In this seminar, we explore Figma as a central tool for digital design – from learning the basics of the interface to building simple workflows and creating interactive prototypes and animations. Alongside practical skills, we also focus on developing a foundational understanding of UX design: How do meaningful user experiences emerge, and how can ideas be communicated clearly, convincingly, and professionally?

Step by step, we will explore Figma’s key features through hands-on exercises and develop small projects that take us from the first concept to an interactive prototype. We will also look into the possibilities and limitations of AI-driven automation within Figma, discussing how these tools can be integrated thoughtfully and elegantly into individual design processes.

For many designers, Figma today is more than just a tool for interface and product design – it’s a versatile platform for collaboration, presentations, and ideation.

The seminar is open to students of all experience levels and provides space to bring in and discuss personal questions, ideas, and projects.
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Johannes Schmidt is a designer and entrepreneur specializing in digital product design, brand development, and user experience design. After training as a media designer and earning his BA and MA in product design at the Kunsthochschule Berlin Weißensee, his work focuses on the intersection of design and technology. His professional experience includes working at Google as a UX designer on AI-powered product features. Today, he runs his own design studio in Vienna, supporting startups and early-stage teams in developing brand identities, digital systems, and product concepts. Alongside his studio practice, he teaches as a guest lecturer at various universities and is working on his research project EdenOS, which explores the design of a new computer operating system and reimagines how we interact with information in the digital space.