How long product design trends can last without code

How do you define a trend? Stock market trends indicate that finances are moving in a certain direction. Trends in the business world focus on new strategies and practices that are potentially beneficial to a brand’s baseline. Fashion trends change so fast that they are hard to keep up with. When defining what constitutes a ‘trend’, there is one thing that always seems to be part of it: trends are limited in popularity and eventually they give way to the new.

No-code products themselves were on the cusp of a new trend, part of the growing no-code movement that has promoted accessibility and user-friendliness for those of us who haven’t mastered coding. But will products without code continue to be used, and for how long?

Let’s look at some of the details and the factors that play into the answers.

Product design without code

What exactly do I mean by product design without code?

Let’s take a simple example: an app that you can download on your phone is the product, and the way it is made and intended to function is the design. Using applications without code allows a web designer who may not be a coding expert to take the separate elements of the app and put them together.

And no-code products have a much wider scope than just app design, although that is one of the most popular uses. Anything that creates a unique design from pre-built elements — online logo creation software, for example — may not be code. Websites, programs, software, blogs, e-commerce sites, social media platforms (and more) can fit into the category.

Designing without code does not automatically mean that the developer is free from all possibilities of making design errors; a tool is only as good as its user. Products designed using no-code are still subject to updates, iterations, and modifications as needed to maintain and improve functionality. But ultimately, no-code is growing because it makes product development much more accessible and user-friendly.

Growth of the no-code movement

With more platforms relying on no-code availability, it’s not hard to see why there’s a growing general trend toward its use and development. And with more emphasis on no-code, we see more trends emerging that play a role in its further adaptation and use.

I already mentioned the use of no-code in app development. It’s also increasingly being used in other aspects of the virtual world, and I can see it being widely adopted as the metaverse takes shape.

One of the main areas where I see no-code being most useful is branding, especially the development and launch of new brands. It’s never been easier to build an online presence that accurately reflects your company’s personality, and as a serial entrepreneur, that goal is close to my heart.

How long trends last without code largely depends on the usefulness of the trends themselves. Since they all focus on the utility of no-code as a whole, I want to discuss them in that context. Here are some of the key factors that play into no-code longevity:

• Quick development
• Accessibility
• Budgeting
• Tools
• Easy to use

Quick development

A trend in no-code is its increased use in e-commerce and branding. Logical, because it fits in nicely with the current love for on-demand services and SaaS.

Take an ecommerce site. Maybe you’ve already launched your site with some products, but suddenly you have a new option. Code-less design means you can simply copy and paste – or drag and drop – the same elements previously created within your site, ensuring continuity and minimizing the time between opportunity and availability.

Accessibility

Not everyone can code. That is actually the whole premise behind no-code: not everyone can code and not everyone has to.

The rise of no-code has expanded what developers of all disciplines and experience levels can do. This in turn allows for more freedom in product development, expansion of the struggling economy and new initiatives. It’s much more viable to continue making a product when a lack of coding knowledge isn’t actively preventing you from moving forward.

In that sense, no-code is the great leveler. Anyone with access to the internet has the opportunity to participate in the movement.

Budgeting

Coding can get expensive. This isn’t always because of the actual coding itself, but because it involves man-hours that can hit a development company’s budget where it hurts. For example, building a site from scratch is possible cost $2,500 and up. For example, for most small business launches, websites are vital, but that amount of money just isn’t there.

Relying on no-code instead of scratch and custom coding can significantly reduce the finances required to get a product off the ground and up and running.

It seems every time I turn around there’s a new tool that conveniently fits into the no-code toolbox. From Webflow to Airtable, Bubble to Coda, there’s a no-code platform for every need — and every design style.

I applaud the variety of no-code tools, especially since in my experience as a serial entrepreneur, each product and business venture requires a little bit of a different approach to ensure the best possible outcome. It could be a greater ability to customize individual elements or a wide variety of drag and drop options to choose from – it depends on the product under development. So no-code tools may come and go, but I think we’ll continue to develop them as technology advances and no-code becomes more and more adaptable.

We like things to be easy

Aside from major considerations like time, budget, accessibility, and everything else I’ve mentioned, one of the most telling factors in the longevity of no-code product design trends is simply our own laziness.

Maybe “laziness” isn’t the right word; after all, no-code developers work enthusiastically and energetically to broaden their horizons. But for those of us who use no-code completely, at least a small part of it is fueled by our desire to keep things as simple and easy as possible.

Methods without code do that for us. In an increasingly complex world, the ability to just drag and drop until we’ve created exactly what we need is like a beautiful dream.

Product Design Trends Without Code: The Takeaway

The point of a trend is to provide a new and useful method to achieve our goals. In that, the no-code movement itself is a trend that has stuck in the field of technology and development.

But do all trends fade and die and are replaced by something new?

In the years since no-code has gained popularity, the beneficial aspects of the concept have certainly not faded. Microtrends continue within the no-code movement, but no-code itself is – in my opinion – going nowhere.

Meanwhile, technology keeps evolving, innovation always has a next step and we will never stop looking for ways to improve ourselves and our products. No code is here to stay, but I think we’ll continue to develop more and more effective ways to use it in more arenas.

No one can say exactly how long a particular no-code product design trend will last or what will come next. But with the progress we’ve already seen, one thing’s for sure – the future is going to be exciting and it could even be a lot easier to use.

Tarif Kahn is head of design at LogoDesign.Net