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[globaldevblog]

Level Up Your Prototypes - A How-To Guide to Figma Variables

Hey design aficionados! Ever feel like your Figma prototypes are a bit... static? Want to inject more dynamism, more life into your user flows without getting bogged down in endless duplicated screens? Well, buckle up, buttercups, because Figma Variables are here to change the prototyping game. They're not just a fancy new feature; they're a fundamental shift towards smarter, more efficient, and ultimately more powerful interactive prototypes.

Think of variables as the secret sauce to creating prototypes that truly react to user input. Instead of manually linking every single state change, you can define dynamic values that update across your design based on user interactions. This means less tedious work for you and a more realistic, engaging experience for anyone testing your designs. Ready to dive in and unlock a new level of prototyping prowess? Let's get started!

Understanding the Basics: What Exactly Are Figma Variables?

At their core, Figma Variables allow you to define and manage reusable values across your design file. These values can represent anything from colors and numbers to strings of text and even boolean (true/false) states. The real magic happens when you connect these variables to your prototype interactions.

There are four main types of variables in Figma:

Color: Perfect for managing your brand palette and creating dynamic theme switching in your prototypes.

Number: Ideal for representing numerical values like quantities, prices, or even the progress of an animation.

String: Use these for dynamic text content, such as usernames, messages, or form input values.

Boolean: These are your on/off switches, perfect for toggling visibility, enabling/disabling features, or managing different states.

Step-by-Step: Implementing Variables in Your Prototypes

Okay, enough theory. Let's get our hands dirty and see how to actually use these bad boys.

Step 1: Creating Your Variables

First things first, you need to define the variables you want to use. Head over to the "Local Variables" panel (usually found in the left sidebar, or you can access it via the "View" menu). Click the "+" icon to create a new variable. You'll be prompted to choose the type of variable you want to create (Color, Number, String, or Boolean).

Give your variable a descriptive name (e.g., "primary-color," "item-count," "username," "is-modal-open"). This will make it much easier to manage them later. For Color variables, you'll select the initial color value. For Number variables, you'll set a starting number. For String variables, you'll enter initial text. And for Boolean variables, you'll set the initial state (True or False).

Step 2: Linking Variables to Design Elements

Now that you've created your variables, it's time to connect them to the elements in your design. Select the layer you want to make dynamic. In the right-hand Properties panel, you'll see a small "variable" icon next to properties that can be linked (like Fill color, Text content, Opacity, etc.). Click this icon and choose the variable you want to connect.

For example, if you created a "primary-color" variable, you can link it to the fill color of your primary button. If you have an "item-count" variable, you can link it to the text layer displaying the number of items in a cart. For a "is-modal-open" boolean, you can link it to the opacity or visibility of a modal group.

Step 3: Creating Interactive Prototypes with Variable Actions

This is where the real magic happens! In Prototype mode, when you define an interaction (like a button click), you now have a new action type available: "Set variable."

Select the interaction trigger (e.g., "On click"). In the Actions section, click the "+" icon and choose "Set variable." Here, you'll select the variable you want to modify and define the new value it should take based on the interaction.

Let's say you have an "item-count" number variable. When a user clicks an "Add to Cart" button, you can set the "item-count" variable to its current value + 1. This single action will automatically update any text layers linked to this variable across your entire prototype!

Similarly, if you have an "is-modal-open" boolean variable, clicking a button to open a modal would "Set variable" to True, and clicking a close button would "Set variable" to False. You can then link the opacity or visibility of the modal group to this boolean variable, creating a dynamic show/hide effect.

Examples in Action: Boosting Your Prototyping Efficiency

Let's look at some practical examples of how Figma Variables can supercharge your prototyping efficiency:

Dynamic Form Input: Instead of creating separate screens for each character typed in a form field, link a String variable to the text layer. On each "Key press" interaction, use the "Set variable" action to append the typed character to the variable.

Quantity Counters: For e-commerce prototypes, use a Number variable to track the quantity of items. Clicking "+" would increment the variable, and clicking "-" would decrement it, automatically updating the displayed quantity.

Theme Switching: Define Color variables for your light and dark modes. A toggle switch can then use a Boolean variable to determine which set of color variables is applied to your design elements.

Progress Indicators: Link a Number variable to the width or fill of a progress bar. User actions can then update this variable, visually showing the progress of a task.

Toggling Features: Use Boolean variables to enable or disable different features in your prototype based on user interactions or simulated settings.

The Benefits: Why Embrace Figma Variables?

Using Figma Variables for your interactive prototypes offers a plethora of advantages:

Increased Efficiency: Reduce the number of screens you need to create and manage, saving you valuable time and effort.

More Realistic Prototypes: Create more dynamic and engaging user experiences that better reflect the behavior of a real application.

Easier Iteration: Making changes to dynamic elements becomes much simpler. Update a variable once, and the changes propagate throughout your prototype.

Improved Collaboration: Variables provide a more structured and maintainable way to manage dynamic content, making it easier for teams to understand and work on prototypes.

Enhanced User Testing: More realistic prototypes lead to more insightful feedback during user testing sessions.

Getting Started and Further Exploration

If you're new to Figma Variables, start with simple use cases like dynamic button states or basic toggles. As you become more comfortable, you can explore more complex interactions and combine different variable types to create truly sophisticated prototypes.

Figma's own documentation and community resources are excellent places to delve deeper into the advanced capabilities of variables. Experiment, play around, and don't be afraid to break things! The more you explore, the more you'll discover the immense power and flexibility that Figma Variables bring to the world of UI/UX design tools.

So, ditch the static screens and embrace the dynamism of Figma Variables. It's time to level up your prototyping game and create truly smart, interactive experiences that will wow your clients and users alike. Happy prototyping!

