In a recent webinar, designer Yushi Xiang shared valuable insights on how to integrate ProtoPie into your design workflow to boost efficiency and create powerful, interactive prototypes. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways on using ProtoPie from concept to completion, building smarter prototypes, and even integrating with hardware.

ProtoPie isn't just for building high-fidelity mockups; it can support the entire design process from start to finish.

Before you even begin a design, use ProtoPie to create a low-fidelity or quasi-high-fidelity model to test if your concept is feasible. This quick validation step can save significant time and resources if the idea isn’t viable.

Once a concept is confirmed, translate your static designs into a high-fidelity prototype. This makes it easy to share the design with colleagues and get a feel for the overall interaction logic and aesthetics. It also serves as a crucial tool for presenting your design to stakeholders to get their approval quickly.

Create a final, polished high-fidelity model to conduct usability tests. This allows you to get user feedback on new features, which you can use to refine your solution before it’s developed. When conducting these tests, focus on key metrics like 

 to ensure the new design is intuitive and effective.

Part 2: Building Standardized and Efficient Prototypes

To create prototypes more quickly and maintain consistency, Yushi recommends a standardized approach to building your components.

Before you start a new prototype, take these three steps to improve your productivity by at least 30%:

: Use clear, accurate names for your layers so you can easily find them when creating interactions in ProtoPie.

: Organize your layers and export frequently used elements, like icons, as images in advance. If you're using Figma's 

, remember to clean up the container layers after importing the file to make your ProtoPie workspace easier to navigate.

: Pinpoint components you use often so you can later encapsulate them into 

. This ensures design consistency, improves efficiency, and makes it easier to collaborate with others.

Encapsulation allows you to create reusable components, saving you from repetitive work and ensuring a consistent design system.

: Start by encapsulating an atomic component, like a unidirectional slider. Define its interactive behaviors, animations, and the values it will output. You can also add 

: After creating an atomic component, you can perform a 

. This is especially useful for groups of similar components, such as a set of filter cards. By assigning each instance a unique ID, you can ensure that selecting one automatically deselects the others.

: You can then encapsulate multiple component instances into a 

. This simplifies your main ProtoPie scene and makes future maintenance a breeze. For example, if you need to add a new filter, you just add it to the corresponding group.

To make these components work, you need to use the 

 features, which allow you to send values out from a component and use them to create interactive logic in your main scene.

Part 3: Using Variables and Hardware Integration

Yushi demonstrated the power of ProtoPie's variables and hardware integration by creating a remote-controlled badminton scoreboard.

: Use variables to track scores, like score_green and score_blue. A simple gesture, like a swipe up, can be set to add one to the score.

: To determine if a score is odd or even, use the expression % 2. When a score is divided by two, a remainder of 1 indicates an odd number, while a remainder of 0 indicates an even number. This allows you to automatically change player positions on the screen based on the score.

 to determine who wins the game. For example, you can set a condition that a player wins when their score is greater than 21 and they have a two-point lead over their opponent.

: To make the scoreboard more practical, you can connect a 

 feature. You can then define custom actions for the button, such as a single click, to add a point to the score without having to manually swipe on the phone.

This innovative approach shows how ProtoPie can be used to create tangible, real-world products without needing to write any code.

Learn from Yushi Xiang’s complete presentation and discover how interactive prototyping can revolutionize your team's workflow. 

Join hundreds of design teams already using prototyping to build better products faster.

Discover expert strategies for creating efficient, high-fidelity prototypes using ProtoPie's component system, variables, and hardware integration.

Streamline Your Workflow and Supercharge Your Prototypes with ProtoPie

IAA Mobility 2025 was buzzing with energy, sleek concept cars, and cutting-edge tech. If you didn't catch us in Munich, here's what you missed and how you can experience it now through a live demo. Among the innovation showcases, a quiet revolution was underway: a high-stakes race between East and West that's reshaping the automotive industry.

While our booth drew crowds with live demos, conversations kept returning to one urgent question: how can traditional European 

 match the lightning-fast innovation of their Chinese counterparts?

The answer lies not just in having the best ideas but in getting them to market faster.

Didn't catch us at IAA? Book your demo now to see what the automotive industry is talking about.

The contrast at this year's show was stark. Chinese manufacturers are moving at breakneck speed, pushing out new 

 designs in just 18 to 24 months. Their approach? Ship a functional 

 and refine it through over-the-air updates. It's bold, agile, and effective.

