Free · 7 min read
English for designers: where to start
How a designer can improve work English: what B1 and B2 actually mean, which words to learn first, and how to practice on Figma, Material and Apple docs and your own case studies.
- What a B2 requirement in a job post actually means
- Which vocabulary to learn first to read about design
- How to practice English on your own work
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How to start: 5 steps
- 1
Step 1
Understand what the level in a job post means
- 2
Step 2
Check your level for free
- 3
Step 3
Learn the words you see at work
- 4
Step 4
Read documentation instead of a textbook
- 5
Step 5
Write and talk about your work in English
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This guide is for you if you are
Looking for a first design job
Job posts mention an English requirement, and you can't tell whether your level is enough.
Reading with a dictionary open
Tutorials and docs are in English, and every other article goes through a translator.
Nervous about writing and speaking
You understand the text, but an email to a client or a case study in English has been on hold for weeks.
In short
- Levels A1–C2 come from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Read the B1 and B2 descriptions: they say plainly what a person can do.
- Check your level with a free British Council or Cambridge test so you know your starting point.
- Learn the words you see every day first: the Figma interface, deliverable names, research and typography terms.
- Your own work is the best practice: read the Material, Apple and Figma docs and write case studies in English.
- There are free official resources for emails and podcasts at specific levels; paid courses aren't required to start.
How to start: 5 steps
- 1
Step 1
Understand what the level in a job post means
When a job post says B1 or B2, it refers to the CEFR scale created by the Council of Europe. It has six levels in three groups: basic user (A1, A2), independent user (B1, B2) and proficient user (C1, C2). The official global scale briefly describes what a person can do at each level:
- A2: understands frequently used expressions on familiar topics and handles simple routine tasks that need a short exchange of information;
- B1: understands the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters, including work, and can briefly explain opinions and plans;
- B2: understands the main ideas of complex text, including technical discussions in their field, and can explain a viewpoint, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of options;
- C1: understands long, demanding texts and uses the language flexibly, including for professional purposes.
💡 The level in a job post is a guide, not an exam. If it isn't specified, ask the recruiter what you'll actually do in English: read tasks, write to clients or speak on calls.
- 2
Step 2
Check your level for free
To avoid learning everything at once, first find out where you're starting from. Official free options:
- the LearnEnglish level test (British Council): grammar, vocabulary and phrasing questions, each with three answer options; at the end you get an approximate level. The test needs a free account;
- the Cambridge English quick online test: helps you find your level and plan your next step;
- Write & Improve from the University of Cambridge: a free tool that rates your English writing against the CEFR and shows where it could improve.
💡 A test shows grammar and vocabulary, not how you speak. Record a one-minute story in English about your latest project and listen back: you'll hear what to work on.
Show your English case study to people who can help
In the community you can post a draft case study or email and get feedback from designers who already work with international clients. It's free.
Get feedback on my case studyFree. 1,504 designers are already in the community.
- 3
Step 3
Learn the words you see at work
A designer doesn't need to start with everyday topics. Vocabulary that's already in front of you every day works much faster:
- the Figma interface: frame, component, instance, variant, auto layout, prototype, comment;
- deliverables and process: wireframe, mockup, prototype, user flow, design system, handoff;
- research: persona, user interview, usability testing, survey, insight;
- typography and visuals: typeface, font, kerning, tracking, line height, contrast, whitespace.
💡 LearnEnglish suggests noting useful words and phrases, organizing them by topic and testing yourself regularly. Build your own word list with real sentences from the docs. A ready start is our 60-word glossary.
- 4
Step 4
Read documentation instead of a textbook
Official guidelines are written clearly, with images and examples, so they're easier to read than you'd think. And you learn the language and design at the same time:
- Material Design 3: Google's open-source design system; start, for example, with the design tokens section;
- Apple Human Interface Guidelines: guidance and best practices for every Apple platform; the Typography page briefly explains why to avoid light font weights;
- Figma Learn (Help Center): step-by-step articles on the editor's features, such as the Guide to auto layout;
- Nielsen Norman Group: articles and glossaries on UX research and visual design.
