The popularity of no-code platforms is growing, and it shows no signs of slowing down. It is beginning to have an impact on other development-related functions, one of which is design.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term “no code,” it refers to tools and platforms that allow you to create projects without writing a single line of code. Using easy drag-and-drop interfaces, these technologies assist in the creation of apps, websites, and integrations. You’ve probably heard of Figma, Webflow, Tilda, Wix, and Bravo Studios.
Since its appearance, no code has changed where the battleground is. For designers, it is all about increased involvement in the development process and the ability to make ideas real without knowing the programming language. It’s true to say that no code tools are multiplying the power of designers. As well as increase the likelihood of landing a new project!
So, let’s take a look at four ways that designers might now benefit from the no-code movement.
No Code Increased Experimentation
A product may be developed significantly faster if there is no code. So, if it’s an MVP, it can move into production in a matter of weeks, allowing for early user testing and feedback. As a result, many barriers to experimenting with new product designs have been removed. Why wouldn’t you do it because you can test two distinct versions so quickly? You can acquire real data in weeks and start making decisions on which UX and UI performs better with real users. Of course, prototypes can be used for testing, but actual product use always wins. Agree?
This should lead to greater experimentation, as now you, as a designer are given more license to try & test design concepts. Previously, you might have played things safely so you got a positive response, worried about the time wasted of a failed experiment.
No code has given designers the freedom to take additional risks, try more ideas, and get a winning design faster and with less wasted time and effort. With no code, you have the opportunity to try new ideas, get quick user feedback, iterate and redesign.
No Code Increased Need
No code platforms are relatively low design at heart. They have been designed intentionally to produce very clean and standardized UIs out of the box, so the requirement for design is actually greater in a no code development than with most traditional approaches.
They are built to allow customization and this is where the designer comes to the fore, getting involved to ensure that the end product will be distinctive. If you are a designer who also knows Webflow, Bravo Studios, Wix technical capabilities and limitations, your value as a designer will only go up.
No code lowers the barrier between design and development.
No code allows everyone to develop their own ideas. So you can start working on your side projects independently, learning different aspects of the development process (even if it’s a no-code development approach). Designers can learn what “front-end” and “back-end” mean, as well as how distinct design flows are built behind the scenes (login, authentication, connection between different parts of the product). Those high-tech concepts are built almost out of the box using the no-code tools.
No code Increase Control
What is the most significant impact of the introduction of no code on designers? Finally, you’ll be able to create exactly what you’ve always wanted — by yourself!
No code tools are actually extremely similar to design software tools, thus designers are picking up on how to use them pretty quickly.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) based tools are used by designers, whereas integrated development environments are used by developers. Because no code has given the world the capacity to work utilising WYSIWYG-based platforms, designers will naturally begin to feel more at ease in the development environment.
Instead of convincing a developer to build a design, a designer can use the no code platform to create a prototype (or even an MVP) that showcases the exact design they want. It will be fully functioning, so you won’t have to rely on people judging design on the basis of flat drawings or mock-ups, but on actual items.
We discussed how project timelines are evolving, and we may be looking at the design concept phase being phased out entirely. It will be replaced by designers constructing their concepts straight into the no code platform as a fully functional prototype, which will be handed over to the developers to integrate into the rest of the project.
Designers and no code are a perfect match
Think about what’s already possible for designers with no code tools. You can build emails (Mailchimp), a fully functioning website (Wix, Webflow), an e-commerce store (Shopify) or even a mobile app (Bravo Studios). With all these examples, designers can produce far more than concepts or even prototypes. Moreover, there are companies that are fully built with no code and no code is getting much deeper into different industries and processes.
All of this implies that designers should now have a larger role in the development process. Designers are one of the major winners from the transition to no code, becoming more significant in the process and potentially replacing some development professions in the process.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Claudian Benet
Founder | Centric Creative Studios | Centric Academy
claudian@centric.co.tz