European counterparts operate in a different paradigm. They focus on delivering polished, perfect products, often stretching development cycles to two or three years. It's the perfectionist's paradox: the longer you spend perfecting, the more you risk obsolescence.

This speed gap represents a critical challenge, and it's exactly where ProtoPie makes the difference.

At ProtoPie, we empower designers and engineers to move at the speed of thought. When 

 systems fall short, the solution isn't waiting; it's prototyping and iterating faster than ever. Our IAA 2025 demos proved this approach delivers measurable business results.

What We Demonstrated (And What You Can Experience in Your Demo)

 We prototyped an entire multi-device passenger journey, from streaming movies to gaming with Xbox controllers, without writing a single line of code. This comprehensive approach lets teams validate complex user flows in days rather than months, dramatically reducing time-to-market and development costs.

Watch how Cobi Stancik demonstrates ProtoPie's real-time, multi-device testing, including variables, transitions, and instant feedback from device to device, allowing teams to iterate on the spot and accelerate validation:

 Visitors spoke directly to a live AI powered by ChatGPT, experiencing truly intelligent, multi-language voice assistants. No pre-recorded demos, no backend dependencies, just real, responsive AI interaction. Teams can now cut development costs and validate usability before committing to full builds, preventing costly rework cycles.

Watch how Rowand Mohammad showcased a live navigation HMI powered by Mapbox, hardware integration, and an AI assistant for  high-fidelity testing that bridges AI-driven usability with hardware realism:

 Attendees sat in virtual cockpits, interacting with live 

 designs in 3D environments. By validating screen layouts and user flows before investing in physical hardware, teams reduce rework and accelerate their path to market.

Watch how Aley Baracat puts the user in a VR cockpit enabled through integration with Unity and allowing them to change colors, explore dashboards, and test interactions in 3D for early validation:

 Instead of cryptic warning lights, our prototype delivered clear, natural-language guidance on vehicle issues. This proactive, AI-driven approach reduces driver stress while improving 

 We demonstrated a ProtoPie interface controlling a real car model, proving you can prototype and test features like remote parking with actual hardware feedback. Testing functionality at the prototype stage saves significant engineering time and budget downstream.

Explore how your team can apply these workflows. Request a walkthrough to see these demos in action.

The automotive industry is transforming rapidly, and speed matters more than ever. Every month of delay means falling further behind competitors who are shipping faster, iterating quicker, and capturing market share.

, giving us unique insight into what drives successful 

 development at speed. The companies winning this race aren't just building better products; they're building them faster without sacrificing quality.

 tool; it's the competitive advantage that helps designers and engineers build the innovative, intuitive 

 that modern consumers demand. The future belongs to teams that can combine speed with realism.

If you missed us at IAA, don't wait to catch up. The innovation gap is widening every day, and your competitors aren't slowing down.

Ready to accelerate your HMI development? Book a demo today and experience what's driving the future of automotive innovation.

How Chinese innovation cycles are forcing European OEMs to rethink their approach to in-car experiences

IAA MOBILITY 2025: The HMI Speed Gap Challenge

We're thrilled to share some fantastic news! ProtoPie has been recognized as the 

 in the first-ever UX Tools Design Tools Awards. The award is based on comprehensive data collected from 2,220 respondents in the design community, celebrating tools that achieve the highest reported user satisfaction above a certain usage threshold. 

According to the survey results, ProtoPie received an outstanding 

 – a survey high – and was noted for 

"ruling the advanced prototyping category." 

"Specialists love it more than the market leaders in this category."

For years, UX Tools has been a go-to resource for designers seeking insights into the best tools for their workflow. Their annual survey is highly anticipated, and we're incredibly honored to be featured so prominently in their new awards program. The recognition as 

 means the world to us. It underscores our commitment to empowering designers with a powerful, yet intuitive, high-fidelity prototyping tool. 


This achievement wouldn't be possible without our dedicated users. Your continuous feedback, your passion for creating groundbreaking interactive experiences, and your trust in ProtoPie inspire us every single day. This award is as much yours as it is ours.

We want to extend a sincere thank you to 

 for this recognition and to every designer who participated in the survey. We're excited to continue pushing the boundaries of prototyping and delivering a tool that not only meets but exceeds your expectations.

To learn more about the Satisfaction Leader Award and see the full results, visit the 

Stay tuned for more exciting updates from ProtoPie!

