Why designers prefer no-code tools and how AI is changing the game

Why no-code beats coding for designers

No matter how complex an interface might be, it generates significantly less mental load than coding when it comes to deciding your next step.

People find no-code tools simpler than writing code for the same reason designers prefer a 4px grid system: fewer choices mean easier decisions.

Challenges of coding for designers

Coding introduces overwhelming variability in two critical stages:

• Learning to Code
• Writing Code

Learning to Code

When designers venture into coding, they quickly get lost in a sea of documentation on sites like MDN or W3Schools. Even approachable platforms like Mimo fail to clearly address how designers can efficiently prototype using code.

"Somewhere among thousands of resources, there's probably information on effective coding for design prototyping. But extracting it could take months, if not years."

Having personally navigated this journey, I can confirm it takes approximately two years to uncover truly efficient methods.

Writing Code

Even after learning, coding presents a second challenge: constant variability. A single misplaced comma (,) or semicolon (;) can break your entire project.

Creativity becomes impossible when you're constantly distracted by ensuring your tools work correctly.

Yes, tools like syntax highlighting and linters exist—but you have to invest time learning these as well.

This inherent complexity is why coding hasn't become the go-to method for designers, despite clear advantages described previously in articles such as Why designers who code will always outperform Figma-only designers and AI won't replace UI/UX designers, but it could take their jobs.

How AI changes the outcome

First, let's be clear: "vibe coding"—coding without understanding fundamentals—is a hobby, not a professional design approach.

But combining AI tools with a basic understanding of coding has incredible potential to become a designer's primary workflow.

Just a few years ago, simple coding errors would sidetrack my design process for hours. Now, with AI, I can create a complete UI kit for a complex system in a single day.

AI can assist you in learning to code, but it struggles to pinpoint which modules are most relevant to a designer's needs. Much like traditional development courses, it often overwhelms designers with a flood of unnecessary information they won't use.

A specialized course tailored for designers

That's exactly why I created a specialized course on building clickable prototypes with code.

Having personally faced the challenges, I designed this course to cover precisely what designers need. Currently in early access, it equips you with essential coding knowledge to immediately surpass Figma's limitations.

The course skips regular videos and uses an interactive chapter map instead, so you can move around fast and review stuff easily. It's just the kind of thing I wish I'd had when I started coding.

You can quickly overview all chapters in a single day, then dive deeper into specific topics when necessary.

The course is continually evolving. Although it currently focuses on essential coding principles without AI, upcoming updates will integrate the latest AI tools and best practices.

By joining now at an early-access discount, you'll automatically receive all future enhancements, including powerful AI integrations, at no additional cost.