AI Prototyping 101: Build Usable Products in Hours, Not Weeks

If I had to teach someone how to actually build usable products with AI, this is where I’d start. Here’s the step-by-step workflow that feels like magic:

THE UNIVERSAL AI PROTOTYPING WORKFLOW

No matter which tool you’re using — v0, Bolt, Replit, or Lovable — this is the backbone of a solid AI build process:

1. Start with Context

AI works way better when it knows what you’re working with.

Figma files are ideal, they give structure and design language. If you don’t have those, use screenshots of your product.”

Worst case? A hand-drawn wireframe is still better than nothing. Without visual context, AI makes blind guesses. And you’ll spend more time correcting its ‘creativity’ than building useful stuff.

2. Write a PRD (Yes, Even for AI)

The better your input, the stronger your first output.

A simple .md file with a few bullet points on what you’re building goes a long way. Include:

• What the customers want
• What the feature does
• Key user flows
• Must-have functionality