How Long Does It Take to Learn Figma?

With digital content creation tools like Figma accounting for 73.1 percent of the $32.28 billion digital content creation market [1], learning to use one of these versatile tools may be on your to-do list. If you need a flexible, collaborative prototyping tool that you can access via a browser or mobile application (app) from anywhere with an internet connection, Figma may be the right choice. 

Companies worldwide, including HP, Ruggable, and Peloton, praise Figma for streamlining their design processes and enhancing team collaboration, resulting in increased efficiency and high-quality user experiences. As a company and design tool, collaboration is a central theme for Figma. Research shows that successful teams create a collaborative culture and are 76 percent more likely to recognize or praise people for incorporating feedback and 67 percent more likely to share work in progress [2]. 

The time it takes to learn Figma will likely depend on your skill level, your commitment to learning the tool, and how thoroughly you want to understand its capabilities. Discover more about Figma, its applications, and how quickly you can learn to use this powerful tool. 

What is Figma?

Figma is a powerful design platform you can use to build, collaborate on, and test digital interfaces. It can streamline the design process and facilitate collaboration for individuals and teams. By encouraging contribution, feedback, and improved decision-making, Figma helps you and your team create engaging digital products and experiences. 

The platform provides an accessible space for visually expressing ideas and collaborating effectively with anyone involved in the design process, including designers, product managers, writers, and developers.

What is Figma used for?

Figma gives you the tools to design, collaborate on, and review digital products, including everything from mobile apps to full websites. Its features can be used for designing user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX), wireframing, diagramming, prototyping, brainstorming, and creating presentations or online whiteboards. 

In addition to its extensive range of features, Figma is particularly valuable for collaborative work as it enables all team members to communicate within a single shared file, simplifying the process of documenting feedback.

How long does it take to learn Figma?

You can learn the basics in just a few hours, while more advanced skills may take several weeks or months to master. Various learning options, from five-minute tutorials to self-paced, months-long certificate programs, are available. 

Consider how you plan to use your emerging skills when choosing your learning path. The Professional Association for Design advises evaluating your learning goals and comparing them to what the course or program offers to ensure it meets your needs. Are you looking to stay updated with the latest design tools for personal use, or do you intend to use Figma professionally? Is this your first experience with a prototyping tool like Figma, or are you already familiar with similar tools and seeking to expand your skill set?

Skills related to Figma

Certain related skills can enhance your learning process, whether you’re experienced with prototyping applications or new to interface design tools like Figma. These include understanding fundamental design principles, vector graphics, UI and UX design processes, front-end web development, and familiarity with similar design tools.

• Design principles: A solid grasp of design principles, such as typography, color theory, layout, and composition, can help you make effective creative decisions in Figma and produce high-quality output. 

• Vector graphics: Figma is a vector design tool. Everything you create, including shapes, icons, and illustrations, is made up of vectors. Familiarity with vector graphics may be beneficial as you learn the basics. 

• UI and UX design processes: Since Figma is primarily used for digital content creation, prior knowledge of user interface patterns, usability, and accessibility principles can help ensure your designs are user-friendly and practical. 

• Front-end web development: A basic understanding of web development and coding languages can help you recognize developers’ limitations and requirements, allowing you to create designs that are ready for deployment and easy to implement. 

• Similar tools: Experience with tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Framer, Miro, or Microsoft Designer can make it easier to adapt to Figma's interface and workflow. You may find many of Figma's features familiar if you've used these tools before.

Is it easy to learn Figma?

Figma's intuitive interface and built-in tutorials make it easy to start, especially for learners who enjoy visual design tools. Hands-on practice and structured courses can help you build familiarity and grow your confidence as you polish your Figma skills. 

How to learn Figma

From five-minute, highly focused tutorials to self-paced, in-depth certificate programs spanning weeks or months, you can find a learning option that meets your needs. Explore examples of some of the tutorials, courses, and certificate programs available for learning Figma.

Figma tutorials

The following tutorials and projects are available on Figma’s website on the Figma Learn platform [3]. In addition to these formal tutorials, you can subscribe to Figma’s YouTube channel for even more video tutorials.

• Figma for Beginners: This four-part tutorial introduces the program’s fundamental tools, teaching you how to create wireframes, designs, and prototypes, as well as how to hand your project off to a developer. The total running time of the videos is less than one hour [4].

• Introduction to Design Systems: If you already have some experience, Figma offers a two-hour video series on design systems that can help you improve your workflow and learn more about Figma features for managing design systems, including styles, components, and libraries [5]. 

• Build Your First Plugin: In this five-video tutorial, you can learn how to build a plugin to create a customizable post for a social media app in about an hour and a half [6]. The videos provide step-by-step instructions and are accessible even if you’re not a programmer.

• Projects: The projects on Figma Learn range from about 10 to 30 minutes and include options for designing a search feature, creating a tooltip component set, and making a custom profile card, among many others [3].

Figma courses

If you have more time to learn Figma or want to explore the application and related topics more deeply, consider enrolling in a self-paced online course. In the Designing User Interfaces and Experiences (UI/UX) course offered by IBM on Coursera, you can learn essential Figma concepts, develop applications and websites using web development frameworks, and examine web design methodologies. Alternately, Google’s Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma course, also available on Coursera, allows you to build mockups and high-fidelity prototypes using Figma. Both courses offer flexible schedules and require approximately 19 hours to complete. 

Career-oriented professional certificates

For a more comprehensive experience, consider a Figma certificate program. These programs typically range from one day to four to six weeks, with many offering self-paced, online options. Through hands-on projects and expert-led instruction, you can learn about Figma and even create a portfolio in Microsoft’s UX Design Professional Certificate, available on Coursera. With a commitment of 10 hours per week, you can complete this Professional Certificate in about two months. 

Is Figma free?

Figma offers a free starter plan with limited features, including basic design, prototyping, collaboration, and access to three files. Students and educators can access more features at no cost, while professionals and teams may benefit from paid plans with enhanced collaboration tools. 

Learn Figma on Coursera

Figma is a comprehensive digital content creation tool designed to streamline your design process and enhance collaboration. You can explore Figma, learn about the design process, apply foundational UX concepts, and create a UX portfolio with Google’s UX Design Professional Certificate on Coursera. To prepare for a career as a front-end developer, consider Meta’s Front-End Developer Professional Certificate on Coursera. This Professional Certificate covers in-demand skills like page layout creation and image editing using Figma and other industry-standard tools.