Create sleek, interactive prototypes in Figma while mastering interface design. The course connects creativity and usability in real-world digital projects.
Learn Figma for UI/UX design. Gain a thorough understanding of Figma’s design and prototyping capabilities, from creating designs, turning the into interactive prototypes, sharing them with clients for feedback, and getting user feedback.
Start learning Figma for UI/UX design. Gain a solid understanding of its capabilities, from creating files, to designing on a grid, working with text/photos/colors, creating components, building prototypes, exporting assets, sharing files, creating animations, and more.
Learn the skills to become a UX/UI Designer. This course covers design concepts, industry tools like Figma, and research methodologies. Get career-focused training, build a portfolio, and receive one-on-one mentoring and prepare for a career in UX/UI design.
In this certificate program, you will become a well-rounded Web Designer and learn to design webpages, code them with HTML & CSS, and JavaScript, and build websites with WordPress, allowing you to create a diverse portfolio to showcase your skills to potential employers or clients.
Gain essential skills in UI design for websites and mobile apps, including composition, typography, color, and attention to interactivity. Develop a portfolio showcasing your design projects and earn a NY State-approved certificate in UI Design.
Become a well-rounded Digital Designer by learning essential Adobe applications, Figma for UI design, and key design concepts and theory. Develop a comprehensive understanding of design concepts, processes, and workflows, create great-looking modern designs, and showcase them in a portfolio.
Figma is a collaborative user interface design tool. It is free and can be run from a web browser, which makes it accessible to both PC and Mac users. In addition, it allows users to collaborate in real-time. This application is used for a wide variety of design projects, including websites and applications. It is very popular worldwide and is used by people in more than 235 countries and territories, according to the Figma website, with the majority of users based outside the United States. Figma was founded in 2012 by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace, released as a closed beta in 2015, and publicly launched in 2016. Since then, there have been numerous additions and updates. For instance, the digital collaboration and planning tool, Figjam, was released in 2021.
Many Figma classes have no prerequisites. However, Figma is a user interface design tool, so it is helpful to have some knowledge of user interface design before you start learning Figma. This includes knowing something about basic design principles. In addition, if you want to work in a Figma-related job, you’ll benefit from strong teamwork and communication skills. Using Figma often involves collaborating on projects with others. If you want to take an advanced Figma course, you are likely to find prerequisites; most often, a lower-level Figma class.
Most people find that Figma has an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it relatively easy to learn. However, Figma is a user interface design tool, and if you have no experience with user interface design, you may find the learning process to be more difficult. One LinkedIn writer explains, “Figma is primarily designed for designers, which means that non-designers may find the tool challenging to use. Non-designers may not have the same level of understanding of design principles or the terminology used by designers, which can create a barrier to collaboration and slow down the design process.” With practice and dedication, though, almost anyone can learn to use Figma. Enrolling in a paid Figma class can be helpful as it gives you access to an expert instructor who can guide you through the learning process, answer your questions, and share tips and tricks.
When you learn Figma, you’ll learn how to create different types of designs. This might include learning skills like working with vector graphics, text, and colors. Another skill you might learn is working with components, which are reusable design elements. Most Figma classes also help you learn how to turn your designs into interactive prototypes, test them, and share them with other people. Usability and accessibility are key elements of interactive design, so these topics are also likely to be covered.
Many Chicago industries utilize Figma. According to a list compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of Web and Digital Interface Designers–a category that heavily uses Figma–nationally are in the categories of computer systems design, retail trade, finance and insurance, and advertising and public relations. Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States and supports many businesses in all of these categories. It is home to many major national companies, including Deloitte, Allstate, JPMorgan Chase and Co., Walgreens, and McDonald’s.
Chicago is also a tech hub, and its many tech companies use Figma. The Flatiron School says, “These days, Chicago is a growing tech hub where major tech companies and tech startups are embracing the future of technology.” In fact, it says, “Chicago is one of the largest tech employers in the United States, ranking 8th in net tech employment, behind New York City and San Francisco.” The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce reports that 106,000 people—or 8 percent of the city’s workforce—are employed in tech, and that the tech ecosystem has grown by 18 percent over the past ten years. The city was recently named an official U.S. Regional and Innovation Technology Hub, which will help its tech businesses grow further because it will lead to federal funding.
Figma is used in various jobs that involve interactive design. One of the most common is that of User Experience (UX) Designer, which involves making digital products more usable and enjoyable. According to Glassdoor, which posts salary estimates for many different jobs, a UX Designer working in Chicago has an average salary of $74,000 to $120,000. Figma is also used by Web Designers, who work on the layout and design of websites. Glassdoor reports that a Chicago Web Designer earns $65,000 to $104,000. Digital Designers create a variety of different types of digital designs, and may also use Figma. They earn about $69,000 to $105,000 in Chicago, according to Glassdoor. Finally, a Design Director oversees an entire design team and may utilize Figma to assist with team collaboration. Glassdoor reports that a Chicago Design Director has an average salary of $158,000 to $251,000.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—a federal agency that collects and analyzes labor market data—predicts that Web Developers and Digital Designers will see job growth of about 16 percent over the next ten years. This growth rate is much faster than the average job growth rate of 3 percent. The BLS explains that the popularity of ecommerce is one factor driving this growth. It says, “Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow as ecommerce continues to expand. As retail firms keep increasing their online offerings, demand for these workers is expected to grow.” The growing use of mobile devices is another factor driving growth. The agency explains that as more and more people use mobile devices, designers are needed to create websites and interfaces that work on a variety of different screen sizes. According to the BLS statistics, the Chicago metropolitan area has one of the highest levels of employment of Web and Digital Interface Designers in the United States. It employs about 2,200 people and pays an annual mean wage of approximately $71,000, which is slightly less than the national average of $80,000 for Web Developers and Digital Designers.
Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers several different Figma classes in a live online format. The Figma Bootcamp is a popular Noble option. This course takes 12 hours to complete. Students learn a variety of Figma skills, including optimizing designs for mobile, tablet, and desktop screens, extracting image assets, designing on grids, and sharing designs with clients. They also learn to create animations and build interactive prototypes. In addition, the class covers components, and working with team libraries.
Another Noble option is the Figma Masterclass. This class is a combination of the school’s bootcamp and advanced class. It includes 81 hours of instruction. Students learn to create UI and UX designs for websites and apps, designing layouts that are optimized for various devices. They also learn to build interactive prototypes, make animations, use components, work with team libraries, and use conditionals. Upon completion, students receive a certificate of completion. They also get a detailed workbook and the option of a free course retake within one year. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
If you’re looking to train your employees in Figma, you’ll find a variety of corporate and onsite Figma training options offered through Noble Desktop. Noble’s instructors are experienced teachers and industry professionals, and can run training sessions onsite at your office, or live online via Zoom or another platform. They provide a variety of flexible scheduling options and will customize content according to your specific needs. Additionally, all students receive comprehensive support material to use after the class is over, such as handouts and access to training videos. If you’d rather let employees choose their own schedules, another training option is to purchase vouchers for Noble’s regular group classes and let employees enroll separately. There is a discount for the purchase of multiple vouchers. Email Noble Desktop to get more information about corporate Figma training options.
In the heart of the Midwest’s finance capital, there’s opportunity everywhere. From tech startups in Fulton Market to powerhouse Fortune 500 firms in the Loop, Chicago offers a virtually endless array of ways to level up your skills in tech, business, data, and design. The city thrives on bold ideas, making it the perfect place to grow a career that is not only lucrative but also makes a real impact. With expert instructors with decades of experience, you’ll learn more about the subjects you’re interested in, all while receiving hands-on training. These instructors live and breathe to explore and work within their field, meaning they don’t just teach; they mentor, guide, and connect you to the heart of Chicago’s many successful industries and direct you to the most meaningful path to help you achieve your goals.
Noble Desktop’s partner school, Practical Programming, has state-of-the-art facilities conveniently located in downtown Chicago’s iconic Hayworth Building at 29 E. Madison Street, Chicago, IL, 60602. It’s an easy-to-find location for students from across the city to attend. The campus is modern, equipped with the necessary tech and tools you may need, and provides resources like Wi-Fi, comfortable workstations, and expert instructors and staff ready to help you learn. Getting there is simple, whether you’re commuting from the Loop, River North, or surrounding areas. The school is easily accessible from the CTA trains and buses, with nearby stops for major lines like the Red, Blue, and Brown. If you’re driving, you can park nearby at various parking decks and metered spots within walking distance. The central location means you won’t have to stress about making it to class, and that your training sessions can fit into any schedule with ease.
Figma is a leading tool for interface design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows used across Chicago’s tech and creative industries. With this, students taking classes at Noble Desktop have an opportunity to learn from instructors who demonstrate practical design techniques and show how modern teams use Figma to build user-friendly digital products.
Henry Gonzalez is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 30 years of experience in the federal government, leading engineering, program management, and acquisition initiatives in naval warfare, air traffic management, and homeland security. A retired senior executive, Henry now serves as a part-time instructor in Chicago, where he teaches project and program management, leadership, and strategic planning to professionals of all kinds. He holds the highest level of federal certification one can hold for acquisition program management and systems engineering. In addition, Henry was part of the core team that updated the Project Management Institute’s Standard for Program Management. Henry is also a certified Balanced Scorecard Professional and holds a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from Florida Atlantic University, along with a dual Master of Science in Ocean Engineering and Ocean Systems Management from MIT.
Robert Simon is a highly accomplished financial management professional and educator with more than four decades of federal and private sector experience. As a Financial and Management Curricula Instructor at Graduate School USA since 2007, he teaches courses in financial management, federal travel regulations, and organizational leadership, both virtually and in person. Prior to his teaching career, he held senior roles at the General Services Administration, overseeing a six-state regional budget of approximately $100 million, and at the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Management Service, where he led national training initiatives on electronic banking. Robert’s background spans accounting, budgeting, and program analysis, holding certifications as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager.
Edward (Scott) Dillion is a seasoned financial expert with over three decades of experience in the Department of Defense, where he specialized in a range of financial management areas like budgeting and auditing, as well as performance-based management and cost analysis. He holds an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a B.A. in Business Administration from Grove City College. After retiring in 2014, Scott pivoted to a second career in education and consulting. He teaches project management and marketing at Graduate School USA and has also taught courses in federal budgeting. Additionally, Scott serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Management Concepts Inc., where he helps develop financial management course materials. He also has a lifetime membership with the American Society of Military Comptrollers, holds a Top Secret security clearance with the Department of Defense, and is a recognized Tier 2 instructor at Graduate School USA for his wealth of experience.