JoshuaShepherd Stitch UI Design Prompting
Expert guidance for crafting effective prompts in Google Stitch, the AI-powered UI design tool by Google Labs. This skill helps create precise, actionable prompts that generate high-quality UI designs for web and mobile applications.
What is Google Stitch?
Google Stitch is an experimental AI UI generator powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash that transforms text prompts and visual references into functional UI designs. It supports:
- Text-to-UI generation from natural language prompts
- Image-to-UI conversion from sketches, wireframes, or screenshots
- Multi-screen app flows and responsive layouts
- Export to HTML/CSS, Figma, and code
- Iterative refinement with variants and annotations
Core Prompting Principles
1. Be Specific and Detailed
Generic prompts yield generic results. Specific prompts with clear requirements produce tailored, professional designs.
Poor prompt:
Create a dashboard
Effective prompt:
Member dashboard with course modules grid, progress tracking bar,
and community feed sidebar using purple theme and card-based layout
Why it works: Specifies components (modules, progress, feed), layout structure (grid, sidebar), visual style (purple theme, cards), and context (member dashboard).
2. Define Visual Style and Theme
Always include color schemes, design aesthetics, and visual direction to avoid generic AI outputs.
Components to specify:
- Color palette (primary colors, accent colors)
- Design style (minimalist, modern, playful, professional, glassmorphic)
- Typography preferences (if any)
- Spacing and density (compact, spacious, balanced)
Example:
E-commerce product page with hero image gallery, add-to-cart CTA,
reviews section, and related products carousel. Use clean minimalist
design with sage green accents and generous white space.
3. Structure Multi-Screen Flows Clearly
For apps with multiple screens, list each screen as bullet points before generation.
Approach:
Fitness tracking app with:
- Onboarding screen with goal selection
- Home dashboard with daily stats and activity rings
- Workout library with category filters
- Profile screen with achievements and settings
Stitch will ask for confirmation before generating multiple screens, ensuring alignment with your vision.
4. Specify Platform and Responsive Behavior
Indicate whether the design is for mobile, tablet, desktop, or responsive web.
Examples:
Mobile app login screen (iOS style) with email/password fields and social auth buttons
Responsive landing page that adapts from mobile (320px) to desktop (1440px)
with collapsible navigation
5. Include Functional Requirements
Describe interactive elements, states, and user flows to generate more complete designs.
Elements to specify:
- Button actions and CTAs
- Form fields and validation
- Navigation patterns
- Loading states
- Empty states
- Error handling
Example:
Checkout flow with:
- Cart summary with quantity adjusters
- Shipping address form with validation
- Payment method selection (cards, PayPal, Apple Pay)
- Order confirmation with tracking number
Prompt Structure Template
Use this template for comprehensive prompts:
[Screen/Component Type] for [User/Context]
Key Features:
- [Feature 1 with specific details]
- [Feature 2 with specific details]
- [Feature 3 with specific details]
Visual Style:
- [Color scheme]
- [Design aesthetic]
- [Layout approach]
Platform: [Mobile/Web/Responsive]
Example:
Dashboard for SaaS analytics platform
Key Features:
- Top metrics cards showing MRR, active users, churn rate
- Line chart for revenue trends (last 30 days)
- Recent activity feed with user actions
- Quick action buttons for reports and exports
Visual Style:
- Dark mode with blue/purple gradient accents
- Modern glassmorphic cards with subtle shadows
- Clean data visualization with accessible colors
Platform: Responsive web (desktop-first)
Iteration Strategies
Refine with Annotations
Use Stitch's "annotate to edit" feature to make targeted changes without rewriting the entire prompt.
Workflow:
- Generate initial design from prompt
- Annotate specific elements that need changes
- Describe modifications in natural language
- Stitch updates only the annotated areas
Example annotations:
- "Make this button larger and use primary color"
- "Add more spacing between these cards"
- "Change this to a horizontal layout"
Generate Variants
Request multiple variations to explore different design directions:
Generate 3 variants of this hero section:
1. Image-focused with minimal text
2. Text-heavy with supporting graphics
3. Video background with overlay content
Progressive Refinement
Start broad, then add specificity in follow-up prompts:
Initial:
E-commerce homepage
Refinement 1:
Add featured products section with 4-column grid and hover effects
Refinement 2:
Update color scheme to earth tones (terracotta, sage, cream)
and add promotional banner at top
Common Use Cases
Landing Pages
SaaS landing page for [product name]
Sections:
- Hero with headline, subheadline, CTA, and product screenshot
- Social proof with customer logos
- Features grid (3 columns) with icons
- Testimonials carousel
- Pricing table (3 tiers)
- FAQ accordion
- Footer with links and newsletter signup
Style: Modern, professional, trust-building
Colors: Navy blue primary, light blue accents, white background
Mobile Apps
Food delivery app home screen
Components:
- Search bar with location selector
- Category chips (Pizza, Burgers, Sushi, etc.)
