Figma and UI Introduction

Level(s) of Study: Short course; Professional
Course Fee:
£325/£390
Start Date(s): 13 July 2026, 11 November 2026, 3 February 2027
Duration: 10 am - 4 pm, two days
Study Mode(s): Part-time
Campus: City Campus
Entry Requirements: More information

Introduction:

Course dates:

13 - 14 July 2026, Monday and Tuesday 10 am - 4 pm, two days

11 - 12 November 2026, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 am - 4 pm, two days

3 - 4 February 2027, Wednesday and Thursday 10 am - 4 pm, two days

Have you ever wanted to know how to design your own app or website using industry-standard software?

Figma is the industry standard tool for designing websites, apps and more. It’s growing in popularity because of its collaboration-based potential as well as its low barrier to entry (it’s free to use).

This practical course will teach you how UI works and how to integrate Figma into your designs. It will be project-based so you will start from scratch and have built a prototype by the end.

You’ll be part of a design community that promotes collaboration and experimentation.
With a limited class size, you'll receive the attention needed to gain new skills which you can then apply to your profession.
Benefit from learning with a tutor who brings established links to the profession and current design thinking to the course.
Study in-person (rather than online) and explore ideas in our studios.

What you’ll study

UI Design (or User Interface Design) uses a range of clear design principles that enable you to create highly accessible apps or web experiences.

On this course, you’ll master the essentials of Figma and explore its powerful features, from user experience design and real-time collaboration to building and managing component libraries.

The course offers practical, hands-on training in designing intuitive interfaces and crafting smooth user interactions.

Whether you're new to design or looking to sharpen your skills, you'll gain the tools and confidence to bring your UX and prototyping ideas to life.

During the course, you will:

be introduced to UI design
explore the complete process of the design of an app or web page
understand the properties panel and editing type
import graphics and images
create interactions by linking and unlinking artboards
fine-tune interactions and set screen transitions
create advanced interactions with smart animation
learn about the difference between frames and groups
extract patterns and trends from your research
learn component basics, work with variants, and add and save styles whilst organising your assets and sharing these with other users
learn how to work with constraints, understanding auto layout, nesting frames and introducing grids and guides
learn how to prototype and test your ideas
export for review and sharing your prototype using links and exporting artboards such as .png .svg and .pdf files
previewing with the Figma phone app.

Understanding the basic Figma tools

Understanding what makes good UI design through analysis

UX Design principles that make a product effective and easy to use

Creating functional buttons

Understanding how to edit type and shapes

Using plug-ins

Exploring effects

Prototyping

Animation and page transitions.

Using grids and guides to layout your app

Creating adaptable and efficient designs using auto layout and components

Exploring scrolling pages

Importing Adobe Illustrator icons

Exporting frames

Receiving feedback on your app design.

How you’re taught

The course will be taught via lectures, group discussions, practical exercises and project work. We will use Figma software to develop your ideas. No prior experience of Figma is required.

You will receive two days of intensive, quality tuition with your experienced tutor.

Manageable homework assignments will be set.

Contact hours

You will receive ten contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.

Tutor profile:

As well as being an excellent software tutor at NTU Ben Arrowsuch is also an animator and illustrator with a passion for visual storytelling.

After graduating from Cambridge School of Art he became a guest lecturer, inspiring other artists with their unique insights in the field, before beginning to work in the industry.

His versatile skill set shines through his extensive industry experience, having worked for various clients both in-house and as a freelancer on a range of projects.

From social media content to campaign videos, Ben is able to effectively communicate ideas into captivating visual experiences.

He has created character animations and motion graphics for clients such as the Animal Justice Project, Mozilla, King Gaming, Edinburgh TV awards, and Tastemade, and has brought his artistry to life through engaging adverts for renowned mobile games including Candy Crush.

Beyond the digital screen, Ben has showcased his work in a variety of esteemed exhibitions and events as part of the Thoughtcast collective and Circuit.

You can find his showreel and portfolio here.

Careers and employability

The course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the design industry, adding valuable new skills to your portfolio.

Certificate of attendance and digital badge

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by Accredible.

Your digital credential is more than just a certificate – it’s secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud through encryption and blockchain technology.

They also come with detailed metadata, including an overview of the skills you have achieved on the course, evidence of completion, and assessment criteria if appropriate.

Share your achievements seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online, and proudly add your badge or certificate to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, so all the right people can see it.

Campus and facilities

You’ll be based in the Nottingham School of Art and Design on the City Campus, working in our design studios and IT suites equipped with industry-standard software.

You’ll receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.

You’ll have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you’re welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Please note that lunch isn’t provided. However, there are plenty of places on campus to eat.

Entry requirements

Level: Professional

Entry requirement: You should be an experienced graphic or product designer who is new to UI and Figma.

You must be over the age of 18 to attend this course.

Fees and funding

The fee for the July 2026 course is £325. From November 2026 onwards the fee will be £390

Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.

Your course fees cover the cost of studies, including great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.

Please bring with you to the first session:

Sketchpad or notepad and pens
Whilst you can use NTU computers, if you prefer to work with your own laptop, then please bring this along with the free download of Figma installed.

You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.