From Doubt to Digital Confidence

Susana thought she wouldn’t be admitted. Instead, she built real apps for real clients.

Meet Susana Ramos

Designer by training. Lifelong learner. Big believer in happiness through work.

Susana, 47, is a freelance graphic designer who’s spent decades refining her craft. Known for her curiosity, kindness, and love for creative detail, she joined NoCode Institute after a gentle nudge from a friend—and a growing urge to evolve.

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"I used to look at code and think, this isn’t for me. But with no-code, I finally felt like—maybe I can do this. I’m proud of myself. It was good. Really good."

Susana Ramos

Academia de Novos Talentos Digitais, 2024

The Challenge

After years in the creative field, Susana felt the digital world speeding up around her. She’d dabbled in tools like Flash and Dreamweaver years ago but never felt comfortable with code.

Now freelancing full-time, she wanted to stay relevant—but wasn’t sure if she could keep up.

“I thought, there will be so many people applying… I probably won’t get in.”

Self-doubt and time pressure almost stopped her from trying.

The Transformation

“I liked everything. The surprise of being admitted. The people. The lightness of it all.”

When Susana received her acceptance email, she felt a rush of surprise—and validation.
She didn’t expect to be chosen. But she was. And that changed everything.

At first, she wasn’t sure how she’d adapt to an online course. But it quickly became a highlight in her week.

“I was always expecting, oh, today is the day of the course—how good!”

From there, she dove in.
She learned to create responsive applications. She used Glide to turn a museum-themed website into a full mobile app. She stretched her comfort zone with Airtable—even when it felt more like math than design.
She discovered something big: structure and creativity could live side by side.

But the biggest shift wasn’t just technical—it was emotional.
She began to believe in her own ability to learn again.

“It makes us realize that we can do it—even if it’s not alone. It’s my job, and I have to go in search of solutions.”

She no longer felt like a designer on the outside of tech.
She felt like a creator—fluent in a new digital language.

Behind the scenes

Favorite
Tool

Glide

Favourite mission

World Museums app (turned site into app!)

Biggest challenge

Wrangling Airtable as a creative mind

Most valuable learning

“Better done than perfect”

What’s Next for Susana Ramos?

Susana’s building a future where creativity and technology meet.She’s continuing as a freelancer but now sees no-code as a tool for new kinds of challenges. Maybe even new types of clients. She’s open—and excited.

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