Software setup

You need Figma working before the first lab. Budget ten minutes.

1. Create a Figma account at figma.com using your college email address if you have one.

2. Apply for the Education plan. It is free for students and unlocks unlimited files and version history. Approval usually takes a day or two, so do this now rather than the night before assignment 1.

3. Install the desktop app. The browser version works, but the desktop app handles fonts and keyboard shortcuts more predictably — and browser shortcuts will fight you otherwise.

4. Check your shortcuts work. Open any file and try the three below. If nothing happens, you are probably in the browser with a conflicting extension.

The three you'll use on day one

macOSWindows

Toggle the shortcut cheatsheet	⌃+⇧+?Ctrl+Shift+?
Frame tool	FF
Zoom to fit	⇧+1Shift+1

Mac or Windows?

Use the toggle above to switch every shortcut on this site between macOS and Windows. Your choice is remembered on this device, so you only set it once.

Fonts

Install Inter locally — it is the typeface this site uses and the one we will design with for the first few weeks. It is free from rsms.me/inter.

macOS

Download the zip, open Inter.ttc, and click Install Font. Restart the Figma desktop app afterwards or it will not appear in the font list.

Windows

Download the zip, extract it, select all .ttf files, right-click and choose Install for all users. Restart the Figma desktop app.

Caution

If a font is missing when you open a shared file, Figma substitutes it silently and your spacing will look wrong. Always check Text → Fonts before assuming your layout is broken.