Educators and students - get Figma graphic design software free
Tags: tips, design, free, figma
Published: 2020-07-17 14:33:41

---
title: Educators and students - get Figma graphic design software free
description:  "You never know when a giveaway might go away"
published: true
date: 2020-07-17 13:00:00 UTC
tags: tips,design,free,figma
canonical_url: https://katiekodes.com/figma-education-signup/
---

Figma is a really neat graphic design tool. I’ll let people who actually know what they’re doing tell you why.  
  
I’m just here to say that if you have a “.edu” address or otherwise qualify, get it free while you can.

I'm also here to screenshot a few hard-to-find parts of the post-verification process.

## Create an account

Go to [https://www.figma.com/signup](https://www.figma.com/signup) and create an account _with a “.edu” e-mail address_.

Or, if you have an existing account, change its e-mail address to your “.edu.”

Their [pricing FAQ](https://www.figma.com/pricing-faq/) says even bootcamps count, so give educational verification a try even if you don’t have a classic “.edu” e-mail address.  You might just be lowering your chances of automatic validation.

Don’t forget to check your e-mail and confirm with Figma that you legitimately own this e-mail address.

## Log in

Go to [https://www.figma.com/login](https://www.figma.com/login) and log in with your “.edu” account if not yet logged in.

## Apply

Once logged in, go to [https://www.figma.com/education/apply](https://www.figma.com/education/apply).

Fill in your name, school name, and school web site.

Chances are you’ll be automatically verified if you go to a big enough school whose domain they can use a computer to auto-check.

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/00-verif.png)

Otherwise, you might have to wait a bit while they verify you’re legit.

## Benefits apply team-by-team

While your whole account is verified, you have to attach your “free plan” teach “team” your Figma projects are organized into one at a time.

### Create a new “Team”

Let’s start by seeing how you’d set up a new team under the Education plan.

Go to [https://www.figma.com/files/create-team](https://www.figma.com/files/create-team) and enter some sort of team name and click “ **Create Team**.”

This is just for proof-of-concept purposes – you can upgrade old teams that include verified fellow “.edu” folks later.

I called mine `demo_upgrading_to_education`.

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/01-create-team.png)

When prompted to add collaborators, click “ **Skip for now**.”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/02-skip-collaborators.png)

When prompted to choose a team plan, click “ **Choose Education**.”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/03-education-plan.png)

Click “ **Accept Terms and Upgrade**.”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/04-accept-terms.png)

You should be taken to a page along the lines of `https://www.figma.com/files/team/12345/demo_upgrading_to_education` with a temporary blue “toast” flashing on the page saying:

> “Successfully upgraded to an Education Team!”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/05-upgrade-success.png)

Congratulations – you now have unlimited projects within your new “team.”

### Upgrade an old “Team”

You might notice that Figma came with a team that had a “First Project” project in it, called “ **`YourFirstName`’s Team**.”

Let’s see how you’d upgrade that one to an “Education Plan” _(presuming you haven’t added anyone to it who isn’t a verified education user)_.

From your home page at [https://www.figma.com/files/recent](https://www.figma.com/files/recent), click the “ **Upgrade** ” button in the left navigation.

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/06-upgrade-button.png)

When prompted, click “ **Choose Professional** ” despite the scary $12/month pricetag.

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/07-choose-pro.png)

Click “ **Upgrade** ” next to “ **`YourFirstName`’s Team**.”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/08-choose-team.png)

Don’t bother adding any editors. Instead, below the price tag, drop down the picklist that currently reads “ **Annual Plan** ” and select “ **Education Plan** ” instead, then click “ **Continue**.”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/09-picklist-editors.png)

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/10-editors-continue.png)

Click “ **Accept Terms and Upgrade**.”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/11-ed-terms.png)

You should be taken to a page along the lines of `https://www.figma.com/team/98765/admin` with a temporary blue “toast” flashing on the top of the page saying:

> “Successfully upgraded to an Education Team!”

![Screenshot](https://katiekodes.com/images/screenshots/screenshot-figma-education-2020-07/12-upgrade-success.png)

## Enjoy Figma and watch your status

You’re in! Head back to your Figma home page at [https://www.figma.com/files/recent](https://www.figma.com/files/recent) and enjoy this fun tool.

Be sure to check out the starter draft projects visible on the home page:

1. Figma Basics
2. Prototyping in Figma
3. Wireframing in Figma

Here’s [Figma’s official documentation](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/categories/360002042553-Using-Figma).

[Figma’s pricing FAQ](https://www.figma.com/pricing-faq/) points out that you have to re-validate your “.edu”-ness every 2 years.

## Further reading

- [Official education account tutorial from Figma](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041061214-Verify-your-Education-status)
- [Figma’s official documentation](https://help.figma.com/hc/en-us/categories/360002042553-Using-Figma)
- [Dev.to "Figma" tag](https://dev.to/t/figma/latest)
- [Learn Figma Basics](https://dev.to/raoufbelakhdar/learn-figma-basics-part-1-introduction-to-figma-user-interface-13l8), a series by Raouf Belakhdar {% link https://dev.to/raoufbelakhdar/learn-figma-basics-part-1-introduction-to-figma-user-interface-13l8 %}