Should designers learn to code in 2025?

In 2025, the coding landscape will have changed for many designers. While Figma and no-code tools were revolutionary, AI-powered development environments like V0 and Cursor are making the technical side of building digital products accessible to anyone with design skills. We can build powerful applications by promoting code editors now.

This week's 96mins cuts through the noise about whether designers should learn to code. It's not about becoming a developer – it's about understanding just enough to ship actual products that make money without you actively working.

If you're in a hurry, skip to the checklist at the bottom for the essential tools and skills.

But if you want the complete picture, stick around. The context matters, and understanding exactly which technical skills to focus on (and which to ignore) will set you up to create assets that generate income long after you've finished designing them.

The Designer's New Opportunity

The old debate is dead. In 2023, I was still hearing designers ask if they should learn to code. At the time, my answer was “not unless you want to build things.” Now, times have changed, and the cost of prompting AI-generated creativity for the non-designer is low, and many people can’t tell the difference visually.

In 2025, with AI-powered tools transforming how we build digital products, the question has evolved. It's no longer about "if" but "how much" and "which parts" of coding you should understand.

Naval put it perfectly: "Learn to sell, learn to build. Learn both and you will be unstoppable." As designers, we already know how to sell through visual communication. We're halfway there. The missing piece? The ability to build.

Here's where it gets interesting – Jack Forge recently highlighted a massive opportunity most designers are missing: "While everyone is using AI to try and build the hottest new viral app, you should be using AI to build apps for small businesses in your area." This is the sweet spot for designpreneurs in 2025.

Small businesses have real problems that need solving, and they'll happily pay for solutions. You don’t need to learn how to build to create the next TikTok or Snapchat, but it’s easy to spin up small applications like bespoke dashboards for a local restaurant.

What's Changed in 2025

The technical barrier has never been lower. AI coding assistants have transformed what's possible for designers without CS degrees. Tools like Cursor and Windsurf don't just autocomplete your code – they help you understand it. *Bonus points if you use the chat feature to learn and ask how the code works :).

Last month, I used Cursor to build a freelance jobs site directory that would have taken weeks of learning JavaScript in the past. The AI handled the complex parts while I focused on making design decisions (albeit basic ones in this scenario). Within days, I had a working product that I could sell.

This isn't about replacing technical learning – it's about focusing your learning on the concepts that matter while letting AI handle the heavy lifting. You're essentially pair programming with an AI that never gets tired, never judges you for basic questions, and helps you understand what's happening under the hood.

Real-World Applications

Most designers I meet are trapped in the client service loop – constantly hunting for the next project to pay bills. Meanwhile, designers with basic technical skills build scalable products that generate thousands while they sleep.

What can you build with minimal coding skills + AI assistance?

• Directory sites for niche audiences that attract and nurture leads

• Simple web apps that automate tedious tasks for clients

• Small SaaS tools for industry-specific workflows

• Custom dashboards utilising APIs to keep business owners in the loop

The key is solving real problems, not chasing trendy tech. Your understanding of design principles and user needs is your true advantage – the technical skills just enable you to package and monetize that knowledge.

The Practical Learning Path

The mistake most designers make is trying to learn everything. They fall into tutorial hell, spending months watching courses without building anything. The fastest path to technical competence is focusing on the core concepts first.

Visit roadmap.sh and look for the yellow boxes in any development path – those are your fundamentals. Focus on understanding variables, functions, loops, and basic data structures. These concepts are universal across programming languages and form the foundation you need to work effectively with AI coding tools.

Once you understand these basics, start building tiny projects. Don't worry about writing perfect code. Use AI tools to help you implement your ideas while you focus on understanding what's happening. The goal isn't to memorize syntax – it's to understand how digital products work so you can create your own.

How to become a semi-technical designpreneur

Chat-based website builders

Here are tools for turning designs directly into working prototypes with minimal code. They’re great for beginners to start building web apps visually, and don’t involve much or any backend knowledge.

Pick one you like and utilise it to kick off your projects. They all do similar things.

• V0

• Lovable

• Bolt

Code editors

Coding editors are perfect if you’d like to step up the complexity of your projects, or if you have a visual design that needs beefing up on the backend. Here are some AI-powered code editor that helps explain concepts as you build.

Again, try them out and pick the one you like most, then focus on that.

• Cursor

• Windsurf

• GitHub Copilot

Fundamental Concepts to Learn

Look up each of these topics within the JavaScript, HTML, and CSS video tutorial playlist below, then start building small projects as quickly as possible.

Don’t get stuck learning everything that exists, these are the basics you’ll need to understand most projects you’ll end up building.

• HTML & CSS

• JavaScript

  • Variables & Data Types: Understanding how to store and manipulate information

  • Functions: Creating reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks

  • Loops & Conditionals: How to make decisions and repeat actions in your code

  • APIs: Understanding how to connect to external services and data

  • DOM Manipulation: How to dynamically change elements on a webpage

First Project Ideas

• Personal Portfolio: Build a custom site to showcase your work (start here!)

• Design Calculator: Create a simple tool that helps clients understand pricing or project timelines

• Template Generator: Build something that automates a repetitive design task

• Client Dashboard: Create a simple tool that visualizes data for a specific client type

The line between designers and developers is blurring, but that doesn't mean you need to become a full-stack engineer. In 2025, your competitive advantage comes from combining your design expertise with just enough technical knowledge to bring ideas to life.

Start small. Focus on the fundamentals. Use AI as your coding partner. You'll soon be building products that generate income while you sleep, freeing you from the endless cycle of client work.

The designers who thrive in the next five years won't just be the ones with the prettiest portfolios. They'll be the ones who can take their ideas from Figma to functioning products that solve real problems for paying customers.

What will you build first?

Best,

Zai

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