Designing Better Framer Sites From Scratch

Framer has changed how designers build websites. It removes friction between design and development, allowing ideas to move from concept to live product faster than ever. But that speed comes with a risk: skipping structure.

Great Framer sites aren’t the result of dragging components onto a canvas. They’re the result of clear design thinking before the build begins.

Design First, Framer Second

One of the most common mistakes designers make is treating Framer like a blank playground. While experimentation is part of the process, starting without a plan leads to inconsistent layouts and hard-to-maintain pages.

Before opening Framer, you should already understand:

• Page structure and hierarchy

• Content priorities

• Grid and spacing rules

• Responsive behavior across breakpoints

Framer works best when it’s used as a builder, not a sketchpad.

Responsive Design Is Not Optional

Framer makes responsive behavior easy, which is exactly why it’s often underestimated. Designers rely on auto layout and resizing, assuming everything will “just work.”

In reality, responsive design still requires intent:

• Define how sections stack on smaller screens

• Adjust spacing and font sizes manually when needed

• Test layouts across real breakpoints, not just previews

A responsive Framer site feels designed, not compressed.

Keep Interactions Subtle and Purposeful

Framer’s animation tools are one of its biggest strengths—but also its biggest temptation. Too many interactions quickly turn a polished site into a distracting experience.

Effective motion in Framer should:

• Reinforce hierarchy

• Provide feedback

• Guide attention

• Feel fast and intentional

If an animation doesn’t improve clarity or usability, it probably doesn’t belong.

Content Flexibility Matters

Many Framer sites look great on launch day but break when real content is added. Designing with placeholder text or perfect image ratios creates fragile layouts.

Design with reality in mind:

• Long headlines

• Short descriptions

• Missing images

• Dynamic CMS content

Flexible layouts survive change. Rigid ones don’t.

Optimize for Editing and Iteration

A well-designed Framer site should be easy to update—not just for you, but for anyone else touching the project later.

To keep sites maintainable:

• Avoid deeply nested layers

• Keep component structure simple

• Reuse styles consistently

• Name elements clearly

Future edits should feel safe, not risky.

Final Thoughts

Framer rewards designers who respect structure as much as aesthetics. The best Framer sites feel effortless because the thinking behind them wasn’t.

Design with intention first.
Build with Framer second.
Scale without friction.