[globaldevblog]

AI Avatar Development: Pros, Cons & Industry Use

AI Avatar Development: Real Innovation or Just Hype?

In today’s hyperconnected world, attention is currency. To stand out, brands can no longer settle for flashy features or surface-level engagement. They need to build meaningful, scalable, and personalized experiences. Enter AI avatars: digital humans that are revolutionizing communication by bringing lifelike presence to virtual interactions.

Imagine a team member who never takes a coffee break, speaks ten languages fluently, and delivers personalized service around the clock. That’s the promise of AI avatars. Whether acting as financial advisors, healthcare companions, virtual tutors, or tour guides, they’re reshaping how organizations support, educate, and engage with people across industries.

These avatars aren’t science fiction. They’re already hard at work in sectors like healthcare, HR, retail, and hospitality. In hospitals, they provide mental health support and streamline patient interactions. In retail, they help customers with personalized product recommendations and multilingual support. In HR, they manage onboarding and training with unmatched consistency.

But with growing popularity comes a bigger question: is this just a trend, or a real innovation with long-term value? The truth lies in the tech. Under the hood, not all avatars are built the same. Leading platforms like FBX Avatar, HeyGen, and NVIDIA ACE each offer different capabilities in terms of realism, scalability, and integration.

That’s where strategic choice becomes crucial. AI avatars may look similar, but choosing the right development or outsourcing partner can make or break your implementation. Globaldev specializes in guiding businesses through this landscape — helping clients not just follow the trend, but lead with the right solution tailored to their needs.

Read more - AI avatar software development

[globaldevblog]

AI Avatar Software Development: Choosing the Right Solution

AI Avatar Software Development: How to Choose the Right Solution for Your Business

In today’s hyperconnected world, building real connection at scale is one of the biggest challenges for businesses. How do you stand out, stay present, and deliver personalized experiences — all at once? Enter AI avatars: lifelike digital assistants that offer not just functionality, but presence.

From virtual healthcare consultations to 24/7 customer service and personalized product demos, AI avatars are redefining how companies interact with users. But with this new technology entering the mainstream, one question remains: how do you choose the right AI avatar platform for your goals?

Why AI Avatars Are More Than Just a Trend

AI avatars are no longer just a novelty. Businesses across industries — including healthcare, education, finance, and entertainment — are using them to scale operations, humanize digital experiences, and boost user engagement. They speak multiple languages, respond in real time, and adapt to context with emotional nuance. In short, they’re changing what users expect from digital interaction.

But not all AI avatar platforms are created equal. From scalability and realism to integration options and pricing, the solution you choose will directly impact performance, adoption, and ROI.

FBX Avatar, HeyGen, or NVIDIA ACE — Which One Fits?

To help you make a smart, strategic choice, we compared three leading AI avatar platforms:

FBX Avatar — known for flexibility and customization options

HeyGen — fast, user-friendly, and ideal for marketing and onboarding

NVIDIA ACE — high-fidelity realism, great for gaming and immersive applications

Each platform has its own strengths and limitations depending on your industry, team, and product vision. For example, if you need a fast MVP for multilingual customer service, HeyGen may be ideal. For high-end, real-time animation in virtual environments, NVIDIA ACE might be the way to go.

Our article breaks down what each platform offers — so you can align your technical choices with your business strategy from day one.

Ready to Bring AI Avatars Into Your Product?

Whether you’re building a virtual tutor, a sales assistant, or a healthcare companion, choosing the right AI avatar solution is the foundation of long-term success. At Globaldev, we help businesses navigate this emerging space with clarity and confidence. From custom development to seamless integration, we support every step of your AI avatar journey.

Let’s build your future AI solution — together.

[globaldevblog]

The Future of Software Testing: Current State, Emerging Trends, and New Directions

The Future of Software Testing: Trends, Challenges, and Smarter Strategies

Why Testing Matters More Than Ever

From mobile banking crashes to multimillion-dollar space missions gone wrong — software bugs have never been more expensive. A single flaw can lead to service outages, security breaches, and irreversible reputational damage. These aren’t just technical errors — they’re business risks.

As software becomes more complex and release cycles accelerate, a well-defined testing strategy is no longer optional. It’s a fundamental part of building resilient, user-friendly, and scalable products.

What’s Changing: New Trends in Software Testing

The world of quality assurance (QA) is evolving rapidly. Modern businesses are under constant pressure to deliver faster without compromising on quality. Enter Quality Assurance as a Service (QAaaS) — a model that’s transforming how companies approach software testing.

QAaaS fits seamlessly into today’s fast-paced development environments. It enables access to expert testers, cutting-edge tools, and scalable infrastructure — all without the overhead of building and managing an in-house QA team. For startups and enterprises alike, it’s becoming the go-to approach to reduce risk and ship with confidence.

But QAaaS is just one part of the picture. Emerging trends are reshaping the future of testing, including:

Test automation and AI-driven QA

Continuous testing within DevOps pipelines

Shift-left and shift-right testing strategies

Real-time user feedback loops and monitoring

Understanding and adopting these trends can give teams a competitive edge, reduce time to market, and improve product reliability.

Lessons from Failure: Why Testing Should Never Be an Afterthought

A botched app update. A crashed government site. A spacecraft destroyed over Mars. These high-profile failures all share one thing in common — poor or insufficient software testing.

Proper testing isn’t just about catching bugs. It’s about protecting your users, your reputation, and your bottom line. In a world where digital products are judged instantly, there’s no room for error.

The Takeaway: Build with Confidence

Want to build products that perform under pressure and earn lasting user trust? It all starts with a smarter, more strategic approach to quality assurance.

Read more - The future of software testing