Figma for Busy People: Mastering Auto Layout

Discover the power of Figma's Auto Layout alongside me, as we transform complex design challenges into simple and enjoyable learning experiences, perfect for both beginners and seasoned designers alike.

Why Take This Class

This is a concise yet comprehensive class, made specifically for busy people who don't have a lot of time to spare but still want to learn something valuable. By the end of this class you'll be able to build Figma layouts much faster than before and use the Auto Layout feature like a true pro.

Class Overview

In this class I will teach you how to master Figma's Auto Layout in under 90 minutes. I'll start by showing you how to add Auto Layout and how to organize and arrange objects. Then I'll teach you how to work with nested frames, how to set the direction and element positioning, how to work with gaps and paddings, how to align elements properly and how to use resizing options to create adaptive designs.

What You'll Learn

- Different ways of adding Auto Layout to a frame - How to add, duplicate, and remove objects inside an Auto Layout frame - How to arrange and reorder objects inside an Auto Layout frame - How to remove Auto Layout - Auto Layout nesting techniques - How to change the direction of objects inside an Auto Layout frame - How to position objects absolutely - The importance and use cases of canvas stacking order - How to change the gap between items - When and how to use negative spacing - How to add padding to objects - How to set alignment on child objects - How to use the text baseline alignment - The power of using minimum and maximum dimensions - How to set fixed dimensions - How to set frames to perfectly fit their content - How to set frames to occupy the entire available space within their parent container

Practical Applications

This class isn't just about theory. Each main lesson is accompanied by practical applications where we'll re-create layouts from real websites, giving you valuable hands-on experience.

Student Assignments

Each major lesson comes with a student assignment, providing you with the opportunity to practice and reinforce your newfound skills. The assignments also come with written instructions.

You can download all the assignments by getting a copy of the file below:

Download Student Assignments

Is This Class for You?

If you're looking to get better at building layouts with Figma then YES, ABSOLUTELY! This class will be valuable for total beginners but also seasoned designers. You don't need extensive Figma experience, but a certain familiarity with the Figma UI will make the class easier to follow. This is all about making Auto Layout fun and easy, no matter where you're starting from.

What You’ll Need

We'll exclusively use Figma for our work, so all you need is a browser and a free Figma account. Whether you're on a laptop or desktop computer, running Mac, Windows, or Linux, you're all set to dive in.

Let’s Get Started

Are you ready to master Figma Auto Layout? Then join me on this journey of discovery and I'll see you in class!

UPDATE

Since this class was recorded, Figma’s interface has changed in a few places. The workflows and concepts you’ll learn here are still valid, but some buttons, menus, or panels may look different than what you see in my videos.

To help you out, I’ve added a bonus video called “Figma 2025 Update: What’s Changed” where I walk through the new UI and point out the main changes. Be sure to watch that if you’re ever confused.

And if something doesn’t match what you see on your screen, feel free to ask here in the Discussions — I’ll be happy to clarify. Chances are, if you have the question, other students will too!

Thanks, and happy designing!

— Adi

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