma MCP": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "figma-developer-mcp",
        "--figma-api-key=YOUR-KEY",
        "--stdio"
      ]
    }
  }
}

5. Chat with Your Editor

• Select a Figma frame or group link and paste it into the editor.

• Write a prompt based on your needs to have the editor generate the UI code

Please implement this Figma design into HTML/React:
<Figma Link>Please implement this Figma design into HTML/React:
<Figma Link>

⚙️ How Figma MCP Works: Behind the Scenes of Design-to-Code

The Figma MCP server connects your Figma designs to AI editors using the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It allows AI models to access structured design data like layouts, styles, and components—much better than using screenshots. This helps the AI generate cleaner, more accurate code right away.

Working Principle:

1. MCP Server

• Runs locally as a command-line tool.

• Listens on stdin/stdout using the MCP (Model Context Protocol).

2. Connects to Figma

• When you paste a Figma link in an AI editor (e.g., Cursor), the editor calls the MCP tool with a command (get_figma_data).

• Uses your Figma API token to fetch design data (files, nodes, images).

3. Simplifies Design Data

• Raw Figma data is large and noisy.

• MCP extracts only key info: layout, styles, text, components.

4. Handles Images

• Supports downloading icons, backgrounds, etc. (download_figma_images).

• Saves images temporarily for use in the editor.

5. Generates Code

• The editor uses the cleaned data to generate ready-to-use UI code (like HTML/CSS, iOS, Android).

AI Editor Tool Calls Demonstration:

• Called get_figma_data

metadata: 
  name: LoginUIConcept (Community) 
  lastModified: '2025-06-17T08:09:57Z' 
  thumbnailUrl: >- https://s3-alpha.figma.com/thumbnails/004210db-f4b4-4651-914d-4924ba05a14d
nodes: 
  - id: '0:1' 
    name: Page 1 
    type: CANVAS 
    children: 
      - id: '9:41' 
        name: ProjectData 
        type: FRAME 
        fills: fill_FFOEV8 
        layout: layout_YFI4QRmetadata: 
  name: LoginUIConcept (Community) 
  lastModified: '2025-06-17T08:09:57Z' 
  thumbnailUrl: >- https://s3-alpha.figma.com/thumbnails/004210db-f4b4-4651-914d-4924ba05a14d
nodes: 
  - id: '0:1' 
    name: Page 1 
    type: CANVAS 
    children: 
      - id: '9:41' 
        name: ProjectData 
        type: FRAME 
        fills: fill_FFOEV8 
        layout: layout_YFI4QR

To implement the Figma design into HTML/Tailwind CSS, we need to call get_figma_data to examine the design and understand what we're building.

• Called download_figma_images

{
  "fileKey": "9pq4u5zyCxKjWpk4o9bPyq",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "nodeId": "4:2",
      "fileName": "blob1.svg"
    },
    {
      "nodeId": "4:5",
      "fileName": "main-image.svg"
    },
    {
      "nodeId": "2:30",
      "fileName": "google-icon.svg"
    }
  ],
  "localPath": "/Users/Me/data/next/mcp/usecases/figma-mcp-demo2/images"
}{
  "fileKey": "9pq4u5zyCxKjWpk4o9bPyq",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "nodeId": "4:2",
      "fileName": "blob1.svg"
    },
    {
      "nodeId": "4:5",
      "fileName": "main-image.svg"
    },
    {
      "nodeId": "2:30",
      "fileName": "google-icon.svg"
    }
  ],
  "localPath": "/Users/Me/data/next/mcp/usecases/figma-mcp-demo2/images"
}

• Then, call the download_figma_images tool to download the necessary images from the Figma design.

• Based on the Figma design, create the HTML implementation using Tailwind CSS.

At this point, I've completed the Case Study, installation process, and working principles. I'll take a break and then continue with the remaining sections.

🆚 Compare Figma MCP Implementations: Community vs Official

Earlier in the article, we mentioned the three main Figma MCP implementations available today. In addition to Figma Context MCP that we've been exploring, there's cursor-talk-to-figma-mcp (another community implementation) and Figma's official Dev Mode MCP Beta. Each serves different use cases and workflows. Here, I'll present a comparison of all three implementations to help you choose the best option for your specific needs and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the Figma MCP ecosystem.

For personal projects and open workflows, Figma Context MCP offers the best mix of simplicity and power. For teams using Figma Dev Mode, the official MCP may offer deeper integration.

🧭 Best Practices for Figma Design-to-Code with MCP

1. Choose Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Thinking): As of June 2025.

2. Use semantic naming for Figma layers and elements.

3. Select an appropriate scope for code generation to manage the AI Editor's LLM window size.

4. Write effective prompts that clearly specify your Figma to code requirements. These practices ensure that your Figma to Code workflow powered by Figma MCP remains stable and scalable.

📌 Final Thoughts: Evaluating Figma MCP's Impact and Limitations

After working extensively with Figma Context MCP, I believe it represents a significant milestone in the design-to-development workflow. Let me share my honest assessment of what makes this tool remarkable and where it still has room to grow.

Why This Matters

Figma MCP fundamentally changes how we think about the handoff between designers and developers. Instead of the traditional back-and-forth process of translating visual designs into code, we now have a direct bridge that maintains design fidelity while dramatically reducing development time. This is particularly valuable for rapid MVP development and Figma design to code automation workflows.

Advantages:

• Simple yet powerful, ideal for quickly converting designs into front-end pages with high fidelity.

• Supports both Figma Web and Desktop versions, unlike Figma Dev Mode, which is restricted to Desktop.

• Free to use, while Figma Dev Mode requires a paid plan.

Limitations:

• Limited functionality, providing only two tools (get_figma_data, download_figma_images), and supports only one-way design-to-code operations without the ability to modify designs.

Note: This article focuses on using Cursor with Figma MCP to convert designs into HTML client code and does not explore conversions for other platforms. However, Figma MCP Server supports code generation for any platform (e.g., HTML & CSS, iOS, Android) and integrates with any MCP-supporting editor.

References:

1. Figma Design File: https://www.figma.com/community/file/1026170425902325131/loginuiconcept

2. Figma Access Tokens: https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/8085703771159-Manage-personal-access-tokens

3. GitHub Project:

• Figma Context MCP: https://github.com/GLips/Figma-Context-MCP

• Figma MCP Usecase: https://github.com/thirteenv0/figma-mcp-usecase