UI Design with AI, For Free

A Step-by-Step Guide

Author

Jad
October 12, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Hey there, design enthusiasts! 👋

Ever wondered how to bring your app ideas to life without breaking the bank? Well, you're in for a treat! Today, we're diving into the exciting world of AI-assisted app design. I'll walk you through my process of creating an app from scratch, all with the help of some nifty AI tools. The best part? You can do it all for free (with some smart planning)!

What We'll Cover

  • Requirements gathering

  • User flow diagramming

  • Wireframing

  • UI design

  • Prototyping

The Tools:

Before we jump in, let's take a quick look at our AI-powered toolkit:

  1. Claude: Our brainstorming buddy for requirements and ideation.

  2. UX Pilot: Our diagram and wireframe wizard (available as a FigJam plugin and web app).

  3. Visily: Our UI design and prototyping powerhouse.

Remember, these tools offer free plans with limited usage. But don't worry – I'll show you how to make the most of them without exceeding those limits!

Let's Get Designing!

Step 1: Gather Requirements

First things first, we need to know what we're building! I asked Claude to play the role of a client and provide requirements for a new project. In this case, we're designing a premium meal delivery service app. How fancy!

Step 2: Create a User Flow Diagram

Time to visualize our app's structure! Here's what we did:

  1. Opened FigJam and launched the UX Pilot plugin.

  2. Pasted our requirements into the prompt field.

  3. Generated a user flow diagram.

  4. Tweaked the layout for better readability.

Step 3: Wireframe Your Heart Out

Now for the fun part – wireframing! We used UX Pilot's web platform for this:

  1. Created a new project in UX Pilot.

  2. Added screens for each main page (dashboard, meal plans, checkout, etc.).

  3. Described the content for each screen based on our requirements.

  4. Generated wireframes with a single click!

Step 4: Bring Your Design to Life

With our wireframes in hand, it's time to add some pizzazz:

  1. Took screenshots of our UX Pilot wireframes.

  2. Imported them into Visily using the "Screenshot to Design" feature.

  3. Applied a design theme to instantly transform our wireframes into high-fidelity designs.

Step 5: Polish and Prototype

The final stretch! Here's how we put the finishing touches on our app:

  1. Created a consistent navigation bar and applied it across all screens.

  2. Reviewed and refined each page's content and layout.

  3. Used Visily's prototyping features to add interactivity.

  4. Tested our prototype to ensure a smooth user experience.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it – your very own AI-assisted app design! While AI tools are incredibly helpful in kickstarting the design process, remember that there's still room for human creativity and refinement. Use these tools as a springboard for your ideas, and don't be afraid to add your personal touch to make your app truly shine.

Have you tried designing an app with AI? I'd love to hear about your experiences! Drop a comment below or reach out if you have any questions. Happy designing, and I'll catch you in the next update!

Stay creative, Jad

Watch the full video on Youtube