The handoff between AI generation and manual refinement is a major friction point. Tools like Subframe solve this by allowing users to seamlessly switch between an 'Ask AI' mode for generative tasks and a 'Design' mode for manual, Figma-like adjustments on the same canvas.

The core advantage demonstrated was not just improving a single page, but generating three distinct, high-quality redesigns in under 20 minutes. This fundamentally changes the design process from a linear, iterative one to a parallel exploration of options, allowing teams to instantly compare and select the best path forward.

Instead of writing detailed specs, product teams at Google use AI Studio to build functional prototypes. They provide a screenshot of an existing UI and prompt the AI to clone it while adding new features, dramatically accelerating the product exploration and innovation cycle.

To break out of a linear design path, use AI tools that can generate multiple, distinct design options from a single prompt or command. For example, Magic Patterns’ '/inspiration' command produces four variants, allowing for rapid brainstorming and side-by-side comparison of different approaches.

Instead of asking designers to create mockups from a verbal brief, PMs can use AI tools to generate multiple visual explorations themselves. This allows them to bring more concrete, refined ideas to the table, leading to a richer and more effective collaboration with the design team.

A practical AI workflow for product teams is to screenshot their current application and prompt an AI to clone it with modifications. This allows for rapid visualization of new features and UI changes, creating an efficient feedback loop for product development.

Leverage AI as an idea generator rather than a final execution tool. By prompting for multiple "vastly different" options—like hover effects—you can review a range of possibilities, select a promising direction, and then iterate, effectively using AI to explore your own taste.

A meta-workflow is emerging where designers use AI prompts not just to build the prototype, but to build tools *within* it. Examples include creating live version pickers for stakeholders or generating a markdown file that lists and controls all component states, effectively prompting a custom handoff tool.

AI often generates several good ideas across multiple prototypes. Instead of recreating them manually, use a tool like Subframe that allows you to directly drag and drop components from one AI-generated variant into another. This 'kitbashing' approach accelerates the creation of a polished design.