💡 Read with a Figma file open: read a paragraph about auto layout, then repeat it right away. What you do with your hands sticks better than a translation.
Writing a case study in English? Show the draft to the community → - 5
Step 5
Write and talk about your work in English
Reading gives you understanding; confidence comes when you write and speak yourself. A few ways to practice on real tasks:
- a portfolio case study: describe one project in English: the problem, your role, the process, the solution, the result. Short sentences beat complex ones;
- emails: the English for emails section on LearnEnglish is designed for A2 and B1 learners and has 9 lessons, from greetings to email etiquette;
- listening: Podcasts for professionals on LearnEnglish are B2-level recordings with transcripts and exercises; BBC Learning English releases 6 Minute English every week;
- speaking: talk through your project out loud in 2 minutes, as if in an interview, and repeat until you stop pausing.
💡 Check your case study in Write & Improve, then show it to people. How to talk to clients about briefs, revisions and deadlines is covered in a separate guide.
You're not alone with these questions
We counted what people ask about most in our community. Learning, portfolios and jobs are near the top, and all three need English sooner or later.
Messages by topic in Spaceberry Community, July 2024 — November 2026. Keyword search.
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AI challenge · May 2025
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Workshop · April 2026
Figmosha: AI in Figma
The tool's author showed how to generate interfaces in Figma and analyze a design system.
Free. 1,504 designers are already in the community.
How to join: 1 minute
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Tap the button
Telegram opens with the Spaceberry community.
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Join
It's free: all you need is a Telegram account.
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Introduce yourself
Say where you're starting from and ask your first question.
Questions and answers
Didn't find your answer? Ask it in the community.
What level of English does a designer need?
It depends on the job. On the CEFR scale, a B1 user understands the main points of clear text on familiar matters, and at B2 the scale already names understanding technical discussions in your field and explaining your viewpoint. If you'll work with international clients or a global team, you'll also need to speak on calls. Look at the requirements of the specific job and ask what you'll actually do in English.
How can I learn English for IT and design quickly?
There's no quick way without practice, but there is an efficient one: learn the language on tasks you already do. Read the Figma, Material and Apple docs, keep a word list with real sentences, write case studies and short emails in English and listen to podcasts at your level regularly. Half an hour a day on work texts does more than a few hours once a week.
Where can I learn English for free?
On the British Council's LearnEnglish, all materials are free and available without an account, organized by level from A1 to C1. There are email lessons for A2–B1 and podcasts for B2. Cambridge English has free activities and a level test, and Write & Improve checks your writing. BBC Learning English publishes new episodes every week, including 6 Minute English.
Can I work as a designer without English?
Yes, if your team and clients speak Ukrainian. But the Material and Apple guidelines, the Figma Help Center and the Nielsen Norman Group articles you'll rely on are written in English, so without a basic understanding you'll learn more slowly. And with international clients you'll need to both write and speak English.
Is the Spaceberry community paid?
No. Spaceberry Community is a free Telegram community supported by Spaceberry Foundation, a non-profit organization. All you need to join is a Telegram account. Inside are 1,504 designers who discuss each other's work, plus regular design games: the same brief for everyone, a deadline and a community vote. Conversations are in Ukrainian.
English comes with practice
Join 1,504 designers who share experience, case studies and advice. Show your first case study in English and get feedback, and add your design game entries to your portfolio. The community talks in Ukrainian.
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Updated · Spaceberry Foundation
Sources:
- Council of Europe — CEFR Global scale, Table 1 (CEFR 3.3): Common Reference levels
- British Council LearnEnglish — Getting started with LearnEnglish
- British Council LearnEnglish — Take free level test
- British Council LearnEnglish — English for emails
- British Council LearnEnglish — Podcasts for professionals
- Write & Improve with Cambridge
- Cambridge English — English language learners
- BBC Learning English
- Material Design 3 — Design tokens
- Apple Human Interface Guidelines — Typography
- Figma Learn — Guide to auto layout in Figma
- Nielsen Norman Group — UX Research Methods: Glossary
- Nielsen Norman Group — Visual Design: Glossary