Step-by-Step Guide: Designing Your First Mobile App UI in Figma

Introduction

Designing a mobile app may seem like a daunting task—especially if it’s your first time. But with the right tools and a clear step-by-step guide, you can bring your app idea to life more easily than you think. That’s where Figma comes in.

Figma is a free, powerful, and easy-to-use design tool used by professionals and beginners alike to create stunning UI (User Interface) designs. Whether you're developing a simple app for a local business or dreaming up the next big thing, Figma makes it possible to build beautiful mobile app interfaces without needing to write a single line of code.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to design your very first mobile app UI using Figma. No prior experience is needed—just your creativity and a willingness to learn. You’ll go from a blank canvas to a clickable mobile prototype, learning how to use essential tools, best practices for layout, and tips to make your design user-friendly and visually appealing.

Here’s what you can expect:

• How to set up Figma for mobile design

• Step-by-step instructions to build your app UI

• Pro tips to polish your design like a pro

By the end of this guide, you’ll have your own mobile app interface ready to show off, test, or even hand over to developers. Ready to design your first mobile app UI in Figma? Let’s dive in.

Setting Up Figma for Mobile App Design

Before you jump into designing screens and adding buttons, it’s crucial to get your workspace set up properly. Think of it as laying the foundation for a house—you want everything to be neat, strong, and ready for building.

Creating a New Project and Frame for Mobile Screens

Begin by opening Figma and signing into your account. Once you’re in the dashboard, click on “New Design File” to create a blank canvas.

From the top toolbar, select the Frame Tool (shortcut key: F). On the right side of the screen, you’ll see a list of preset frame sizes for various devices. These presets help you match your design to real-world mobile screens.

For example, you can choose:

• iPhone 13 – 390 x 844 pixels

• Pixel 6 – 412 x 915 pixels

Selecting a frame that matches your target device ensures your design will be responsive and developer-ready.

Choosing the Right Dimensions and Devices

Deciding on the device to design for depends on your app’s audience. If you’re targeting iOS users, start with iPhones. If it’s Android, pick a popular Android screen size like Pixel or Samsung.

It's best to design for one screen size first—usually the smallest common device. This ensures your UI looks good on all devices when it's later adjusted for responsiveness.

Also, keep in mind:

• iOS apps follow Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines

• Android apps follow Google’s Material Design principles

By designing with the right standards in mind, you’re making development and testing easier in the long run.

Exploring Figma's Interface and Tools

Figma’s interface is user-friendly and intuitive, even for beginners. Here are the three main areas to get familiar with:

• Top Toolbar: Where you find tools like shapes, text, frames, and more

• Left Panel (Layers): Helps you manage and organize all elements on your canvas

• Right Panel (Properties): Lets you customize size, position, color, and other attributes

Additionally, Figma offers powerful features that make your workflow faster:

• Auto Layout: Automatically resizes elements based on screen changes

• Components: Reusable design elements like buttons or input fields

• Assets Panel: Stores icons, logos, and pre-built design kits

Getting comfortable with these tools now will save you time and effort as your design becomes more complex.

Designing Your First Mobile App UI Step-by-Step

Now that your Figma project is set up, it’s time to bring your mobile app to life. In this section, you’ll learn how to wireframe, design actual screens, and test your prototype—all within Figma.

Building a Wireframe: Layout, Structure, and Flow

A wireframe is a simple blueprint of your app’s interface. It helps you plan the layout and flow before adding visuals. Start by sketching the core screens:

• Home Screen

• Login/Signup

• Profile

• Navigation Tabs or Menu

Use basic shapes like rectangles, circles, and lines to block out key UI elements (e.g., headers, buttons, inputs). Focus on structure and user flow—not colors or images yet.

Keep it grayscale and minimal. This way, you can quickly experiment and adjust layout ideas without being distracted by styling.

Think about:

• Where does the user start?

• What actions can they take?

• How do they navigate from one screen to another?

Designing Screens: Adding Components and Text

Once your wireframe feels solid, start transforming it into a real design. Replace placeholder shapes with actual UI elements. You can:

• Use Figma’s built-in shapes and text tools

• Import a UI kit or design system

• Create your own buttons, cards, and icons

Pay attention to:

• Typography: Use readable fonts and consistent sizes

• Spacing: Keep padding and margins balanced

• Colors: Stick to a color scheme that reflects your brand or app theme

• Hierarchy: Make important buttons and headers stand out

As you design each screen, think about the user experience. Is the layout intuitive? Can users easily find what they need?

Prototyping and Testing Your Mobile App UI

Figma lets you turn your static screens into interactive prototypes without any coding. Here's how:

1. Switch to the Prototype tab.

2. Select a button or element.

3. Drag the arrow to the screen you want it to link to.

4. Set transitions like “On Tap” or “Instant.”

Use this to simulate real app interactions—like navigating from login to dashboard, or opening a settings menu.

Once your prototype is linked, click the “Present” button to preview it. You can also share the prototype with others for feedback or testing on mobile devices.

Prototyping helps identify user experience issues early, saving time and improving your design’s usability.

Conclusion

Designing your first mobile app UI in Figma might feel overwhelming at first, but once you break it down into clear steps, it becomes an exciting and creative journey. You've now learned how to:

• Set up a Figma project specifically for mobile UI design

• Create wireframes that structure your app’s layout and flow

• Design full screens using components, color, and typography

• Prototype and test your app’s functionality with interactive links

By starting with the basics—like selecting the right device size and mastering the interface—you’ve built a solid foundation. As you progressed to wireframing and prototyping, you began to shape your app into something functional and visually engaging.