Product managers should start prototyping
Expanding what product managers do, one tech-enablement at a time.
A few years ago, if a product manager opened Figma, it raised eyebrows.
“Isn’t that design’s job?”
Today, that line is fading fast.
Tools like Figma, Lovable, and Framer AI make it possible for product managers to go from idea to interactive prototype in hours — without needing to code or rely entirely on a designer.
That doesn’t replace design.
It expands what product managers can do - and it changes how teams work together.
Why product managers should prototype
Prototyping isn’t about pixels. It’s about thinking through doing. When PMs prototype, they:
- Clarify their own ideas faster
- Communicate vision more effectively
- Validate assumptions with stakeholders or users before writing a single ticket
It turns product thinking into something tangible. Instead of talking about a feature, you can show it. Instead of a 2-page PRD, you can demonstrate the flow and outcome in minutes.
This speeds up a Build Loop and reduces friction between product, design, and engineering.
How the PM role improves
When PMs prototype, they stop being passive facilitators and become active explorers.
It helps them:
- Write clearer specs and user stories
- Align faster with design and engineering
- Catch usability issues earlier
- Build empathy by walking through the user journey themselves
In short, PMs who prototype become more confident decision-makers — because they can see the product, not just describe it.
So, what’s left for designers?
Everything that truly matters.
When PMs take on early, rough prototyping, designers gain time and space to:
- Deepen user research
- Shape interaction and motion design
- Develop and evolve design systems
- Raise the overall quality bar
The designer’s craft shifts from being reactive to being strategic and creative.
Instead of spending hours mocking up “v1” ideas, they can refine, guide, and elevate what’s already been explored. That enables teams to really finesse and add those moments that matter.
It’s collaboration, not competition.
A new rhythm for product teams
The best teams are already adapting to this new rhythm:
- PMs create early prototypes to clarify intent and spark discussion.
- Designers refine, enhance, and ensure quality and usability.
- Engineers build with context and confidence.
Each discipline plays to its strengths, and the team learns faster than before.
The result isn’t fewer roles.
It’s fewer handoffs, fewer misunderstandings, and faster validation.
Prototyping isn’t a threat to design. It’s the next evolution of product management. The teams that embrace it are going to ship, and learn, a lot faster.
