Introduction

Introduction by Dan Scott

• Course: Figma Essentials
• Learn to get started as a UX Designer in Figma.
• Focus on creating interfaces, engaging prototypes, and understanding real-world UX design expectations.
• Aimed at beginners with step-by-step guidance.

Course Content Overview

Topics Covered

• Describing briefs and working with UX personas.
• Creating simple wireframes.
• Implementing colors and images in Hi-Fidelity mock-ups.
• Choosing appropriate fonts for web and mobile apps.
• Designing UI components: icons, buttons, etc.
• Understanding components, constraints, and multi-dimensional variants.
• Using free UI kits and plug-ins to speed up workflow.
• Building a simple style guide for team or client hand-off.
• Making simple and advanced micro-interactions, page transitions, and animations.
• Creating fully interactive prototypes for user testing.
• Collaborating with team members and exporting files for developers.

Interactive and Practical Learning

• Assignments throughout the course for practice.
• Creating unique projects for portfolios.

Technical Requirements

• Download exercise files and shortcut sheets
• Install the Figma software (either browser or desktop version).
• Course makes use of the free version of Figma, but mentions the benefits of the paid version.
• Staying updated with Figma's frequent updates and features shifts.

Key Tools and Concepts

Rapid Prototyping

• Use of Figma for quick prototyping of websites and apps.
• Iterative design process: create, test, observe, and refine quickly.
• Emphasis on not focusing on coding but on prototyping user experience.
• Collaborative aspect for working with developers.

User Interface (UI) vs. User Experience (UX)

• UI: How it looks - Layout, visual elements.
• UX: How it works - interaction, usability, user testing.
• Transition from UI to UX involves validation through user testing.

Practical Exercise: Wireframes

• Importance of wireframes – rapid testing of user flow and interactions.
• Various wireframe styles: from simple low-fidelity to styled versions.

Practical Steps: Creating a Figma Project

Setting Up and Using Frames

• Define project scope using different frames for mobile, desktop, and tablet.
• Use of various tools (Type, Shapes, Colors) to build wireframes.
• Naming and organizing layers, groups, and frames.
• Creating the project wireframe with actionable buttons and navigation.

Sharing and Collaboration

Simple Sharing

• Share wireframes and prototypes via a link.
• Stakeholders can view without needing an account.

Figma Mirror

• Testing your design on actual mobile devices via Figma Mirror app for real-world usability.

Animations and Transitions

• Using Smart Animate for element animations between frames.
• Adding interactive elements and transitions.
• Understanding the importance of easing and time delays in animations.

Advanced Techniques

Plugins and Integrations

• Explore different plugins to extend Figma's capabilities (e.g., icon libraries, image sources).
• Managing imported elements like SVG vectors.

Working with Teams and Projects

• Introduction to Figma’s collaborative features: teams and shared projects.
• Managing project files within team environments.
• Benefits and limitations of free vs. paid plans.

Practical Projects and Exercises

• Create and manage wireframes, prototypes, animations, and interactive projects.

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• Remember: Practicing and exploring the tools and techniques introduced in this lecture is key to becoming proficient in Figma and UX design! 📜