Figma + Lambda School: Where the remote classroom comes together to learn | Figma Blog

Figma’s collaboration features help Lambda School recreate the engagement and hands-on interaction of an in-person design classroom online. Students learn through shared presentations, live design work, peer feedback, and visible iteration rather than passively watching lectures. Because their work remains organized in Figma, the same files also support portfolio creation and continued peer learning.

Interactive, Collaborative Lessons

• Lambda School is a nine-month, live online program offering training in web development, mobile development, data science, and UX design.
• Instructors present lessons in Figma during video conferences, allowing students to:
  • Zoom into designs and examine details.
  • Scroll through examples independently.
  • Use visible cursors to follow specific points in a presentation.
• Students create and refine designs directly in shared Figma files.
• Everyone can observe work in progress, learn from classmates, provide feedback, and remix existing designs.
• This mirrors the collaborative workflows students will encounter on professional design teams.

Real-Time and Asynchronous Feedback

• Students and instructors can comment, tap each other for input, and work together in the same file.
• Open audio, browser-based editing, and comments let students collaborate without constantly interrupting one another.
• Students can work independently while classmates observe, take notes, or leave comments for later review.
• When needed, an instructor or peer can join in and directly adjust pixels alongside the student.
• Voting tools, such as stars, also encourage students to recognize and respond to one another’s work.

A Lasting Record for Portfolios

• Figma automatically preserves students’ designs, revisions, and project history.
• This makes it easier to assemble a professional portfolio without searching through scattered files.
• Students can focus more on interviews and career preparation while still presenting their development process.
• Classmates’ work remains accessible after lessons, creating an ongoing resource for inspiration and learning.
• The approach supports Lambda School’s broader career mission, which includes coaching, mentors, and connections to hiring partners.

Figma’s use at Lambda School demonstrates how collaborative design tools can make remote education interactive, social, and career-oriented. Programs teaching practical creative skills can benefit from combining live instruction with shared workspaces that preserve feedback, iteration, and student progress.