OrbitalUI raises $13M to launch physics-driven prototyping engine

Design · 4 min read

OrbitalUI's engine allows designers to prototype interactions that obey mass, friction, and collision constraints, enabling richer tactile experiences in microinteractions and motion design. The company provides a visual editor plus exportable snippets that run natively in production.

The new capital will be used to add more runtime targets, create collaboration features for design teams, and improve performance on low-power devices. Index Ventures led the round, citing the product’s potential to make motion design more grounded and testable.

OrbitalUI also unveiled a plugin that maps physics parameters directly into design tool timelines, helping designers iterate on timing and affordances quickly. Early adopters reported that the physics-based approach surfaced usability issues earlier in the design process.