Smarter prototyping: How designers can use variables to build realistic flows
In UX design, prototyping is no longer just about creating static mockups - it’s about simulating real product behavior. But how do you make your Figma prototypes feel dynamic and interactive without duplicating dozens of screens?
The Challenge of Realistic Prototypes
Struggling to keep your Figma prototypes realistic without creating hundreds of static frames? One of the biggest challenges in UX design is simulating real user flows - especially when dealing with dynamic states, shopping carts, or conditional feedback. These complexities often demand dev time or complex logic that’s hard to simulate at the design stage.
Enter Smart Prototyping with Variables
Have you tried using Figma’s new variables to make your prototypes smarter?
We recently explored how Figma variables and modes can solve this problem. With just a few well-placed modes and expressions, we recreated:
Real-time cart logic
Conditional screen behavior
Dynamic content updates based on user actions
This new level of design automation allows designers to embed real logic directly into the prototype - updating values, switching states, and even performing calculations like price totals - all without touching a line of code.
From Tedium to Efficiency
Do you know why building in Figma is no longer such a tedious process?
Because with variables, modes, and expressions, designers can now create interactive prototypes that closely reflect how the final product will behave.
You can:
Update prices and counters in real-time
Show/hide content based on interactions
Simulate full user flows from selection to submission
Avoid the need to duplicate screens for every variation
We used this approach ourselves to build smarter, more testable flows - and the result was faster approvals, better feedback, and reduced developer involvement early on.
Final Thoughts
This shift to smart prototyping bridges the gap between design and development. It saves time, reduces risk, and empowers designers to take control of logic and behavior from the very beginning of the product journey.
If you’re looking to make your design process faster, leaner, and more intuitive - explore how Figma prototyping with variables can transform the way you build user experiences.