Architecting a Zero-Code Screen Constructor for an AI Tax Platform -
From Engineering Bottleneck to Scale
GetApril - Eliminating 100% of developer dependency to accelerate experimentation
velocity by 4x
April is an AI-powered platform designed to help U.S. users manage their taxes with less friction and more control. While the main product is customer-facing, my focus was on the internal admin interface.
Client:
GetApril
Role:
Senior Product Designer
Year:
2024
I was tasked with designing a new screen constructor from the ground up. This internal tool empowers non-technical team members to build, edit, and manage mobile app screens directly within the platform, without needing to write a single line of code.
The challenge
Previously, any change to a mobile app screen - from a simple text edit to reordering buttons—required a developer. This created a slow, inefficient workflow that bottlenecked product updates and marketing experiments. The team needed to move faster.
The core challenge was to democratize screen creation by designing a solution that would:
Eliminate developer dependency for routine content and layout changes.
Accelerate the speed of shipping updates and new screens.
Be flexible and scalable for future features and design system components.
Empower non-technical users to build with complex components confidently
My role
As the sole product designer for this feature, I led the end-to-end design process. I was responsible for the complete lifecycle, from initial research and strategy through to final UI, prototyping, and developer handoff, ensuring the tool was both powerful for the business and intuitive for its users.
What I Did
Discovery & Research
Mapped the existing workflow to identify key pain points and opportunities for streamlining.
Ran workshops with stakeholders (product managers, engineers, content managers) to align on goals and technical constraints.
Conducted competitive analysis of other no-code builders to establish best practices for UI construction.
Design & Prototyping
Developed low-fidelity wireframes that focused on the core logic and user journey of building a screen, allowing for early validation.
Designed the final, high-fidelity UI with a focus on a clear, structured layout that balanced flexibility with ease of use.
Created detailed interactive prototypes and animations (After Effects) to demonstrate key interactions for developer handoff and stakeholder alignment.
Refinement & Handoff
Conducted iterative feedback sessions with internal users to refine the design.
Expanded the company's design system to include all the new components and patterns required for the constructor.
Delivered a comprehensive package of developer-ready assets and specifications for a smooth implementation.
User Journey & Flow
Before designing, I mapped the entire journey of creating a screen to ensure the tool would address every step and decision moment.
Early UX Concepts
Low-fidelity wireframes were crucial for aligning on the core structure and interaction model before committing to visual design.
Final design
The final design provides a clear layout for component selection, a central canvas for building, and a properties panel for editing—enabling teams to build with confidence.
Results & Outcomes
Successfully launched the screen constructor, now the primary tool for managing mobile app screens at April.
Reduced developer dependency for content updates, freeing up engineering for core product tasks.
Accelerated content deployment, enabling faster iteration and marketing campaigns.
Strengthened the design system, creating a more robust and consistent foundation for all products.
Received overwhelmingly positive feedback from internal users, who praised the tool's clarity and ease of use.
Thank you for your attention!
