No-Code Superpowers 🦸
Making $200k/yr as a designer turned no-code developer 💪
From the Editor
The world has always belonged to those who create.
But the barrier to entry has been undergoing steady erosion by wave after wave of shiny new software. Canva has created a whole new breed of designers. The likes of InVideo and Rocketium allowed for the creation of simple videos.
Before you throw those rotten tomatoes at me for suggesting that these folks could hold a candle to your creative skills, hear me out.
I’d like to point out that a lot of the content created lacks the finesse of a creative that truly understands design. However, it works for most small or medium business needs, social posts, or sometimes even simple Ads on Instagram. The simple tasks are either automated or executed by non-designers or full-stack marketers who have limited resources.
In our piece about DALL-E 2 and similar AI such as Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, we pointed out how AI is making inroads. The proliferation of tech that simplifies design is in full swing. It’s important for creatives to adapt. We spoke about one possible direction - becoming a full-stack designer in the previous newsletter. Today, we present another option to consider - no-code.
You see, while the world has belonged to those who create, the ability to create has been opened to anyone who wants to. The future will belong to those who can build.
It’s Time to No-Code
As a designer, you do a lot of the groundwork for a product; how about the ability to now build and ship one yourself?
Webflow has made creating a website easy. Softr allows you to launch a simple product or internal tool without writing a line of code. Airtable, Google Sheets, or Notion can be your databases. Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat) helps you get all these tools talking with each other. And then there’s the OG no-code tool - WordPress. It powers >40% of all websites on the web.
Madhuri of Xperian started out her career in UI, UX, and Product Design. But she soon discovered no-code and started building products. Over the course of the last couple of years, she’s built over 50 no-code products. As a no-code developer with good design skills, she’s a one-person machine. And together with her cofounder - Karthi - who is also a designer + no-code developer, they’re a formidable force. Alongside the building and consulting, they’ve launched a cohort-based no-code program which clocks $200,000 in revenue per year. The entire tech stack comprises no-code tools for which they pay just $80 per year.
I’d like to point out that Madhuri has been dabbling with no-code for 6 years; hers isn’t an overnight success. She took a leap of faith in exploring the space when it was still in its infancy. As one of the earliest users of Webflow, she’s had the opportunity to grow together with the product.
How to Get Started
If you think you’re too late to jump in, I’d like to clear the air. We’re just at the beginning; no-code is just about to hit the mainstream and you are one of the best suited to build the necessary skills to take on even more complex projects.
Let’s say a client is looking to build a directory for their internal team. In the current scenario, they’d likely approach you for the UI and that’s the end of it.
On the other hand, if you were comfortable with Webflow or Softr, you’d not just design but also build it. And building it would take just as much time as the design. In fact, together, you might be able to do it more quickly. You just made 2x-3x what you originally would have billed.
Figuring out where to begin can be quite a challenge. Madhuri’s team put together a comprehensive free resource to help you navigate and start your journey. Alongside the resource, I’ve found that her YouTube channel - Nocoloco - is a treasure trove.
At IndieFolio, we’re keen on helping creatives unlock their true potential professionally and make the money they deserve. We hope you too join the no-code journey.
FYI, a lot of the websites at IndieFolio have been built without code using WordPress 🙂.
Opportunities on IndieFolio
As always, we bring you the most exciting projects from some of the finest companies in India.
Motion Graphics for Scaler
The Scaler team is looking for a Motion Graphics Artist to join their Brand and Content Marketing team. On a scale of 1 to 10, this opportunity is an 11.Reels for GrowthX
GrowthX is looking for an editor + motion graphic designer who can create about 12-15 reels every month. Somewhere in my head, I hear Freddie Mercury sing Is this the reel life, is this just fantasy?UX/UI Designer - KPMG USA
KPMG USA is on the lookout for an independent freelancer who can help them with UX/UI, creating wireframes, high-fidelity visuals, and clickable prototypes. If you do a good job, they might help you with your taxes. Just kidding.3D Isometric Environments for Sugarbox
SugarBox is looking for a 3D designer to create 4 background environments for their investor presentations. Another song to sing along to as you hit the ‘Apply Now’ button. As hot as fire, cold as ice, sweet as sugar, and everything nice…. Lenka anyone?SaaS Platform Redesign for ION Energy
If the EV revolution excites you, you might want to help ION Energy revamp its SaaS platform. They’re looking for a Product Designer with at least 3+ yrs of working/consulting with Enterprise SaaS companies. Did you raise your hand? We’ve got our eye on you… Apply for the role.
Contribute to the IndieFolio Blog
IndieFolio is India’s largest community of creatives. Our managed marketplace and jobs board also caters to thousands of agencies, enterprises, and startups.
We’re inviting writers for our blog which is read by over 100,000+ designers, marketers, product managers, founders, and a host of other folks for whom design matters.
The topics we accept are broad; anything our audience would care about is fair game. We also invite you to showcase your work as long as the focus is on sharing your process and learnings.
If you’re interested, drop your details below 👇
Learn with IndieFolio
We’ve got some exciting sessions to help you level up.
Mrinani Biswas, a UX Writer and Content Strategist at Google will be taking a session on the Fundamentals of UX Writing.
Ansh Mehra who’s a Sr.Product Designer at Zuddl is going to talk about Monetizing your Skillsets.
If you want to get notified about other upcoming live sessions and offline events, apply for a whitelist.
Food for Thought
How to Apply the Pareto Principle to Learning Any No-Code Platform
How I founded two no-code startups, hit $40k MRR, and pitched to Bill Clinton
Long-list of No-Code Products to inspire you 🙂
Project Suggestion: Build a Curated Directory
Ever seen one of those handy websites with curated tools and resources? You could build one in under a few hours with Soft and Airtable. Madhuri of Xperian put together a short walkthrough.
Adios ✌️
That’s it for this week folks. We’ll be writing a more comprehensive piece on no-code to help non-tech folks build out a much deeper set of skills and offerings.
It costs nothing to get started apart from time. But as we both know, learning something new is a lot of fun especially if the end outcome is something tangible. In this case, it could be a cool idea you’ve been sitting on forever because you couldn’t find a developer to help you. Now, you can be a designer and developer rolled into one. That, my friend, is a superpower like none other.
And before signing off, here’s a gentle reminder.
The future will belong to those who can build.