AI-assisted UI generation and rapid prototyping

Let’s be honest... the sheer volume of noise surrounding Artificial Intelligence right now is exhausting and all over the place. Every tool has a “generate” button, and social media (LinkedIn especially) is full of people proclaiming the end of traditional design jobs.

As a product designer, I initially approached this wave with skepticism. I enjoy designing. I like solving complex problems. I was not looking for a machine to do my job for me.

However, almost two years has passed since those early iterations and ignoring AI is no longer an option. Instead of viewing it as a replacement, I have spent my recent time treating AI as a very fast and somewhat literal-minded supporter. The goal is not to let it design the final product. The goal is to clear the path so I have more time for actual critical thinking.

Here is a look at how I have started integrating these tools into my daily workflow:

AI didn’t change what I design. It changed how I design.

Over the past several months, my design process hasn’t just evolved — it’s been fully restructured. My AI tool stack isn’t something I use occasionally; it is an operational layer embedded into my day-to-day and across discovery, ideation, prototyping, validation, and delivery.

This article outlines how I structure projects using AI models — primarily Claude and ChatGPT — alongside specialized tools such as Figma Make and Amplitude.

I’m working on a capstone project where we’re building an MVP. I used Figma Make to generate the interface, but I structured the workflow intentionally. I tested different prompting strategies (single-shot vs. iterative/multi-step) and refining outputs through multiple rounds of usability testing.

The full project still includes:
- problem framing and research
- user interviews and validation
- UX flows and system architecture
- iterative prototyping (using Figma Make as a generation tool)
- usability testing and iteration
- business planning for launch

So the product strategy, UX decisions, and testing are mine, but Figma Make was used primarily to accelerate UI generation.

From a hiring manager or recruiter perspective, would this be considered valid portfolio work? Or would using generative tools weaken how it’s perceived?

Would love honest opinions.

I just dropped a 10 minute UI masterclass.

In the era of AI-built interfaces, design is the moat.

I started with a basic layout generated in Figma Make (Gemini), then iterated on it heavily in Figma until it felt premium and intentional.

After 10+ years in UI, this is the exact process I use to design a premium-looking interface.

Dear junior designers: AI is not your competition.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. There are so many conversations about what AI means for early-career designers. I understand the anxiety. Big shifts in our craft can feel unsettling.

I use AI every day now and hasn’t made me feel replaceable. If anything, it's made me more focused. And it can be that for you too.

On a recent project, instead of spending hours manually exploring layout variations or refining early drafts, I used AI to prototype and build interactions in real time which gave me more space to focus on what actually moves the work forward:
• Direction
• Systems thinking
• Clarity
• Storytelling

AI felt like an assistant not the designer.

And here’s what I want you to hear:
Your value was never just in knowing the tools. Tools will continue to evolve. They always have.

What matters is how you think. How you see. How you care about the people on the other side of the screen.

This moment might actually give you an advantage, instead of spending years only executing, you can:
• Explore more ideas, faster
• Participate in strategic conversations earlier
• Develop judgment through iteration
• Build a stronger point of view

That’s growth.

Yes, this is a new chapter for design. It can feel uncomfortable.
But evolution in our craft is not a signal to step back. It is an invitation to step up.

If you are graduating or still building your foundation, keep going.
Stay curious.
Learn the tools.
Ask better questions.
Pay attention to what makes work meaningful.

AI will change workflows.
It will not replace empathy, taste, discernment, or care.

Design has always been about solving real problems for real people.
That hasn’t changed. If anything, you now have more leverage to practice that sooner.

And that is something to feel hopeful about.

Figma AI just went from “cool beta feature” to “everywhere in my workflow.” As a Designer, this changes how we design, review and ship interfaces.

In early 2026, Figma rolled out full AI features to all users. You can now generate layouts from prompts, tweak visuals with AI and even create prototypes without touching a frame first.

Last week I rebuilt part of my UI process around it. Here is what actually worked:

𝟭. 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀
 • I now start with a prompt like
 • “Create a mobile dashboard for a fintech app with cards for balance, recent transactions and quick actions.”
 • Figma AI gives me 3 to 5 starting points that I refine instead of drawing rectangles for 30 minutes.

𝟮. 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 “𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳” 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
 • Instead of 10 manual variants, I ask
 • “Try a more minimal style” or “Push this towards a dark, high contrast theme.”
 • It is perfect for exploring extremes while I stay focused on information architecture and flows.

𝟯. 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗷𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲
 • It is great at speeding up layout, components and visual polish.
 • It is bad at understanding edge cases, accessibility trade offs and product strategy. That is still my job.

𝟰. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿
 • Developers can react to AI generated screens earlier.
 • Stakeholders react better to “something real” instead of low fidelity boxes, which shortens the feedback loop.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆

AI inside Figma is not replacing my UX work. It is removing the mechanical parts so I can spend more time on research, flows and interaction details.

If you are a UX or product designer
Would you let AI handle your first draft layouts or do you still prefer starting from scratch

Reply with “AI first” or “Manual first” and tell me why.

I'm writing this as a designer who uses AI tools every single day and is actively leading AI adoption on my team. I use AI for first drafts, exploring directions, and speeding up production, then apply human judgment to refine and make the final decisions. I also document what works and share playbooks, so our team treats AI as a tool (not a threat) while shifting my focus from maker to decision-maker.

Most designers are using AI wrong. They ask it to create everything.
I use it to think better.

Here's how AI fits into my design process 
1. Idea Exploration
Before touching a single pixel, I use AI to generate multiple positioning angles for a product or concept. One idea becomes five. Five become direction.

2. Content & Messaging Clarity
Strong design starts with strong communication. AI helps refine hooks, headlines, and structure before visuals come in.

3. Moodboarding & Layout Thinking
I explore style directions, composition variations, and visual hierarchy faster, so I design with intention, not guesswork.

4. Faster Iterations
Instead of staring at a blank screen, I start with momentum.

I test concepts quicker.
I refine smarter.

But here's the important part:
AI gives options. ✅ I make decisions.
AI speeds execution. ✅ I bring taste.
Creativity is still human. AI just removes friction.

Designers who learn to collaborate with AI, not compete with it will grow faster.