Learning to design clean, user-friendly interfaces does not need to be intimidating. Figma brings powerful tools, real-time collaboration, and a gentle learning curve into one free package. This guide covers everything you need to start creating website and app UI designs quickly — from signing up to building interactive prototypes and sharing your work.
Why choose Figma for UI and UX work?
Figma is browser-based, which means no heavy installs and seamless collaboration. Multiple people can work on the same file at once, leave comments, and follow cursors in real time. It also provides a mobile companion app for previewing designs on devices and a generous free tier that is ideal for beginners and small teams. In short, Figma combines accessibility, collaboration, and professional features in one place.
Getting started: create an account and explore the dashboard
Sign up with an email or use single sign on with Google. Once inside, the dashboard is your launchpad for new files, community templates, and plugins. Start a new design with a blank design file and explore the left-hand tools — frames, shapes, text, layers and components are the building blocks you will use most.
Design a website UI step by step
Website layouts in Figma are built inside frames. Frames work like canvases sized for specific devices (desktop, tablet, phone). To create a desktop layout:
- Select the Frame tool and choose a desktop preset.
- Create sections using rectangles or the Section tool, and apply background fills from the right-hand properties panel.
- Add text with the Text tool; choose fonts and sizes from the same properties panel.
- Drag and drop images from your computer directly onto the canvas, then resize and position them.
These simple steps let you assemble headers, hero sections, content blocks and footers quickly. Use consistent spacing and typography to create a clear visual hierarchy.
Designing a mobile app UI
Mobile UI flows are best designed using phone-sized frames. Choose a phone preset such as iPhone 13 mini, name the frame to keep things organised, and design each screen as a separate frame. Add images, text, and buttons just as you would for a website. Pay attention to touch targets and spacing so interactive elements feel comfortable on small screens.
Use templates and the Community to speed up workflows
Figma’s Community contains ready-made UI kits and templates for web and mobile apps. To use a template:
- Open Files and click Explore Community.
- Search for templates by keyword, for example travel app or dashboard.
- Preview any template and click Get a copy to add it to your workspace.
Templates are great starting points: you can focus on branding and content rather than building layouts from scratch.
Edit templates like a pro
Editing a template is straightforward. Double click any element to change text, swap images or adjust properties from the right panel. To replace background images, double click the image, open the right-hand Fill panel, switch to Image, and choose a new file from your computer. Adjust fonts, sizes, and colours to match your brand. Use consistent colour swatches so your palette is easy to update across the whole design.
Create UI screens from scratch
When building screens from scratch, follow a repeatable structure:
- Create a frame with the appropriate device preset and name it.
- Add the primary visual, for example a product or hero image, then add descriptive text below it.
- Add buttons by copying and reusing existing button components for consistency.
- Use rounded corners to soften visuals: the corner radius field controls the curvature. You can set different radii per corner for creative layouts.
Reuse components where possible. Turning a recurring button or card into a component saves time and keeps the UI consistent.
Icons, plugins and illustrations
Figma’s plugin ecosystem extends functionality. For icons, install a plugin such as Iconscout, log in, then search and insert icons directly into your design. Many plugins let you control icon colour and opacity from the properties panel. For illustrations, use free resources like undraw to download SVGs or PNGs and drag them into Figma. Illustrations help communicate concepts and enhance visual appeal without heavy development overhead.
Build interactive prototypes
Prototyping transforms static screens into clickable demos that simulate navigation and transitions. To make a prototype:
- Select the UI element that should trigger navigation, such as a button or image.
- Switch to the Prototype tab and drag the connection node from the selected element to the target frame.
- Choose an interaction trigger, typically On Click, and pick an animation such as Move In or Instant.
- Click the Play icon to preview the prototype. Use keyboard arrows to step through frames or click interactive elements to test behavior.
Prototypes are invaluable for user testing and stakeholder presentations because they show flow and motion rather than static screens.
Share, collect feedback and export
Sharing in Figma is flexible. Click Share and enter an email address to invite others. Change permissions to View or Edit depending on whether you want collaborators to modify the file. Comments appear directly on the design. You can view, reply, and resolve comments to keep feedback organised.
To export screens, select a frame or multiple frames and click Export. Choose formats such as PNG, JPG, or SVG. Exporting all frames at once produces a zip file for quick delivery. Use the mobile preview or Figma Mirror to see how designs look on a device before finalising assets.
Practical tips and best practices
- Keep components modular so changes propagate automatically across screens.
- Use consistent spacing and typography for readable, polished layouts.
- Work with a shared colour palette saved as styles to maintain brand consistency.
- Prototype early to validate navigation and micro interactions before final visuals are locked.
- Invite collaborators to comment and iterate in real time rather than juggling multiple file versions.
Is Figma free to use for beginners?
Figma offers a free tier that is excellent for beginners and small teams. It includes core design tools, the ability to create files, and basic collaboration features. Paid plans add advanced team and versioning features.
Do I need prior design experience to start with Figma?
No prior experience is required. The interface is intuitive: frames, text, images and simple properties let you build UI quickly. Templates from the Community accelerate learning by providing ready-made layouts to edit and explore.
How do I create clickable prototypes in Figma?
Select the element users will tap or click, go to the Prototype tab, drag the connection to the target frame, choose the interaction trigger and animation, then use the Play button to preview. Prototypes demonstrate flow and transitions without writing code.
How can I collaborate and collect feedback?
Use the Share button to invite collaborators with View or Edit permissions. Team members can add comments directly on the canvas. Real-time cursors show who is working where, and comments can be replied to and resolved to track iterations.
What export options does Figma provide?
Figma exports JPG, PNG, SVG and PDF among other formats. You can export individual frames or select multiple frames to download as a zip file. Export settings let you control scale and file type depending on how assets will be used.
Final thoughts
Figma makes UI design approachable and collaborative. Whether you are creating a one-page website, a full mobile app, or an interactive prototype, its tools let you go from idea to testable design quickly. Start with templates to learn structure, build a few screens from scratch to practice fundamentals, and use prototypes to validate interactions. With consistent components, a shared colour palette and the right plugins, you can create polished, user-friendly interfaces in a surprisingly short time.
