are you ready to wield the design sword? — source author

The new age of DIY apps is a lot like content creation; blogs, YouTube videos and even TikTok's for fun and education. Software now has the potential to be the new content. Each community, that had extensive Reddit communities and YouTube LIVE streaming, can now bond over creating software for their own use cases or exploration.

Imagine a custom Secret Hitler app for your monthly game nights? Or a ‘choose a salsa partner’ for those weekly Salsa social nights?

Before I get into how designers can win in this era, let’s look at the second-order effects.

Second-order effects & new opportunities

1. Discovery systems

• Social networks organized around software sharing and collaboration, like how Instagram made it easy to click and share photos.

• App recommendation engines based on usage patterns; the new ads.

• At the deeper level, cross-platform compatibility layers to run DIY software anywhere.

2. Creation tools

• Low-code platforms specifically designed for creators, not enterprises. We are getting there, but also we’re not there yet (it’s still code focused).

• Template marketplaces for common software patterns. Framer allowed templates for websites, now it’s time for software.

• Specialized analytics for understanding software usage and audience behavior, but not the complicated Google Analytics, something much simpler. Bonus: action steps from pre-analyzed statistics “70% of your daily users want XYZ feature”.

3. New roles

• “Software curators” who discover and highlight useful micro-applications.

• “Software stylists” who help personalize apps to individual needs. Crit is a step in that direction, usability as a service.

• Community managers specializing in software creator communities.

• Micro “automation tools” as a service, 2 weeks timeline.

4. Monetization plans

• Software subscription bundles, like Patreon but for micro-apps.

• Creator-specific app stores and marketplaces.

• Revenue sharing platforms between software creators who build on each other’s work.

5. Marketing evolution

• Interactive experiences replacing static content (e.g., explorable explanations instead of articles). This is an amazing example.

• Software-as-narrative where the user experience tells a story.

• Hybrid content strategies where text, video and interactive components blend seamlessly.

6. For universities and students

• Teaching software creation as a fundamental skill.

• Software literacy made easy as a social standard to communicate.

• “Software clubs” like book clubs.

7. Community-Owned Software

• DAO-like structures where users collectively own and direct software development (Reddit communities are now even more powerful).

• Micro-equity in applications where early users get ownership stakes.

• Fan-funded feature development where users crowdfund specific capabilities.

8. Reputation Systems

• Software creator reputation scores based on reliability, security, and user satisfaction. Similar to how Steam has developer ratings.

• Bug bounty programs to test and disclose vulnerabilities and fixes.

• Identity verification as a service for software creators to establish trust through traceability (and combat scams and malware).

My brain is on a roll, now I just want to implement everything..ahhh. Steal these before they become mainstream, you’re welcome :)

the design sword has been wielded — source author

How designers can win

For those who said “design is dead” and “I just made a website in 5 minutes using v0 / lovable / bolt”, do you have users and their satisfaction?

Designers are very well positioned to provide their design values to help create impactful experiences. Some ways —

1. Interaction Design

• As technical barriers fall, user experience becomes the key differentiator.

• Designers who create intuitive mental models for complex capabilities can leverage their knowledge.

• The “Apple effect” — where design quality commands premium pricing.

2. Design Systems

• Customizable component libraries specifically for creator-built applications (21st dev is a starting point).

• Design patterns that scale from novice to power users.

• Visual editing tools that maintain consistency across creator ecosystems (kind of like Crit, AI that audits and improves your UX instantly).

3. Experience orchestration

• Designers who specialize in emotional journeys for softwares.

• Creating “moments of delight” within utilitarian applications.

• Turning functional software into memorable experiences.

4. AI+Design hybrids

• Designers who leverage AI for rapid prototyping and iteration (also known as vibe designing).

• Design systems that adapt to user behavior (adaptive interfaces).

• AI-powered design assistants built by designers for designers

Much like Instagram’s filters that made everyone feel like a photographer, the real winners of this new age will enable creation through no-code platforms with flexibility for personal expression. Designers who can create frameworks that make softwares both powerful and approachable are en route to standing out in this noisy world.

AI-powered design assistant

Psst, I am building a design + AI hybrid —

Introducing Crit, your personal design assistant to critique your design and help you create better experiences. Crit understands and prioritizes your business goals & user needs to identify the opportunities.

a sneak peak :)

And and, compare your designs numerically and know the why —

Crit has you covered. 10x your design process today —

We’re still in the early phase and testing it every day — if you’d like to get a demo, would love have a jam session with you :)