11 activities in Figma for your classroom | Figma Blog

Figma’s collaborative, browser-based workflow makes it well suited to hands-on design education. This post presents classroom activities that help students learn Figma while practicing visual design, research, geometry, prototyping, and collaboration. The exercises range from beginner icebreakers to intermediate component and illustration projects, with duplicateable files for educators.

Getting Started with Figma

• Student trading cards

  • An introductory activity combining class introductions with basic Figma practice.
  • Students create social-media-style profiles using Auto Layout and components.
  • Working in one shared file exposes students to classmates’ processes and styles.
  • A gallery page can showcase the finished cards.
  • Level: Beginner
  • Features: Auto Layout, Multiplayer Editing

• Make a heart

  • Students create and customize a heart using the Pen Tool, Layout Grid, and the Properties panel.
  • The exercise builds familiarity with foundational drawing and layout tools.
  • An optional challenge uses Smart Animate to make the heart pulse.
  • Level: Beginner
  • Features: Pen Tool, Properties Panel, Layout Grid

Exploring Form, Geometry, and Research

• Figma tangrams

  • Students use the seven-piece tangram puzzle to explore geometry and form.
  • Prompts include creating recognizable animals and experimenting with abstract shapes.
  • A more advanced version asks students to research and build their own reusable puzzle sets.
  • Level: Beginner
  • Features: Components, rotation, alignment

• Design research paper

  • Students visualize research findings in a compelling, readable format.
  • The class builds a collaborative library of articles that peers can read and comment on.
  • Reviewing the collection encourages discussion about visual hierarchy and communication design.
  • Level: Beginner
  • Features: Layout Grids, Keyboard Shortcuts

Practicing Components and Collaboration

• Chat windows

  • Students design reusable chat components for conversations and visual feedback.
  • The activity emphasizes customization and creating components useful in future collaborative work.
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Feature: Auto Layout

• Collaborative illustrations with constraints

  • Students work together to create a consistent system of illustrations or icons.
  • Shared constraints—such as a bespoke geometric grid and limited color palette—encourage cohesion and creative problem-solving.
  • Peer support and critique are central to the exercise.
  • Level: Intermediate

Educators can adapt these activities to their students’ experience levels and duplicate the accompanying Figma community files. Together, they provide a practical progression from basic tool literacy to structured collaboration and reusable design systems.