Breaking into UX design can feel overwhelming. With so many tools out there, it’s easy to feel behind. But you don’t need to master them all. A few solid tools are enough to help you design interfaces, test ideas, and collaborate effectively.
Among the many platforms available, three UX design tools for beginners stand out: Figma, Maze, and Rive. Each plays a unique role in the UX process, and together they provide a strong foundation to build on.
How the Right Tools Shape Your UX Design Journey
UX design is about solving problems and creating experiences that feel intuitive. Choosing the right tools matters because they shape how you approach the design process and how effectively you can communicate ideas.
The right UX tools allow you to:
Map out user journeys and organise ideas clearly
Create wireframes and interfaces that communicate solutions visually
Prototype without coding to test ideas quickly
Gather real feedback from users before investing in development
Collaborate seamlessly with teammates and clients
Starting with the wrong tools can lead to frustration or wasted effort. But starting with tools that balance simplicity and power makes learning smoother and more rewarding.
Best UX Design Tools for New Designers
Here are three beginner-friendly tools that cover the main stages of the UX process: planning, designing, prototyping, testing, and adding motion. Each one is widely used in the industry and powerful enough to grow with you.
If you ask most UX designers which tool they use daily, chances are they’ll say Figma. It has become the industry standard because it combines design, prototyping, and collaboration in one place.
Key Features of Figma
Beginner-friendly interface: Clean, simple, and easy to learn compared to older tools.
Real-time collaboration: Like Google Docs for design, multiple people can work on the same file at once.
Cross-platform access: Works directly in your browser, with desktop and mobile apps available.
Prototyping built-in: Connect screens to create clickable flows without third-party tools.
Plugins and widgets: Thousands of free resources for icons, mockups, stock photos, and automation.
Why Beginners Should Use Figma
For beginners, Figma is more than a design tool, it is a training ground. You will learn how to create wireframes, design polished interfaces, and share prototypes for feedback. Because it is used by startups, agencies, and tech giants alike, knowing Figma also makes you more employable.
Great UX design is not based on guesses. It is based on understanding how people actually use your product. Maze makes this possible by helping designers test prototypes with real users quickly and at scale.
Key Features of Maze
Remote user testing: Share a link to your prototype, and users can test it from anywhere.
Actionable analytics: Heatmaps, success rates, and click paths show exactly how people navigate.
Surveys and feedback forms: Collect insights directly after each test.
Seamless integration with Figma: Import Figma prototypes directly into Maze for testing.
Why Beginners Should Use Maze
Many beginners skip testing and focus only on visuals. Using Maze introduces you to the habit of validating ideas with real users, even at an early stage. This builds a problem-solving mindset and helps you understand that design is not just about how things look. It is about how they work.
Modern UX design does not stop at static interfaces. Motion and interactivity are becoming essential parts of the user experience, and Rive helps designers create them. It is a tool for building vector animations and interactive content that run smoothly across platforms.
Key Features of Rive
Interactive animations: Create designs that respond to clicks, taps, or hovers.
Works everywhere: Use your animations in apps, websites, or even games.
Easy exports: Save animations as GIFs, videos, or lightweight files for apps.
Team collaboration: Share files and work together with teammates.
Light and fast: Animations are smooth and don’t slow down your design.
Why Beginners Should Use Rive
While Rive has a bit of a learning curve, starting with it introduces you to the growing importance of motion in UX. You will learn how to create animations that respond to user input, making designs feel more dynamic and alive. Rive also prepares you for the reality that modern UX often blends design and interaction. Even simple animations, such as button transitions or onboarding sequences, can dramatically improve usability and delight users.
Building a Beginner-Friendly UX Workflow
Learning UX design is not just about knowing tools. It is about understanding how they connect in a workflow. Here is how Figma, Maze, and Rive complement each other:
Plan and Design with Figma: Create wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.
Validate with Maze: Share prototypes with users, test usability, and gather insights.
Bring Designs to Life with Rive: Add motion and interactivity to make experiences engaging and dynamic.
This three-step approach gives you a full cycle of UX design from idea to tested, interactive solution without overwhelming you with unnecessary tools.
Final Thoughts
Starting your UX design journey can feel daunting, but it becomes much easier when you focus on the right tools. Figma, Maze, and Rive cover everything a beginner needs: planning, designing, prototyping, testing, and adding motion.
By mastering these three, you will not only learn the technical side of design but also develop the habits that make UX designers successful: collaboration, iteration, and user-centered thinking.
The tools are just the beginning. What matters most is using them to solve real problems and create designs that make life easier for people. Learn these now, and you will be ready to grow into more advanced tools and workflows as your career progresses.
