Free course for designers

Learn to design with code

by Mikolaj Dobrucki

Design in code with confidence

Understand how web code works — not to become an engineer, but to direct AI tools with precision, evaluate output with confidence, and work in real codebases as a designer.

Think like an architect

Don't just generate things naively. Make informed decisions about how to structure a project, when to split a component, and how to plan the architecture — so what you build with AI is solid, not fragile.

$58.3

Solve problems yourself

When something breaks, don't wait for AI to fix it. Understand what went wrong, use DevTools to investigate, and take full control of the situation.

import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
import clsx from "clsx";
import { PropsWithChildren } from"react";

type NoteProps = PropsWithChildren & {
 title?: string;
 type?: "note" | "danger" | "warning" | "success";
 className?: string;
};

export default function Note({ children, title = "Note", type = "note", className }: NoteProps ) {
 const noteClassNames = clsx({
 "dark:bg-stone-950/25 bg-stone-50": type === "note",
 "dark:bg-red-950 bg-red-100 border-red-200 dark:border-red-900": type === "danger",
 "dark:bg-orange-950 bg-orange-100 border-orange-200 dark:border-orange-900": type === "warning",
 "dark:bg-green-950 bg-green-100 border-green-200 dark:border-green-900": type === "success"
  });

Direct AI with precision

Knowing the medium is what separates generic AI output from refined, intentional design. Give specific feedback AI can act on.

Click me
r: 12px
W: 120px
H: 48px

Collaborate with devs

Speak the same language as your engineering team. Contribute directly to design systems, review code changes, and ship improvements on your own.

AI got better at generating code. It did not get better at knowing what to generate. That part is still on you — and it lives in your understanding of the medium.

This course gives you exactly that understanding. The fundamentals, the vocabulary, and the judgment to work with code confidently. And it's completely free.

Meet your new tools

Cursor

The most popular AI-powered code editor.

HTML

The building blocks that structure web pages.

CSS

The styling language for the web.

Tailwind

The world's most popular CSS framework.

SVG

Vector graphics for icons and illustrations in code.

DevTools

Browser tools to inspect and debug your code.

React

The standard for building dynamic websites.

Node.js

A runtime that lets JavaScript run on your machine.

Terminal

A text interface to run commands and code.

npm

A service to manage tools and dependencies.

Next.js

The world's most popular React framework.

GitHub

A platform to store and collaborate on code.

Git

Version control to track changes and collaborate.

Vercel

A platform to deploy and host your websites.

Shadcn UI

A component library you own and customize.

Astro

A framework for fast, content-focused websites.

What you'll learn

Course outline

About the Author

Hi, I'm Mikolaj

I've been designing and coding for about 20 years — long before AI made it trendy. I grew up believing that designing with code is the most natural way to go, and I've seen firsthand how understanding both changes the way you think about interfaces, collaborate with engineers, and ship products.

Today, I work as a Staff Product Designer at Castle and run Design with Code and Launch UI. I built this course because I believe understanding code is one of the most valuable skills a designer can have right now — and it will only become more valuable as AI keeps evolving.

FAQ

QDo I need any coding experience to take this course?

ANo! This course is designed for designers with little to no coding experience. We start from zero — creating accounts, installing tools — and build up from there.

QHow long will it take to complete the course?

AThe course has 6 short videos and 23 hands-on exercises. If you go super intensively, you can squeeze it into a single day. But I recommend spreading it across 4–5 days so things have time to sink in. You can go at your own pace.

QWhat tools or software do I need?

AYou'll need a computer (Mac, Windows, or Linux) and a code editor — I recommend Cursor (free), which has AI features built in. VS Code is a great free alternative. All other tools used in the course are free and open-source.

QIs this course really free?

AYes! The course itself is completely free — no hidden fees. The only thing I charge for is personal mentoring, live teaching, or custom workshops. If you're interested in any of those, reach out at [email protected].

QIs it still useful to learn code when even programmers code less and less?

AMore useful than ever. AI got better at generating code, but not at knowing what to generate. Understanding the medium is what lets you direct AI effectively and judge its output. That's the skill this course builds.

QWhat if I get stuck on an exercise?

AEvery exercise includes AI prompt hints you can use when stuck, plus a glossary and quiz. The exercises are self-paced, and you can always come back to the text as reference. If you're really stuck, reach out at [email protected] — I'm happy to help.

QDo I need Figma experience?

AIt helps but isn't required. The course uses Figma analogies to explain concepts — like comparing code components to Figma components. If you've used Figma, these click immediately. If not, the explanations stand on their own.

QCan you adapt this course to my company's tech stack and specific requirements?

AYes, I'm open to that. I can tailor the content to your team's tools, frameworks, and workflows. Reach out at [email protected] and we can discuss what would work best.

Ready to start designing with code?

Join the free course and learn how to build what you design