Laboratorium Design Thinking

PLEN

Mobile apps

A working app from a description or a spreadsheet, with no code to write.

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Illustration for mobile apps

An app without coding

Students often suggest a mobile app as the form of their project. A good path is to start with a drawing on paper or a mockup in a mockup tool, and only then move on to a working prototype. No-code platforms and vibe coding let you take that step in well under an hour.

An app from a spreadsheetGlide

Turns spreadsheet data into apps that install on a phone (as a progressive web app). To start, pick a template, swap in your data in the sheet and you are done. Over time you can add more features from the tutorials.

An app from a descriptionLovable

Builds web apps from a conversation with AI (vibe coding). Good for a first version with a polished look.

Building in the browserBolt

An environment with a live preview, where you see the effect of every change straight away.

An app from a descriptionBase44

You describe the idea and the tool builds a complete app. Handy for rapid prototyping.

Native appsAdalo

Apps for iOS and Android that can be published in app stores.

Complex appsBubble

Works well for complex projects with their own logic and database.

As of September 2026. Tools change fast, so check current plans and limits before you choose.

From an idea to an app on your phone

  1. 1Start with a mockupDraw the screens on paper or in a mockup tool. That frees you from the limits of any one service and makes creative solutions easier.
  2. 2Build a clickable versionWhere a feature is yet to work, put in its description or a drawing from the mockup.
  3. 3Turn descriptions into working elementsIf time and know-how allow, gradually replace descriptions and drawings with working features. With AI, your earlier annotated sketches will serve as context for the prompt.
  4. 4Install and testRun the app on your own phones. The joy and pride of a working app strengthen a growth mindset, and users will show you what to improve.

The app as a prototype and as a product

LimitsAdvanced ideas

When an idea goes beyond what the service can do, drawings and mockups work better.

QualityChecking the code

AI-generated code can look professional and still hide technical problems. It is worth checking and adjusting where needed.

GoalLearning and testing the idea

A prototype should bring the team closer to answering the How Might We question, and polishing the look can wait for the next iteration.

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