Celebrating the voices of 2,220 designers: ProtoPie leads in satisfaction and rules advanced prototyping in the UX Tools Awards.

ProtoPie Honored as Satisfaction Leader in Inaugural UX Tools Design Tools Awards!

 - ProtoPie recently marked a significant milestone with its successful first-time participation in an internal forum hosted by Gasgoo & Geely, one of China's leading automotive manufacturers. The event proved to be a remarkable platform for ProtoPie, resulting in valuable exposure and promising opportunities for future collaborations within the automotive industry.

ProtoPie's booth was a focal point of the event, attracting considerable attention from engineers, designers, and product managers from Geely and its sub-brands, including 

. The booth's design was lauded for its clean, modern aesthetic that aligned seamlessly with ProtoPie's brand identity. Visitors engaged in meaningful discussions, gaining a deeper understanding of ProtoPie's capabilities and use cases. The event merch, particularly the creatively designed tote bags, also received overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Booth visitors loved the merch ProtoPie handed out!

A key highlight of the event was a visit to the ProtoPie booth by the 

Vice President of Geely Auto and Head of the Central Research Institute.

 Their expressed interest in further collaboration with ProtoPie marked a pivotal moment of recognition and validation for the company at the forum.

Adding to the event's success was a well-received presentation by ProtoPie's representative, Link, on 

"Prototype-driven HMI interaction design innovation and validation"

. The presentation resonated strongly with the audience, leading to a surge of visitors to the booth, all eager to experience the demo firsthand. This direct engagement further solidified the attendees' comprehension of ProtoPie's innovative solutions.

Link Li, APAC Business Development Manager at ProtoPie, on "Prototype-driven HMI interaction design innovation and validation"

The event underscored the growing importance of advanced HMI solutions in the automotive sector and highlighted ProtoPie's potential to become an invaluable partner for industry leaders like Geely. The positive reception and high-level interest garnered at the forum have laid a strong foundation for ProtoPie's future endeavors in the automotive space.

ProtoPie's Debut at Geely Forum Sparks Collaboration Buzz

Geely Forum Sees ProtoPie Drive Conversation on Future of Car HMI

Fresh off the electrifying atmosphere of 

, the ProtoPie team is still buzzing! Hosted by the 

, this wasn't just another tech event; it was a peek into the future of mobility, and boy, was it exciting! Pleos 25 rolled out the "

," a groundbreaking initiative set to turbocharge how developers create the next wave of movement.

Imagine a world where developers get their hands on rich mobility data, futuristic tech, and even direct vehicle control via SDKs and APIs – 

 The big question on everyone's mind was: what happens when Hyundai's cutting-edge tech collides with the brilliant minds of developers? 

So, What Went Down at Pleos 25 for ProtoPie?

We were right in the thick of it, showcasing how ProtoPie, our super-intuitive no-code prototyping tool, is ready to help developers and designers craft mind-blowing experiences in this new mobility landscape. And guess what? People were 

 curious minds flocked to Pleos 25, all eager to dive into the future.

 We connected with a large number of super-relevant industry players – think 

Hyundai Motors, Hyundai Autoever, 42dot, and Lotte Innovate

! They saw the ProtoPie magic and wanted in!

 Our awesome team of ProtoPioneers made all this happen on a tight schedule and still managed to make it one of our most successful events yet – talk about impact!

Our Recipe for an Unforgettable Pleos 25:

We didn't just show up; we brought the fun 

 were a total crowd-pleaser! Nothing like a cool souvenir to remember the future of mobility by.

 Our pre-event outreach meant we landed at Pleos 25 with a list of eager developers and businesses ready to chat.

Your Demo Roadmap (aka Experience Cards!):

 were leading attendees through our coolest demos, ensuring they saw just how ProtoPie could impact their world on the new mobility platform.

 This wasn't just a demo; it was a showstopper! We showed off ProtoPie's power to link up multiple devices and integrate with custom hardware, essential for those sleek future in-car experiences.

 We took attendees on a virtual ride with our 

. Immersive 3D UIs within mobility? Yes, please!

 really talking! They loved seeing how ProtoPie's ecosystem could supercharge their workflows on the Pleos mobility open platform.

 VR automotive HMI experience by combining hardware, VR, and ProtoPie!

