Instead of starting in Figma, prototype complex web animations using "gray boxing," a technique from game development. By using basic shapes and code (like HTML/CSS/3JS) to define the core flow and feel, you can validate the interaction's energy before investing in detailed visuals.
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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.
To bridge the gap between design and code, use a control panel library like Leva. Ask your AI assistant to implement it, giving you real-time sliders and inputs to fine-tune animation timings, easing curves, and other interaction parameters without constantly rewriting code.
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).
Elevate web interactions beyond standard animations by adapting real-time physics techniques from game development. Using libraries like "Wiggle Bones," designers can create dynamic, responsive objects (like the Amy balloons) that feel alive, providing a signature "fidget toy" experience that canned animations can't replicate.
When building his own site, MDS doesn't aim for pixel-perfect Figma files. He gets the design to 85% completion, establishing the core direction, and then moves to code to finalize details like hover states and animations where the interactive "feel" is paramount.
AI coding agents enable "vibe coding," where non-engineers like designers can build functional prototypes without deep technical expertise. This accelerates iteration by allowing designers to translate ideas directly into interactive surfaces for testing.
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.
When working on a complex website, de-risk the development of new, intricate features by building them in a completely separate repository. Use "gray boxing" to nail the feel and get approval on the isolated prototype before attempting to integrate it into the main, complex codebase.
To rapidly iterate on interactive ideas in code, create your own version of "Command D." Instead of hard-coding values, build a simple control panel with variables for parameters like speed or distance, allowing for easy adjustment and testing of multiple variations.
Reverse the traditional design process by focusing on the "liveliness" of a site from the outset. While visuals and copy can remain low-fidelity placeholders, investing in high-fidelity transitions and motion early on establishes the core interactive feel, which is often the most crucial part of the user experience.