Figma in Focus

Curriculum Area and Level

Subject: Art and Design
Level: Key Stage 4 (Year 11)
Curriculum Area: Digital Media and Design
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 30 students

Lesson Objectives

• Introduce students to Figma as a tool for digital design.
• Develop basic skills in using Figma to create wireframes and design prototypes.
• Understand the importance of collaboration in a digital workspace.

Materials Needed

• Computers with internet access
• Figma accounts (free version is sufficient)
• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers

Outline

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greeting and Attendance: Quick roll call and greeting.
• Objective Overview: Explain the goals of the lesson. “Today, we will be exploring Figma, a powerful tool for digital design and collaboration. By the end of this session, you'll be able to create basic wireframes and appreciate the collaborative features of Figma.”
• Contextualisation: Briefly remind students about how digital design integrates into the wider Art and Design syllabus, particularly focusing on contemporary artistic practices and digital media fluency.

2. Demonstration (15 minutes)

• Brief History and Uses (2 minutes): “Figma was launched in 2012 and has since become a popular tool in the design industry. It's used for creating user interfaces, websites, applications, and much more.”
• Live Demonstration (13 minutes):
  • Account Setup (2 minutes): Show students how to create a Figma account.
  • Interface Overview (3 minutes): Walk through the Figma interface, pointing out key elements like the toolbar, layers panel, and properties panel.
  • Create a Frame (2 minutes): Demonstrate how to create a frame, which is the foundational canvas for designs in Figma.
  • Basic Shapes (2 minutes): Show how to draw basic shapes (rectangles, circles) and apply colours and strokes.
  • Text Tool (2 minutes): Demonstrate adding and formatting text.
  • Collaboration Features (2 minutes): Explain and showcase how multiple users can collaborate on the same design in real-time.

3. Practical Activity (20 minutes)

• Task Introduction (2 minutes): “Now it’s your turn to create a simple wireframe for a mobile app home screen. Include at least one header, two buttons, and an image placeholder.”
• Group Distribution (1 minute): Split the class into 15 pairs, assigning each pair to a computer.
• Hands-On Practice (12 minutes): Students work on their wireframes, with the teacher circulating to provide guidance and assistance.
• Sharing and Feedback (5 minutes): Invite a few pairs to share their designs via the projector. Provide positive feedback and constructive suggestions.

4. Conclusion and Q&A (5 minutes)

• Review Key Points: Summarise the key skills practiced today: creating frames, adding shapes and text, and the importance of collaboration.
• Question and Answer Session: Open the floor for any questions. Ensure to address both technical and conceptual queries.
• Homework Assignment: “To build on today’s lesson, explore Figma's templates library and try to modify an existing template to make it your own. Save your work and share it with me via Figma’s sharing feature.”

5. Wrap-up (3 minutes)

• Clean Up: Ensure all students log out and shut down their computers.
• Final Words: “Figma is a very versatile tool. As we continue through this term, consider how digital design can influence your overall art projects. Next lesson, we'll dive deeper into more advanced features and start working on your own design projects.”

Assessment and Evaluation

• Formative Assessment: Monitor student participation during the hands-on activity.
• Summative Assessment: Evaluate the modified template each student submits as homework for understanding and application of today’s skills.

This lesson plan is designed to be both instructive and interactive, catering to the contemporary educational standards in the UK while invigorating the Art and Design curriculum with essential digital skills.