Pleos 25 was a blast and a huge win for ProtoPie! We jammed with an amazing crowd of tech leaders and developers, got them excited about prototyping, and showed everyone that ProtoPie is ready to help build the user experiences that will define 

. The energy was incredible, and we can't wait to see the awesome collaborations and innovations that will roll out from this fantastic link-up between developers and the Hyundai Motor Group.

, ProtoPie is just getting started in the fast lane of future mobility!

Recapping Our Electrifying Time at Hyundai's Groundbreaking Mobility Event!

ProtoPie Plugged In and Amped Up at Pleos 25!

Are you ready to take ProtoPie to new heights? We have an incredible deal that will enhance your design workflow and give you more time to develop incredible interactive prototypes. Welcome to the maxed-out performance of ProtoPie with a huge discount on the Pro plan!

, we're making it even easier to experience the benefits of the Pro plan.

Imagine being able to save up to $110 on your plan! Experiment and refine your prototypes. When you sign up or upgrade to our Pro plan by May 31st, that's exactly what you'll get!

 to go to our Subscription page. If you are already a user, go to the upgrade page 

 Build realistic flows with conditional logic and chained actions.

 Collaborate seamlessly with your team in the cloud.

 Save time and ensure consistency with component states and libraries.

 Connect prototypes to real data using variables and APIs.

, so don't let this opportunity slip away from you. Join the prototyper elite who already leverage the potential of ProtoPie to build award-winning user experiences. We are waiting for you!

For monthly discounts, the 20% off will be applied to the first three months of the subscription. For the Yearly plan, the 20% off will be applied to the first year of the billing cycle.

Calling all Prototyping Superstars!

Join ProtoPie’s Elite Team With 20% Off on Pro Plan 🚀

We're always eager to support ProtoPie enthusiasts who are passionate about bringing people together and helping them expand their prototyping skills! Whether you'd love to start a local community, organize events, or create original content using ProtoPie, our team will help you turn it into a success! 

By becoming a ProtoPie Ambassador, you'll join a network of talented digital creators and enjoy exclusive perks. All we ask is your sincere commitment to our requirements and 

Follow the guidelines below to apply to ProtoPie Ambassadors and start sharing your passion!

Whether you join our Ambassadors community as event organizer, content maker or community leader, ProtoPie Ambassadors gives you the opportunity to make meaningful connections and network with other passionate users and members of the ProtoPie team.

By joining ProtoPie Ambassadors, you can inspire and empower others to create and prototype the next generation of digital products and experiences. Nurture new ideas and get feedback from other ambassadors and members of the 

Join a positive and supportive community of ProtoPie enthusiasts from all over the world! It's a fantastic opportunity to share good practices, learn from each other and develop your skills!

You can choose how you want to contribute as an ambassador; there are three different ambassador categories you can apply for: Community Leader, Content Creator, or Blog Post Writer. Here are the details on how each ambassador category can contribute:

Help users fix bugs, assist with Pies, share valuable insights in our community, and potentially create your own groups or events to build a knowledgeable and collaborative environment. Community Leaders can be creative; they can create their own Reddit sections, blogs, forums, etc. Their proactive involvement strengthens our community.

Share ProtoPie-related content on social media or share your own ProtoPie prototypes on social media at least once a week (videos are great; images are also welcome). Content Creators must share our online and offline campaigns and events with their audience on social media. Campaign schedules will be provided in advance.

Write at least one blog post per month for our team to review and publish. You have the option to suggest your own topics (subject to approval) or write about topics we provide. We'll plan these topics quarterly.

Honorary ambassadors are personally invited (e.g., Senior Designers, former ProtoPie team members). They retain their Ambassador status and can engage with the community in any way they choose, without specific duties.

Ambassadors who remain inactive for over one month, whether by not engaging with the community, writing blog posts, or failing to post on social media or relevant forums (depending on the ambassador category), may be removed from the ProtoPie Ambassador Program at the discretion of the ProtoPie team.

Ambassadors who join the program are obligated to adhere to our 

. Failure to follow our Code of Conduct rules can result in removal from the program.

Ambassadors will receive up to three warnings before their Ambassador status is revoked. Each warning will include guidance on best practices and suggestions for how they can better support and contribute to the community. The ProtoPie Team reserves the right to revoke anyone's participation in the Ambassador program, as well as their associated perks, at any time.

Access to the "ProtoPie Ambassadors" Team Space (

Invitation to exclusive Ambassador events and workshops 

Support for events (swags, special discounts, co-marketing, etc.)

