The AI-Native Design Gap: From Static to Dynamic Experiences
Here's something I see all the time: teams spend weeks perfecting static mockups in Figma, present them with confidence, and then watch as stakeholders nod politely but don't quite get it. Why? Well, we're designing static artifacts for dynamic experiences.
Every scroll, swipe, and tap in a real product triggers visual feedback. It's how users actually understand what's happening. Yet we keep pitching ideas as if they exist in freeze-frame.
The AI-Native Design Challenge
This gap matters more than ever, especially if you're working on AI-native products. Whether it's OpenAI's ChatGPT, Perplexity's search interface, or Claude's conversations—these products are rewriting the rules of digital interaction. They're introducing entirely new patterns: streaming responses, conversational flows, adaptive interfaces that feel less like traditional apps and more like living dialogues. Even more so if the interactions include voice motion which is supposed to react to the user's voice.
You can't capture that in a static frame. You have to show it in motion.
Why Interaction Design Is an Unlocked Skill
Here's the thing about motion and interaction design: it's a toolkit you unlock through experimentation, not strictly tied to theory or studies. You learn it by thinking about physics, natural movement, user intent—concepts you absorb from using dozens of different apps and noticing what feels right. Think about it, try to explain a motion ui pattern to someone, try to explain the core concept of what you have in your mind. It's difficult… It's open to interpretation of the person to whom you're explaining it to, and limited by their imagination (which is highly likely different from yours).
This creates a knowledge gap. Most designers haven't had the chance to experiment enough with motion to build that intuition. But here's what I've learned: even designing interactions frame-by-frame, storyboard-style like old Disney animations, can be enough to transform how you communicate ideas. It forces you to think through every transition, every state change, every moment of feedback.
And it doesn't just help you—it helps engineering understand exactly what you're trying to build.
Design Is Taking the Spotlight Again
We're in an exciting moment. With AI tools and no-code platforms, pretty much anyone can spin up a functional prototype. The technical barrier to entry has lowered significantly.
What does that mean? Design becomes the differentiator. When everyone can build something that works, the products that win are the ones that feel incredible to use. Motion, polish, and thoughtful interaction patterns aren't nice-to-haves anymore—they're what separates successful products from forgettable ones.
My Approach: Build to Learn
I try to ship a hackathon-style project every quarter. Not because I need more side projects, but because it's the only way to stay ahead and fresh. New patterns emerge constantly. AI products iterate at light speed. Existing products unveil interactions you never even considered.
The only way to keep your intuition sharp is to experiment relentlessly with what's out there.
This comes from personal experience. My background has helped me a lot in this area—I started as a designer, shifted to software engineering, and eventually came back to design. That engineering foundation changed everything. I can quickly prototype motion patterns directly in code (often faster than in design tools), play with them until something clicks, then bring those learnings back to Figma to polish everything together.
This workflow might sound backwards, but to me, it makes sense and it just works: code/define the motion first, design and polish last. Code gives you the freedom to experiment rapidly. Spin up prototypes quickly, and gather feedback. Design tools give you the precision to perfect it.
The Practical Takeaway
If you're trying to sell an idea—whether to stakeholders, users, or investors—don't stop at static screens. Invest time in showing how it moves. Show how it responds. Show how it feels.
You don't need to be an engineer to do this. Start simple:
- Sketch interaction sequences frame-by-frame
- Use Figma's prototyping features to simulate key transitions
- Try tools like ProtoPie, Lottie Lab for more complex motion
- Or, if you're comfortable with code, prototype directly in React or HTML
The medium matters less than the commitment: design for motion, not just for pixels.
Because in an era where AI is democratizing creation, the products that win won't just work—they'll feel magical. And you can't explain magic in a static mockup.
