# 神山まるごと高専 (KAMIYAMA educational institute) x Figma Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Le7ks0dfw Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/62Le7ks0dfw Generated: 2026-03-08T21:33:34.591+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Students and instructors at Kamiyama Marugoto College utilize Figma extensively for design, prototyping, and collaborative documentation, viewing design as a crucial communication tool that allows for tangible expression of thought processes and emotions, successfully integrating it across various stages of their projects, from initial ideation to final development handoff. **Key Points:** - Students use Figma for group work to generate ideas and refine plans, specifically mentioning tools like FigJam for initial brainstorming (0:04, 0:33). - The curriculum incorporates creating UI designs and prototypes using Figma Design, such as designing an app for a local cafeteria ('Marugoto Shokudou') (0:35, 1:15). - Instructors highlight the seamless integration of design tools, allowing students to move designs directly into presentation slides using Figma Slides, which streamlines the workflow (0:40). - A key advantage of Figma noted by an instructor is the intuitive nature of prototyping, allowing easy sharing of interactive mockups to gather feedback from others (3:03). - Students appreciate that Figma allows them to visualize their thought processes and emotions, turning abstract ideas into concrete deliverables, which is a significant point of satisfaction (3:49, 3:53). - The platform enables team collaboration, allowing groups to organize assets, compile materials, and work on production items entirely within the tool, facilitating smooth handoff to developers (2:35, 2:39). - The overall goal of the education seems to be fostering students who can create things that evoke excitement in people's daily lives, treating design as a communication medium (3:01, 4:07). ![Screenshot at 0:04: A student interview clip showing a young woman discussing how expression can feel isolating, immediately followed by a shot of a laptop screen displaying the FigJam interface with various shapes and components being organized, illustrating the collaborative tool used for initial design stages.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/62Le7ks0dfw/00-00-04.jpg) **Context:** This video showcases the educational environment and workflow at Kamiyama Marugoto College, a specialized high school focused on design and technology, situated in a rural setting surrounded by mountains (0:11). The narrative features interviews with students and instructors discussing their practical application of design software, particularly Figma and FigJam, in their curriculum. They emphasize how these tools facilitate collaboration, prototyping, and the tangible expression of creative and emotional concepts. ## Detailed Analysis The video documents the innovative use of Figma and FigJam at Kamiyama Marugoto College. An instructor, Keita Arai (0:20), states the college aims to foster individuals who can create things that stir emotion using the power of making things, design, and entrepreneurial spirit, developing education that integrates these three elements. Students confirm this practical approach, detailing how they use FigJam for brainstorming and design ideation (0:04). They then proceed to use Figma Design to create UI mockups, such as an app for the local cafeteria, and build interactive prototypes, which are easily shared for feedback loops involving developers (0:35, 3:03). Another instructor, Hideki Motosue (0:41), explains that work created in Figma can be directly transferred to Figma Slides for presentations, ensuring a unified workflow. Students find the ease of use and the ability to visualize abstract thoughts and emotions (3:53) to be major benefits. For instance, one student mentions designing a website for the cafeteria and using components and color sets to maintain consistency (1:19). The ability to work collaboratively on a shared canvas, including sharing assets and compiling documentation, is highlighted as a significant advantage, enabling students to function like professionals and ensuring smooth transitions to the development phase (2:35). Ultimately, the students aspire to become designers who can create work that brings excitement to people's everyday lives (4:07). ### Design Philosophy & Goal - Design is a communication tool - Goal is to create things that evoke excitement in daily life - Fostering entrepreneurial spirit alongside technology and design ### Figma Usage - Group work for idea generation using FigJam - Creating UI designs and interactive prototypes in Figma Design - Seamless transfer of designs to Figma Slides for presentations ### Student Experience - Creating components and color sets for consistency - Enjoyment in meticulously crafting designs until self-satisfaction is achieved - Prototypes simplify communication with developers ### Collaborative Advantages - Easy sharing of prototypes for feedback cycles - Utilizing shared canvases (like FigJam) for collective thinking and visualizing processes - Students operate like professionals in collaborative settings ![Screenshot at 0:17: Keita Arai standing outside the modern school building, emphasizing the integration of creation \('mono'\) and experience \('koto'\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/62Le7ks0dfw/00-00-17.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:28: Two students working together on laptops, demonstrating the collaborative nature of the design classes.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/62Le7ks0dfw/00-00-28.jpg) ![Screenshot at 0:36: Close-up of an iPhone displaying a mobile UI design, alongside a laptop showing the Figma interface where the design was created.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/62Le7ks0dfw/00-00-36.jpg) ![Screenshot at 1:55: Aerial view of the Kamiyama Marugoto College facility, situated in a rural valley beside a river, highlighting the unique architectural setting.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/62Le7ks0dfw/00-01-55.jpg)