- Restaurant cards with image, name, rating, delivery time, and price range
- Bottom navigation (Home, Search, Orders, Profile)
Style: Vibrant, appetite-appealing, easy to scan
Colors: Orange primary, white background, food photography
Platform: iOS mobile (375px width)
Dashboards
Admin dashboard for content management system
Layout:
- Left sidebar navigation with collapsible menu
- Top bar with search, notifications, and user profile
- Main content area with:
- Stats overview (4 metric cards)
- Recent posts table with actions
- Activity timeline
- Quick actions panel
Style: Clean, data-focused, professional
Colors: Neutral grays with blue accents
Platform: Desktop web (1440px)
Forms and Inputs
Multi-step signup form for B2B platform
Steps:
1. Account details (company name, email, password)
2. Company information (industry, size, role)
3. Team setup (invite members)
4. Confirmation with success message
Features:
- Progress indicator at top
- Field validation with inline errors
- Back/Next navigation
- Skip option for step 3
Style: Minimal, focused, low-friction
Colors: White background, green for success states
Design-to-Code Workflow
Export Options
Stitch provides multiple export formats:
- HTML/CSS - Clean, semantic markup for web projects
- Figma - "Paste to Figma" for design system integration
- Code snippets - Component-level exports for frameworks
Best Practices for Export
Before exporting:
- Verify responsive breakpoints
- Check color contrast for accessibility
- Ensure interactive states are defined
- Review component naming and structure
After export:
- Refactor generated code for production standards
- Add proper semantic HTML tags
- Implement accessibility attributes (ARIA labels, alt text)
- Optimize images and assets
- Add animations and micro-interactions
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
❌ Vague Prompts
Make a nice website
✅ Specific Prompts
Portfolio website for photographer with full-screen image gallery,
project case studies, and contact form. Minimalist black and white
aesthetic with serif typography.
❌ Missing Context
Create a login page
✅ Context-Rich Prompts
Login page for healthcare portal with email/password fields,
"Remember me" checkbox, "Forgot password" link, and SSO options
(Google, Microsoft). Professional, trustworthy design with
blue medical theme.
❌ No Visual Direction
Design an app for task management
✅ Clear Visual Direction
Task management app with kanban board layout, drag-and-drop cards,
priority labels, and due date indicators. Modern, productivity-focused
design with purple/teal gradient accents and dark mode support.
Tips for Better Results
Reference existing designs - Upload screenshots or sketches as visual references alongside text prompts
Use design terminology - Terms like "hero section," "card layout," "glassmorphic," "bento grid" help Stitch understand your intent
Specify interactions - Describe hover states, click actions, and transitions for more complete designs
Think in components - Break complex screens into reusable components (header, card, form, etc.)
Iterate incrementally - Make small, focused changes rather than complete redesigns
Test responsiveness - Always verify designs at multiple breakpoints (mobile, tablet, desktop)
Consider accessibility - Mention color contrast, font sizes, and touch target sizes in prompts
Leverage variants - Generate multiple options to explore different design directions quickly
Integration with Development Workflow
Stitch → Figma → Code
- Generate UI in Stitch with detailed prompts
- Export to Figma for design system integration
- Hand off to developers with design specs
- Implement with production-ready code
Stitch → HTML → Framework
- Generate and refine UI in Stitch
- Export HTML/CSS code
- Convert to React/Vue/Svelte components
- Integrate into application codebase
Rapid Prototyping
- Create multiple screen variations quickly
- Test with users or stakeholders
- Iterate based on feedback
- Finalize design for development
Conclusion
Effective Stitch prompts are specific, context-rich, and visually descriptive. By following these principles and templates, you can generate professional UI designs that serve as strong foundations for production applications.
Remember: Stitch is a starting point, not a final product. Use it to accelerate the design process, explore ideas quickly, and establish visual direction—then refine with human judgment and production standards.
When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.