The Best Free Resources to Learn Design in 2025 (That Worked for Me!)

When I started my design journey, I had no idea where to begin. There were countless resources available, but not all of them were structured or beginner-friendly. After months of trial and error, I found a handful of free resources that truly helped me level up as a designer while balancing a full-time job. In this post, I’m sharing the best free design resources that worked for me, so if you’re transitioning into design in 2025, these can help guide you too!

1. The Course That Started It All: Daniel Scott’s YouTube Series

When I bought my first laptop and decided to learn UI/UX design, I stumbled upon Daniel Scott’s Bring Your Own Laptop YouTube channel. His structured and beginner-friendly UI/UX tutorials gave me a strong foundation to build upon. If you’re just starting, I highly recommend his free UI/UX Design Essentials course on YouTube.

📌 Check it out here: Daniel Scott's UI/UX Design Course

2. 30 Days of Figma: The Ultimate Hands-On Guide

One of the best ways to learn design is by practicing, and 30 Days of Figma helped me master the tool quickly. I created this Notion guide based on my learning journey, and it’s perfect for beginners who want to go from zero to confident in Figma.

📌 Grab the guide here: 30 Days of Figma

3. The YouTube Channels That Helped Me Improve My Design Thinking

While learning design, I discovered two YouTube channels that changed the game for me:

  • Jesse Showalter – Covers UI/UX, web design, and front-end development with real-world project examples.

  • Mizko – Offers advanced insights into UX strategy, product design, and building a design career.

📌 Check out Jesse Showalter’s channel here: Jesse Showalter on YouTube 📌 Check out Mizko’s channel here: Mizko on YouTube

4. The Communities That Kept Me Motivated

Learning alone can be tough, which is why joining design communities was a game-changer for me. These communities helped me stay accountable, learn from others, and get feedback on my work:

  • UXFoundry – A global community for UX designers at all levels.

  • Design Chics – A supportive community for women in design.

  • Lilac Community – Focused on empowering women in tech and design through mentorship and learning.

📌 Join UXFoundry: UXFoundry 📌 Join Design Chics: Design Chics on LinkedIn 📌 Join Lilac Community: Lilac Africa

5. The Best Free Design Tools I Used Daily

Throughout my learning journey, these free tools made design more accessible:

  • Figma – My go-to design tool for UI/UX.

  • Whimsical – Perfect for wireframing and user flows.

  • Notion – Helped me organize my learning and track my progress.

  • Miro – Great for brainstorming and affinity mapping.

📌 Sign up for Figma: Figma 📌 Try Whimsical: Whimsical 📌 Organize with Notion: Notion 📌 Brainstorm with Miro: Miro

Here Are My Final Thoughts: Learn at Your Own Pace

I’m sharing these resources because they helped me grow as a designer while balancing my full-time job. Everyone’s learning journey is different, so take what works for you and move at your own pace. The most important thing is to stay consistent, practice daily, and engage with a community that supports your growth.

If you’re currently transitioning into design or looking to level up, I’d love to hear from you! Which resources have been most helpful to you so far? Drop a comment or reach out—I’m happy to connect and share more insights. 🚀

https://open.substack.com/pub/lyndajirigho/p/the-best-free-resources-to-learn?r=pj1nl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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