Special mentions on our social media channels and community

Applications will be reviewed by our team every 7 days. We'll let you know by email whether or not your application has been accepted.

Our Ambassadors are volunteer enthusiasts who are passionate about ProtoPie and bringing people together around creating and prototyping next-generation digital products! They typically organize online/offline events, lead communities or make courses, tutorials, and other original content featuring ProtoPie.

Do I have to be a ProtoPie expert to be an Ambassador?

You don't need to be a ProtoPie genius to join the program. We believe that being passionate about ProtoPie and exploring ideas freely is more important than knowledge. However, we do ask applicants who join as community leaders to have intermediate to advanced ProtoPie skills, to guide less experienced members. 

If I become an Ambassador, will I be in direct contact with the ProtoPie team?

Sure, our team will help you get started and support you all the way. You'll be invited to join our ProtoPie Ambassadors Community, where you can connect to other ambassadors and reach out to our Community Success team anytime.

Do I have to be fluent in English to be an Ambassador?

Not at all! We love to welcome Ambassadors from all over the world who speak different languages. If you'd like to start a new ProtoPie community in a language other than English, it's absolutely something we'd love to support.

Can I make money as a ProtoPie Ambassador?

There are no official opportunities to make money within the ProtoPie Ambassadors program. However, it's possible to be a ProtoPie Ambassador and do consulting or freelance services on ProtoPie at the same time.

Learn about how to join our community of inspiring Ambassadors. Connect with other passionate digital creators and the ProtoPie team!  

Become a ProtoPie Ambassador

On March 19, 2025, the ProtoPie team joined an exciting lineup of industry leaders at the 

5th China Automotive Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) & Experience Design Innovation Conference

 hosted by Gasgoo in Shanghai. As the automotive world races into a more innovative, more intuitive future, this annual event brought together designers, engineers, and innovators to explore how technology is reshaping the in-car experience.

, our APAC Business Development Manager, delivered a standout presentation titled 

“Integrating AI and Hardware into HMI Design”

. His talk focused on solving one of today’s biggest HMI challenges: bridging the gap between software design and hardware execution - without needing to write a single line of code.

APAC Business Development Manager Link Li, presenting how ProtoPie supports companies to “Integrate AI and Hardwre into HMI Design”

Link introduced ProtoPie as the go-to platform for building 

 that seamlessly integrate both hardware elements and AI-powered services. With tools like 

, designers can validate their ideas in real-world environments long before development begins.

You can watch a recording of the full speech and presentation here: 

Integrating AI and Hardware into HMI Design

Innovating at the Intersection of AI and Hardware

One of the key messages from Link’s session was the 

. He cited real-world examples where a lack of early testing led to poor user adoption - even when the visuals were compelling. With ProtoPie, designers can simulate user interaction with hardware such as 

Seating Buck Setup showcasing multi-display and cross-device prototyping powered by ProtoPie

The crowd was especially intrigued by how ProtoPie integrates 

 using APIs and bridge apps. These capabilities unlock advanced interaction designs, from 

personalized, multimodal HMI design powered by AI and 3D visualization

 - echoed across the speaker lineup. Companies like Unity, EPIC Games, Qt, and Zeekr shared their insights into 3D cockpit interfaces, emotional design, and AR-HUD innovations.

As automotive UX moves from functional to experiential, the demand for 

design tools that can keep up with this shift

 is growing. ProtoPie is proud to be among the tools leading this charge.

ProtoPie’s booth saw a steady stream of traffic after Link’s presentation, with many attendees heading straight over to try the live demo. The 

 we handed out were a hit (who knew?), and the 

“ProtoPie is the go-to tool in our team every day.” 

ProtoPie Car Fresheners - Hugely popular with our visitors!

 and more targeted engagement. It’s clear that when it comes to the future of automotive HMI, designers want tools that are fast, flexible, and ready for the real world.

“ProtoPie is the best software for bringing designs to life right now - a must-buy product.” 

Link Li, APAC Business Development Manager at ProtoPie, talking to the After Sales System Lead at General Motors China.

We’ve made a lot of new valuable connections at this year’s event. From OEMs like 

Geely and BMW to Honda and Chery Automobile

, we’re looking forward to reconnecting at the upcoming 

As automotive HMI design continues to evolve, ProtoPie remains committed to empowering designers to 

News

IAA MOBILITY 2025: The HMI Speed Gap Challenge

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