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    Creating Your First Design in Figma

    By Nitin Khatri (Senior UI/UX Designer & Educator)
    Reviewed by Sarah Miller (Principal Product Designer (Reviewer))
    Updated
    Video Lesson: 08:00
    Level: Beginner
    Official References:
    Figma Help CenterFigma YouTube Channel

    Put your knowledge into practice by creating your first design project. This lesson guides you through the process of starting a design from scratch using basic tools.

    Complete tasks and quiz to finish this lesson.
    Tasks
    Quiz

    Lesson Video

    Lesson Content

    Learning Objectives

    • •Initialise a new design file and name it correctly
    • •Create basic elements and arrange them on the canvas
    • •Apply simple styling to design components
    • •Organize initial layers for clear project structure

    What You'll Learn

    1. Starting a new file from the dashboard
    2. Manipulating the canvas view with zoom and pan
    3. Placing and basic styling of primitive shapes
    4. Best practices for naming files and layers early on

    Key Concepts

    File Initialization
    Canvas Manipulation
    Basic Element Styling
    Layer Organization

    Key Takeaways

    • ✓Every design starts with a new file initialized from the draft or project view.
    • ✓Efficient canvas navigation is the foundation of a smooth workflow.
    • ✓Basic styling includes adjusting fill, stroke, and opacity.
    • ✓Early layer naming habits prevent confusion as projects grow complex.

    Practice Tasks

    Drawing Basic Elements

    Start designing by placing simple elements on the canvas and renaming layers for organization.

    • Create a new design file and name it 'First Design'
    • Draw three different shapes on the canvas
    • Rename each layer in the Layers panel to accurately describe the shape
    • Select and move multiple shapes at once using the canvas

    Knowledge Check

    Pass with 70% or higher

    1. When starting a new design from the dashboard, where are 'Draft' files stored by default?

    2. What is the effect of holding the 'Shift' key while resizing a shape?

    3. Which tool allows you to move around the canvas without selecting or modifying any objects?

    Lesson FAQ

    Q: How can I practice what I learned in this lesson?

    We highly recommend opening your own Figma workspace in a side window and repeating the steps shown in the video. Utilize the tasks checklist above for specific practice targets.

    Q: What should I do if my layout behaves differently from the walkthrough?

    Double-check parent-child constraints and resizing values (e.g. Hug vs Fill). Ensure Auto Layout direction is correct and check the related guidebooks below for step-by-step visual references.

    Lesson Resources & Connections

    Prerequisites

    No prerequisites required. This is a foundational starter lesson.

    Related Guidebook

    How to create responsive layouts in Figma using Auto Layout

    Read Guidebook →

    How to use Auto Layout for cards and lists in Figma

    Read Guidebook →

    Relevant Design Tool

    Image Compressor

    Reduce asset size before export.

    Open Companion Tool →

    Next Lesson

    Using Frames Effectively in Figma