Stop trying to create pixel-perfect designs in Figma; its rendering of type and color will never match the browser. Instead, embrace Figma as a rapid, low-fidelity storyboarding tool. Sketch out interaction flows with simple shapes, then feed those images to an AI to build the real thing.

Vercel's Pranati Perry explains that tools like V0 occupy a new space between static design (Figma) and development. They enable designers and PMs to create interactive prototypes that better communicate intent, supplement PRDs, and explore dynamic states without requiring full engineering resources.

AI-powered "vibe coding" is reversing the design workflow. Instead of starting in Figma, designers now build functional prototypes directly with code-generating tools. Figma has shifted from being the first step (exploration) to the last step (fine-tuning the final 20% of pixel-perfect details).

Designing AI experiences in Figma is misleading because it only captures the ideal "golden path." Prototyping in code with live AI models is essential to understand and design for latency, errors, unexpected responses, and the true user "feel" of interacting with an unpredictable system.

For a solo founder moving fast, a comprehensive Figma UI kit is often a waste of time. Instead, use Figma at two extremes: for very rough structural exploration (even wireframing with screenshots) and for creating specific graphic assets (gradients, icons). Build the details directly in code.

AI makes iterating in code as inexpensive as sketching in design tools. This allows teams to skip low-fidelity wireframes and start with functional prototypes, blowing up traditional, linear development processes and reinventing workflows daily.

Instead of creating static mockups in Figma, Cursor's design team prototypes directly in their AI code editor. This allows them to interact with the "life states of the app" and get a more realistic feel for the product, bridging the gap between design and engineering.

AI co-pilots have accelerated engineering velocity to the point where traditional design-led workflows are now the slowest part of product development. In response, some agile teams are flipping the process, having engineers build a functional prototype first and then creating formal Figma designs and UI polish later.

Leverage Figma's AI not for building entire prototypes, but to accelerate the design process. A PM can take an existing design, use Figma Make to generate variations for edge cases or error states, and then share those layered assets back with the designer, saving significant time.