Design Variants & Branching
Branch off from any screen to generate additional versions. Compare side by side without overwriting originals.
What are Design Variants?
Design Variants let you branch off from any screen to generate alternative versions. Instead of overwriting your current design, Stitch creates a new branch that explores a different direction. You can create multiple variants from the same starting point and compare them side by side on the infinite canvas. This is essential for design exploration and client presentations.
How to Use Variants
Select any screen on your canvas and look for the "Branch" or "Variant" option. You can then either describe how you want the variant to differ ("Make this more minimal," "Try a dark theme," "Use a completely different layout") or simply ask for an alternative without specific direction. Stitch will generate a new version while preserving your original. You can create as many branches as you need.
Comparing and Choosing
The infinite canvas makes comparison easy. Arrange your variants side by side to evaluate them. You can mix and match elements — take the header from variant A and the footer from variant B. Variants also maintain their own history, so you can further branch from any variant to explore sub-directions. This tree-like workflow mimics how professional design teams explore ideas.
Tips & Best Practices
- 1Create at least 3 variants before committing to a direction.
- 2Use variants to test different color schemes on the same layout.
- 3Try both "similar but refined" and "completely different" variants.
- 4Share variant comparisons with stakeholders for feedback.
- 5Name your variants clearly on the canvas to stay organized.