Prototyping at the Speed of AI: Canvas ’24 Key Takeaways

Imagine the power of designing a prototype in minutes rather than days, with everyone on your team—whether they’re designers or not—fully engaged. At Miro’s Canvas ’24, John Vetan from Design Sprint Academy and Tony Beltramelli from Miro brought this vision to life, showing how AI changes prototyping as we know it.

Prototyping has always been a bit exclusive; it used to demand specialized skills and tools. But with the rise of AI-powered tools like Miro-Uizard Autodesigner 2.0 and Miro Prototyping, prototyping is evolving into a “team sport.” John described early days when prototyping was done in PowerPoint, and while practical, it often led to childish-looking screens. Now, using AI, anyone can build realistic prototypes at speed, giving every team member—product managers, engineers, marketers—a seat at the table.

At Design Sprint Academy, we harness Miro-Uizard’s Autodesigner power to prototype ideas at lightning speed as part of our Design Sprint workshops. We guide diverse, global teams in creating realistic prototypes ready for real-user testing. Since design roles aren’t always present, having AI step in is game-changing. One team member even called it “play mode for prototyping.” Imagine watching AI instantly bring your ideas to life—complete with visuals and text—making it possible to test concepts without needing a professional designer on hand.

This was a truly eye-opening experience. Teams quickly gained insight into product desirability in a single day, allowing for rapid alignment and minimal wasted effort.

Seeing real users interact with a prototype so soon gave teams clarity on which ideas work and which need refining. This shift empowers companies to innovate faster, reducing costly missteps along the way.

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The Four Key Benefits of AI-Driven Prototyping

John and Tony summarized the core benefits beautifully:

• First, teams can quickly test assumptions and get real feedback.
• Second, everyone can participate, turning prototyping into a more inclusive process.
• Third, resources are saved by avoiding premature development work.
• Finally, prototypes make communication with stakeholders so much easier. No need for lengthy explanations—a visual prototype speaks volumes.

Looking Ahead

Canvas ’24 wasn’t just an event; it was an invitation to rethink how we work together. Miro’s tools break down barriers, allowing everyone on a team to create, test, and refine ideas collaboratively and in real time. It’s not just about faster development; it’s about building a culture of creativity, shared ownership, and adaptability—qualities we need now more than ever.

As AI continues to advance, these tools will only get better, promising a future where ideas turn into products faster, easier, and more inclusively. So, what will you prototype next?

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