1. Observe
Screen-record apps you admire and play the recordings slowly. Notice what moves first, how long it takes and how it settles.
2. Learn the fundamentals
Durations (most UI motion is 150 to 400 ms), easing (ease-out for entering, ease-in for leaving), springs (stiffness and damping), staggering and choreography. Read Material Design and Apple's Human Interface Guidelines on motion.
3. Rebuild small components
A button press, a toggle switch, a loading-to-success animation, a modal open and close, and a list where items are added and removed. Each teaches something different.
4. Handle the hard parts
What happens if the user taps again mid-animation? What does reduced motion look like? What about slow networks? These questions separate UI animation from decoration.
5. Use a tool that ships
Figma is great for exploring. Then pick one route to production: CSS and Motion if you code, or Rive or ExodeUI if you prefer visual tools whose files run in apps. We make ExodeUI.
6. Get feedback
Share small pieces often. Ask people how it feels, not just how it looks.