Welcome to the first step in your journey to mastering Figma! This section will guide you through the initial setup and familiarize you with the basics of Figma, a powerful tool for designing and prototyping user interfaces.

1. What is Figma?

   • Figma is a cloud-based design tool that allows for real-time collaboration and prototyping. It is widely used for designing user interfaces for web and mobile applications.

2. Why Use Figma?

   • Collaboration: Multiple users can work on the same project simultaneously.
   • Accessibility: Being cloud-based, it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.
   • Versatility: Supports a wide range of design and prototyping features.

3. Setting Up Your Figma Account

   • Visit Figma's website and sign up for a free account.
   • Choose a plan that suits your needs. The free plan is sufficient for beginners.

• Sign Up: Go to Figma's homepage and click on "Sign up" to create a new account.
• Email Verification: Verify your email address to activate your account.
• Profile Setup: Fill in your profile details to personalize your Figma experience.

• Home Screen: After logging in, you'll be greeted by the Figma dashboard, which includes:
  • Recent Files: Quick access to your most recent projects.
  • Drafts: A space for your personal projects.
  • Teams: Collaborate with others by creating or joining teams.

• New File: Click on "New File" to start a new design project.
• Naming Your Project: Give your project a meaningful name to keep your work organized.

• Toolbar: Located at the top, it contains tools for selecting, drawing, and editing objects.
• Layers Panel: On the left, it shows the hierarchy of all elements in your design.
• Properties Panel: On the right, it displays properties and settings for the selected object.

Let's create a simple frame to get hands-on experience with Figma.

• Frame Tool: Used to create a container for your design elements.
• Canvas: The area where you design your project.
• Properties Panel: Allows you to modify the attributes of the selected frame, such as width, height, and position.

Task: Create a new Figma file and design a simple mobile app screen with a header, a text box, and a button.

1. Create a New File: Start a new project in Figma.
2. Add a Frame: Use the Frame tool to create a mobile-sized frame.
3. Design Elements:
   • Header: Use the Text tool to add a header at the top.
   • Text Box: Add a rectangle to represent a text input field.
   • Button: Create a rectangle for a button and add text on top.

In this section, you learned how to set up your Figma account, navigate the interface, and create your first project. You also practiced creating a simple design using basic tools. This foundation will prepare you for more advanced topics in the next sections. Keep experimenting with the tools and features to become more comfortable with Figma.