Hello Design Enthusiasts,
Welcome to today’s edition of our newsletter, where i’ll be delving into 5 prototyping tools you should be familiar with as a creative. I’ll be giving you the features, pricing, ease of use, and learning curve of these popular prototyping tools.
But first, how have you been?
I know you think I abandoned you, or forgot about you. But I assure you, you’re always on my mind. Whenever I open my laptop to work, I see you there. Even when i’m eating, the food starts to look like you. When i’m sleeping as well, I dream about my subscribers. Everything reminds me of every single one of you 😂😂.
You need proof? This letter is my biggest proof. I made sure to include all the details to make up for my absence. So, please walk with me, inugo?
These prototyping tools i’ve carefully selected are user-friendly, designed to help you bring your design ideas to life, create captivating experiences, and collaborate seamlessly.
So, shall we?
1. Figma Advanced Prototyping tool, 2023.
After the Figma Dev-mode update went live, a lot of people began to argue that Figma might compete as a no-code tool in the very near future. What do you think about this? Sense or nonsense? Send your responses so we’ll end this debate once and for all.
Nevertheless, let me give you a bit of what to expect from the advanced prototyping tool update.
The advanced Figma prototyping tool allows you to make more dynamic and realistic prototypes using fewer frames and interactions. Here are some of the features you should know.
The advanced prototyping tool gives you the ability to:
Trigger multiple actions with just one action or create interactive scenarios using conditional logic ("if, then" situations).
Easily set and modify variables to make your prototypes dynamic and responsive.
Use mathematical expressions like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to generate dynamic values for strings or numbers.
These features empower you to create complex and interactive prototypes that accurately represent real-life interactions, resulting in a rich and engaging user experience.
Price: There’s a free plan you can use forever, $12 for professional accounts, $45 for Organizational accounts, and $75 monthly for Enterprises.
It is important to note however, that these advanced prototyping features are available only on the Professional plan and higher.
Want to explore this tool further? Sign up HERE.
2. ProtoPie
ProtoPie is that tool that allows you to create high-fidelity prototypes without requiring any coding skills. This amazing tool is excellent at simulating complex interactions and behaviors. It makes your prototypes feel real and interactive. You can create prototypes that respond just like the final product, making them more engaging for your users.
Ease of Use: ProtoPie is designed with simplicity in mind. You don't need any coding skills to use it effectively. Its intuitive features and controls enable you to quickly master the tool and start creating impressive prototypes.
Learning Curve: ProtoPie has a short learning curve, making it accessible to designers of all levels. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced designer, you can quickly grasp the tool's features and unleash your creativity.
Price: ProtoPie offers flexible pricing options, starting at just $13 per month. This makes it an affordable choice for designers and teams. You can also take advantage of a free trial to explore its capabilities before making a commitment.
Want to join the millions of design enthusiasts who have discovered the magic of ProtoPie? Sign up HERE today, and be ready to conquer the design world in no time!
3. Facebook Origami Studio
I bet you probably didn’t know Facebook had a prototyping tool? You see? that’s why you have me😂.
Origami Studio, developed by Facebook, is a powerful prototyping tool that allows you to create stunning and interactive designs with a focus on user interfaces and animations. In other words, you can Design, animate and prototype at once!
Want to explore more of its key features to see if this is THE ONE? Walk with me.
Ease of Use: Origami Studio offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the prototyping process. Designers can easily drag and drop elements, create interactions, and define animations with intuitive controls. The visual nature of the tool allows you to see your design come to life as you work on it.
Learning Curve: For designers already familiar with similar prototyping tools or have experience in design and animation, the learning curve may be relatively smooth. For a design newbie, you might struggle a bit to find your feet. However, Facebook provides documentation, tutorials, and a supportive community that can aid in your learning process.
Price: The good news? Facebook's Origami Studio is available for free. Facebook has made the software accessible to the design community without any direct cost. How beautiful!
