Best Free Figma Resources & Tutorials

Many professionals are eager to learn Figma but hesitate because of the perceived up-front costs. Figma has a robust free version of the program, letting users manage a small handful of projects without needing to subscribe to the program. However, a surprising amount of free resources are available to help beginners get the hang of this exciting program.

Read on to learn more about the free resources and tutorials available to help you learn Figma.

What is Figma?

Figma is a browser-based user interface design tool that allows users to collaborate with other editors to build unique and accessible website designs. Users work on collaborative shared documents to build interactive prototypes of webpages, making Figma an ideal skill to learn for aspiring Web Designers who want to build complex, multi-feature webpages. Since Figma allows users to update their designs in real-time without downloading an application, teams can collaborate anytime and anywhere.

Figma is also a vector graphics design tool, meaning that all the designs produced are resizable and replicable. This is important for user experience (UX) design because it assures designers can optimize their layouts for several screens, ranging from mobile phones to desktop PCs. Regardless of the project, Figma will give teams the tools they need to construct complex prototypes of their web layouts. Then, users can test these prototypes and ensure that their designs meet all their requirements.

Since Figma prides itself on its collaborative community of designers, there are many readily available plug-ins, templates, and widgets that make designing interfaces much easier. If a Figma user runs into a problem, there is a good chance that another user has already run into that problem, solved it, and made their solution readily available as a plug-in or template.

Read more about what Figma is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Figma?

Figma lets users collaborate in real-time to build and prototype user interfaces and web applications. Using vector graphics design tools, teams of designers can build complicated wireframe layouts for websites that can be resized to be optimized for screens of any given size. In addition, users can add interactive elements such as scrolling and hovering functionalities to their designs, letting them make sure that their webpages look and feel like modern designs. This lets users produce working prototypes of their webpages that can be easily tested, allowing designers to receive feedback quickly. Figma even allows users to export some amount of code from the prototype designs to hand off to developers once the prototype has been perfected.

In addition, because Figma is such a potent collaboration tool, there is a massive community of designers and developers constantly creating new plug-ins, templates, and widgets for public consumption. Through Figma’s website and other forums, users can share new designs, provide feedback on templates, and improve on the functionality of interactive interface elements. Every day, more and more new Figma resources are being developed. The resources that are being developed can help users modify and re-purpose existing resources to fit their needs better. Thanks to the Figma community, users aren’t just able to collaborate with their team on a web design; they can collaborate with the entire community of Figma designers and developers on their web designs.

Free Introductory Figma Courses Online

Free tutorials might be a good place to start for students who want to learn Figma but are unsure if they want to jump right into a professional training course. These free tutorials are an ideal place to start learning the basics of the application. Still, they aren’t going to replace professional training for users who aspire to work as Web Designers.

Noble offers a few free seminars that can be useful for Figma students. Noble provides an Intro to Figma recording and an Intro to UI Design course on their seminars page. Noble also provides students with a course that offers an overview seminar detailing the differences between Figma and the other major web design platforms, Sketch and Adobe XD. These tutorials may be handy for students who want to learn more about web design but are unfamiliar with these programs.

These programs are also ideal for students who think they might wish to learn how to use Figma professionally to familiarize themselves with the program and its interface. The early lessons of any professional bootcamp are where students are in the most danger of falling behind, so watching a few introductory videos or reviewing a free web design seminar before beginning training can be a significant boon.

Read about more free Figma videos and online tutorials.

Take Advantage of Figma Resources

Figma also offers users several free resources on their website to explore and experiment with. They provide users with a series of short tutorials to help them learn the basics of Figma, and they offer a series of sample projects that will let new users see how Figma webpages are designed.

Users comfortable entering the Figma community will find many tutorials, templates, and add-ons to enhance their Figma experience. Some of these may seem initially overwhelming, but they are good tools for exploring the platform's capabilities. Finding the right tutorials and add-ons to fit a student’s specific needs may take some time, but these free resources are an excellent place for new users and experienced Figma designers to get the most out of the program.

Learn Figma with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers students a wide range of options for learning how to master web design using Figma. Figma courses are available both in-person at Noble’s Manhattan campus and online from the comfort of your home. Experienced instructors teach these courses, and even the online courses have small class sizes that allow students to receive focused attention to their learning needs in real-time. Almost all of Noble’s courses come with tech support, with in-person learners using in-house computers and distance learners receiving set-up assistance to ensure everyone is on the same page. Plus, these courses come with the option for a free retake within one year. During this retake, students can refine their skills, make up the work they missed, or simply gain some extra practice with Figma.

Students looking to learn the intricacies of Figma may consider enrolling in Noble’s Figma Bootcamp. This course will teach students how to build web designs using Figma independently and as part of a collaborative team. Students will learn the basics of the program, such as how to create and resize vector illustrations, optimize their designs for different-sized screens, and export their designs for prototyping or demonstration. Then, students will collaborate on advanced designs, including features such as hovers, scrolling elements, or web assets. At the end of the course, students will know how to use Figma to build professional quality web designs.

For students looking to strike out into a new career as a Web Designer, Noble offers many professional training options for students hoping to learn Figma. The UX & UI Design Certificate program teaches students in-depth user experience design practices, allowing them to test and research user behavior to make informed decisions about the interfaces they are designing in Figma. This assures that their webpages will be more accessible and easy to navigate.

Noble’s Web Development Certificate program teaches students the technical side of webpage design. After learning how to build a layout in Figma, students will learn how to use HTML/CSS, Flex, Bootstrap, and JavaScript to turn that design into a functioning webpage or user interface. More creatively oriented students may look towards Noble’s Digital Design Certificate program. This course, aimed at aspiring Graphic Designers, will teach students how to build assets for web interfaces using Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, before teaching them how to import those designs into Figma to serve as templates or plug-ins for later use.

Regardless of why a student wants to learn Figma, Noble has a course offering that fits their needs.

Key Insights

• Figma is a browser-based user interface design tool that lets users collaborate on interactive layout pages. Using Figma, teams of editors can create interactive prototype interface designs to be tested and handed off to developers.
• Figma has a robust free version of the program that works from any browser. There are a few limited functions, but the program will not require users to pay a fee.
• Many free resources are available to students wanting to learn Figma, such as the recorded seminars through Noble or the tutorials made available through Figma.
• These courses are ideal for both students hoping to learn the basics of the program or those looking to familiarize themselves with the program in preparation for enrolling in a professional training program.
• Consult Noble to discover your options for free learning and more advanced paid training.