Generative AI has plenty of uses, from creating unique imagery to helping you brainstorm blog ideas, and beyond. But have you tried using it to create AI website mockups? If not, you may be surprised how successful generative AI can be in creating these.
If you're unsure where to begin, fear not — I'm going to walk you through everything you need to know about creating AI website mockups. Guess what? I've been in your shoes too — and I'm happy to share that beginning the journey of learning how to use generative AI for site mockups isn't as overwhelming as it may initially seem.
What are AI website mockups?
You might be able to guess what AI website mockups are. (If you guessed site mockups that were created with generative AI, you're correct!) But let's dive deeper than that — there's a lot about AI-fueled site mockups I want to share with you.
With AI site mockups, you are using artificial intelligence (AI) to automate the process designers would typically complete of creating a website mockup. Tools fueled by AI can generate mockups that consider branding guidelines, content types, and are even interactive.
Why create AI website mockups?
First things first, why even create AI website mockups? That's a good question — and one I'll help you answer.
You already know why website mockups in general are beneficial. (In case you need a refresher, it's because site mockups can assist with visualization, planning, and communication, amongst other reasons.)
The same applies to AI website mockups. Your AI-powered site mockup will offer an overview of the project as well as streamline communication with other teams collaborating on the project with you. However, there's a twist — since you're leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, you'll experience all of the above with even greater efficiency than before.
We've collectively said goodbye to the days of needing to spend hours building out a mockup. Thanks to generative AI, there's an easier, more pain-free way of doing it.
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What are the perks of using AI website mockups?
AI website mockups have gained momentum for a few reasons. The primary reason is efficiency. AI, at large, is helping folks complete arduous tasks in a more timely manner. Because of this, designers are free to focus their energy on other tasks that require attention.
Next, AI site mockups score points for how cost-effective they are. Since you aren't using your designers to build the mockups, you're saving your business money.
There's also the factor of design variety. In a fraction of the time it would take a human designer to create one mockup, AI can generate several. This means you have more options up front to choose from.
Of course, all of that's not to say that there's no longer a time and place for non-AI-generated website mockups. However, in the initial design stages, I'd advise you to leverage this technology to make your life easier.
What tools can you use to build AI website mockups?
There is an array of tools that you can use to create AI website mockups, so don't be afraid to get creative with a few to figure out which works best for your purposes.
1. Content Hub
My first suggestion is Content Hub. Content Hub is advisable for a few reasons — for starters, you're free to use the most basic plan for free, which means you can give it a try before deciding to commit. Then, when you are ready to opt into a paid plan, there are offerings for every price point.
Probably my favorite thing about Content Hub is that it asks you questions to determine what you're looking for before you build your AI website mockup. This is helpful because the technology takes time to comprehend what you need before offering it to you. Therefore, there's less editing than there would be with a tool that doesn't ask questions.
One major reason I love Content Hub is that the "mockup" it builds for you is a functional website that you can push live once you edit it. In other words, Content Hub does the heavy lifting for you — folks with limited resources or a small team will especially appreciate this.
I also love how flexible Content Hub is. Once you have your content generated, you can create additional formats in a matter of minutes, which is appealing for smaller teams.
Here's what the mockup looks like.
As I scroll down, I'll notice that there's pre-existing content filled in. Content Hub did that for me. (Thanks, Content Hub!)
It’s also easy to run A/B testing, complete video and podcast hosting, and even take advantage of SEO recommendations.
Of course, these are all peripheral features of Content Hub. Coming back to its AI site mockup capabilities, you’ll see that content is already generated for you when you make your site. The pages you’ll need are created, as well as formatting. This means you simply have to drop in your content to get going.
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3 templates for conducting user tests, summarizing your UX research, and presenting your findings.
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User Testing Template
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UX Research Testing Report Template
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UX Research Presentation Template
2. Wix
Next is Wix. Similar to Content Hub, Wix's AI asks you several questions upfront to get an understanding of what you are looking for when creating your site. This, again, means that the technology has a better grasp on what you're seeking, so it can serve up ideas that adhere to what you want. From there, Wix will generate a site for you and you can edit it as necessary.
Also similar to Content Hub, this mockup will be interactive and editable — so you aren't starting from scratch when you begin to build out your website. This is appealing because you already have a base to work with.
Wix also scores points for how customizable it is, and how quickly the technology works.
Here's what Wix output when I gave it information about an IT consulting business.
3. Canva
If you want something less interactive that still harnesses the power of AI, may I suggest Canva? You're probably already familiar with Canva as a graphic creation tool, but you can also make use of it to build AI website mockups. (The tool has AI baked in, so that's how you'll harness the power of generative AI in this situation.)
Another advantage of using Canva to create AI website mockups is that you are likely already slightly familiar with the tool, which means that you won't have a learning curve.
Since the output of what Canva creates is going to be flat, you won't have the same interactivity that you would with Content Hub or Wix. However, for design processes at the earliest steps, I can see this being suitable.
4 Tips and Tricks for Creating AI Website Mockups
You know what tool you want to use but you'd like some more tips to help make creating an AI site mockup more seamless. I've got you covered.
1. Don't be afraid to iterate.
If you don't like what the tool outputs for you the first time, don't be afraid to go back in and try it again. It takes a few tries to get comfortable working with AI in this capacity — so don't be too hard on yourself (or the tool!) if your first few tries aren't usable.
Remember: The goal isn't to create a mockup that will need no edits — it's to help you get to a place where you can iterate.
2. The more specific, the better.
One of the largest mistakes I've made working with AI is a lack of specificity. AI needs you to get granular. If you don't add details, you can't expect whatever it outputs to be unique to your company. You can ease this problem by getting specific when you feed it information. Give it a try and see how it goes.
3. View working with AI for site mockups as a conversation.
Try to think of AI as your helpful assistant in creating a site mockup that will help your team get the job done more efficiently. When you reply to the tools as they ask you for more information about what you're creating, view it as a conversation. And what's true of a conversation? That straightforward, jargon-free communication is most effective. The same goes for AI.
4. Expect a slight learning curve.
Read: Don't get frustrated if you experience a learning curve when you first start working with AI! You have to get familiar with the tool, as well as learn how to interact with AI itself in this capacity. There will be a learning curve — and that's fine. It's okay if your first mockup takes slightly longer to create than the one you make a few months from now.
Free UX Research Kit + Templates
3 templates for conducting user tests, summarizing your UX research, and presenting your findings.
-
User Testing Template
-
UX Research Testing Report Template
-
UX Research Presentation Template
Use AI to Streamline Website Mockup Creation
Never has it been this accessible to create an effective, visually appealing site mockup. Now, thanks to AI, that's all changing. If you enact these best practices and use the tools mentioned, you're off to a great start in your journey of using AI to create site mockups.
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