Interested in creating easy prototypes with this free tool? Sign up HERE.
4. Principle
Principle is an exceptional prototyping tool exclusively for macOS users. It focuses on creating stunning animations and seamless transitions, bringing your designs to life. It empowers you to create motion prototypes that captivate and engage your audience.
Ease of use: Principle uses a timeline to create animations. With the timeline, you can define different points in time (keyframes) and transitions between them. This allows you to easily create and modify animations. Principle also provides ready-made interactions and animations that you can customize to fit your design.
Learning Curve: While Principle offers powerful features, it also has a relatively short learning curve. You can quickly grasp the tool's functionalities and start creating impressive motion prototypes in no time. Additionally, the tool provides resources and tutorials to support your learning journey.
Pricing: Principle offers transparent pricing options for its users.
Individual License: One-time payment of $129. With this license, you can install Principle on one computer and use it for your personal design projects.
Business License: The business license is priced at $129 per user, and it also includes volume discounts for larger teams. This license allows you to install Principle on multiple computers within your organization, making it suitable for collaborative design projects.
To signup for Principle to take your prototyping to a whole new level, register HERE.
5. InVision
InVision is a versatile design and prototyping platform that allows designers to create interactive experiences without coding. With its user-friendly interface, designers can easily connect screens, define interactive areas, and add transitions and animations. This enables stakeholders and users to fully experience the design as if it were a real app or website. Here’s more:
Ease of Use: InVision is offers a straightforward and visually appealing interface that makes it relatively easy for designers of all levels to navigate and utilize its features. Creating interactive prototypes, linking screens, and defining interactions can be done with minimal effort and technical expertise.
Learning Curve: The learning curve for InVision is generally considered to be relatively low.
Price: InVision offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different needs. They have a free plan available with limited features, making it accessible to individuals and small teams. They also offer subscription-based plans, such as InVision Starter, InVision Professional, and InVision Enterprise, with varying levels of features, collaboration capabilities, and team size allowances.
Do you want to explore this tool in your free time? Signup to InVision HERE .
Now that you have these easy tools on your fingertips, which of them would you be trying out for your next design.
I hope you found this newsletter helpful. I’ll be expecting your response soon. Do write back to me if there are more amazing tools you think I missed out.
In the meantime, who is ready to apply for remote design openings from around the world?
Who’s Hiring?
Product Designer at Montra
Must Have
2-5 yrs of UI/UX design experience
Proficient in working collaboratively in Figma
Obsessed with crafting simple and gorgeous user experiences
A robust portfolio of past work/projects demonstrating your ascetic and abilities to simplify complex problems
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Interested in this position? Apply HERE.
Product Designer at Expensify(Visa Sponsorship Available)
We’re looking for someone who:
Has a high level of proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite
Has experience designing, building, and shipping end-to-end user flows
Is comfortable working on front end issues and has a strong grasp of HTML and CSS basics
Has a solid portfolio with an emphasis on product design
Has a passion for detail, and an excellent use of type and layout in both digital and print
Can effectively communicate ideas to teammates through mockups, prototypes, and concise written communication
Interested in this position? Apply HERE.
Founding Product Designer (who can code) at MoveAI
Must haves
Proficiency in rapid prototyping and interface design tools such as Figma.
Demonstrated ability to design user-centric products based on user research.
Proven ability to identify and address root problems efficiently.
Direct, straightforward communication style, able to convey complex concepts with clarity.
Ability to work independently and make quick decisions based on your experience and judgement.
A track record of shipping high-quality software products on time.
Experience with agile development methodologies and a preference for a fast-paced, iterative design and development process.
Familiarity with modern frontend frameworks and libraries (React, Vue, Angular).
Interested in this remote position? Apply HERE.
That’ll be all for today. Let me know what you’d like to see in the next newsletter.
See you next Friday, and don’t forget to stay world class 🚀
Wow I didn't know about Facebook's Origami till now, will try it out. Thanks for the tip chief.