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Material Design 3 for Beginners

Building UI Systems

Roxanne Paulson

This Guided Project "Material Design 3 for Beginners: Building UI Systems" is for beginners interested in UI design using Material Design 3. In this 1-hour long project-based course, you will learn how to to create a color scheme with Material Design 3's color system, select accessible typography that reflects the brand's personality following Material Design 3's typography guidelines, and design shapes using Material Design 3's principles of elevation and shapes, as you build a UI system based on your client’s brand personality using Material Design 3 in Figma. To achieve this, we will work through creating a UI system for a website. This project is unique because it provides hands-on activities that allow you to apply your newly acquired skills in real-time. In order to be successful in this project, you will need access to Figma and a basic understanding of how to use it.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for beginners who are interested in UI design

Provides hands-on activities that allow learners to apply their newly acquired skills in real-time

Explores industry-standard principles of Material Design 3

Involves working through real-world UI design tasks and scenarios

Requires access to Figma and a basic understanding of how to use it

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Reviews summary

Beginner's practical guide to material design 3

According to learners, this course is an excellent introduction and a highly effective practical guide for beginners to Material Design 3, especially its color system and typography. Students consistently highlight its hands-on project-based approach in Figma as a major strength, making concepts tangible and easy to apply. While it provides a solid foundation for new UI designers, some more experienced individuals found it too basic, scratching only the surface of MD3. A few noted that the fast pace might be a challenge without prior Figma knowledge, despite the course stating this prerequisite.

An excellent and concise introduction to Material Design 3 for novices.

"Excellent introduction! I appreciate the practical application of MD3 principles... Perfect for beginners."

"This project delivered exactly what it promised: a beginner's guide to MD3 in Figma. I now feel confident in creating basic UI systems."

"Good course for absolute beginners in Material Design 3. It gives a good overview and the hands-on project is helpful."

"I found this course incredibly helpful for getting started with Material Design 3 concepts."

Offers hands-on activities to apply Material Design 3 principles.

"This guided project was exactly what I needed to quickly grasp the core concepts of Material Design 3 and how to implement them in Figma. The hands-on activity of building a UI system for a website was super practical."

"I appreciate the practical application of MD3 principles. Learning how to create an accessible color palette and apply it was very insightful. The Figma integration was seamless..."

"Applying it directly in Figma made it very tangible. Great for getting started with modern UI design."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

Requires basic Figma understanding; pace can be fast for absolute novices.

"It's okay for a super quick intro. I felt it moved a bit fast, and if you're not already comfortable with Figma, you might struggle to keep up."

"Just make sure you have Figma basics down beforehand, as mentioned in the description. The instructor was clear."

"I already knew Figma, so that part was easy. The pace was good for a beginner."

Content is introductory, potentially too basic for experienced designers.

"Too basic. I was hoping for more advanced techniques or a deeper dive into Material You principles. It literally just scratches the surface."

"The content is basic, but it does touch on the main areas of MD3. Wish it had more complex examples."

"If you're a seasoned designer, this won't offer much new, but perhaps it's fine for someone truly new to UI design."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Material Design 3 for Beginners: Building UI Systems with these activities:

Create a Material Design 3 color palette

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Creating a Material Design 3 color palette will help you understand the principles behind the system and how to apply it to your own projects.

Show steps

Read the Material Design 3 documentation on color
Use Material Design 3's color tool to generate a color palette
Apply your color palette to a Figma design

Create a Material Design 3 typography system

Show steps

Creating a Material Design 3 typography system will help you understand the principles behind the system and how to apply it to your own projects.

Show steps

Read the Material Design 3 documentation on typography
Use Material Design 3's typography tool to generate a typography system
Apply your typography system to a Figma design

Create a Material Design 3 design system

Show steps

Creating a Material Design 3 design system will help you understand the principles behind the system and how to apply it to your own projects.

Show steps

Read the Material Design 3 documentation on design systems
Use Material Design 3's design system tool to generate a design system
Apply your design system to a Figma design

Five other activities

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Follow a Material Design 3 tutorial

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Following a Material Design 3 tutorial will help you learn how to apply the system to your own projects.

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Find a Material Design 3 tutorial
Follow the tutorial steps
Apply what you learned to your own project

Write a blog post about Material Design 3

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Writing a blog post about Material Design 3 will help you solidify your understanding of the system and share your knowledge with others.

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Choose a topic for your blog post
Write a draft of your blog post
Edit and finalize your blog post
Publish your blog post

Give a presentation about Material Design 3

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Giving a presentation about Material Design 3 will help you solidify your understanding of the system and share your knowledge with others.

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Choose a topic for your presentation
Create a slide deck
Practice your presentation
Give your presentation

Participate in a Material Design 3 contest

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Participating in a Material Design 3 contest will help you test your skills and learn from others.

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Find a Material Design 3 contest
Submit your entry
Get feedback on your entry

Contribute to a Material Design 3 open-source project

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Contributing to a Material Design 3 open-source project will help you learn more about the system and contribute to the community.

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Find a Material Design 3 open-source project
Submit a pull request
Get feedback on your pull request

Career center

Learners who complete Material Design 3 for Beginners: Building UI Systems will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Material Design 3 for Beginners: Building UI Systems.

The Elements of Typographic Style

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Considered a foundational text in typography, this book delves into the history, theory, and practice of the craft. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles that govern effective typography, making it essential for anyone seeking a deep and broad knowledge of the subject. It is widely regarded as a classic and a must-read for students and professionals alike.

The Elements of Typographic Style

Hardcover

$$$$

Interaction of Color

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Foundational text in color theory, focusing on how colors change based on their relationships and context. It's filled with exercises that are invaluable for hands-on learning and solidifying understanding of color interactions. Commonly used as a textbook in art and design programs, it's essential for anyone serious about understanding the subjective experience of color.

Material Design 3 for Beginners

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Beginner's practical guide to material design 3

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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