What it Means to Be a "Reluctant CTO" at 61

At 61, essentially becoming a CTO and independently developing a complex IT product is, to put it mildly, a challenge. But that's exactly how I found myself in the role of a “reluctant CTO,” creating formspace.design. This isn't a whim or a desire to chase trends, but a deep-seated need that developed over decades of working in landscape design and intensified after 2022. My experience shows: age is no barrier when there's a clear vision and modern tools like artificial intelligence.

From Director of 'Dom i Sad' to Self-Taught Engineer

My career has always been linked to entrepreneurship and creation. From 2000 to 2022, I managed the company 'Dom i Sad' (Home and Garden), which specialized in designing and building cottages, landscaping, and maintaining properties. It was a comprehensive business, requiring constant attention to detail, planning, and, of course, management. Over these years, I repeatedly faced the problem of a lack of adequate tools for landscape design and project management. We used AutoCAD, Revit, 3ds Max, but all of them required significant resources and time, and most importantly, they weren't tailored to the specifics of landscape, its dynamics, and the multitude of constantly changing factors. I constantly assigned tasks to programmers, trying to automate accounting and processes, but I never found a solution that fully met my needs.

This “pain of a director without proper accounting and CRM” became my constant companion. I saw how much time and effort was spent on routine tasks, on redrawings, on approvals that could have been optimized. This is what pushed me to the idea that if the right tool didn't exist, I had to create it myself. You can read more about my journey from idea to code in the article The Moment I First Assembled a Working Module Myself Without a Team of Developers.

Why Now? Necessity and Challenge

2022 was a turning point for many, and for me too. My business in Ukraine halted, and I faced a new crisis that demanded finding new avenues for realization. Starting something from scratch at 61 is a huge challenge, but also an opportunity to apply all the accumulated experience. formspace.design became not just a project, but a hope for a breakthrough, a way to embody all the ideas and solutions I so desperately lacked in my practice. It was a moment when vast experience and energy merged with the understanding that the world had changed, and technologies, particularly AI, were opening doors that previously seemed closed to “non-IT” people like me.

Tools and Methods: How AI Became My Co-Author

Starting to code at my age without a specialized education is a colossal task. But artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed the rules of the game. I began to use AI as a kind of co-author and mentor. It helps me in various aspects: from generating ideas for code architecture to debugging and finding solutions to complex algorithmic problems. AI allows me to work on formspace.design independently, without hiring a large team of programmers, which would be unfeasible both financially and organizationally. It's not just a tool; it's a partner that accelerates the development process many times over, allowing me to focus on logic and user experience, relying on my subject matter expertise in landscape design. Thanks to AI, months of work have been reduced to weeks, and complex concepts become realizable much faster. I've already written about this in the article How I Built a Prototype in One Week That Would Have Taken Months Before.

Overcoming Barriers: Not Just Code, But Mindset

The biggest challenge on this path is not the code itself, but the change in mindset. I had to shift from the position of a “client” or “manager” who assigns tasks to programmers, to the position of an “executor” and “developer.” This requires tremendous discipline, perseverance, and a willingness to constantly learn. My experience in project and business management certainly helps: I know how to decompose tasks, plan, and see the ultimate goal. But technical details, syntax, architectural patterns – this is a completely new world that needs to be mastered every day. My journey proves that this path is accessible not only to “IT specialists.” With deep subject matter expertise and discipline, significant results can be achieved.

The Value of Subject Matter Expertise in Development

My many years of practice in landscape design are not just a background, but the foundation of formspace.design. I am building not just a program, but a tool that I myself lacked for decades. I know the pains of landscape designers and property owners: how difficult it is to visualize ideas, how much time is spent on manual drafting, how hard it is to coordinate changes. That's why formspace.design is being created with these nuances in mind. Every module, every function is developed from the perspective of practical application, to simplify the planning and design process as much as possible. My “artist's eye” and experience in landscape painting help me create an intuitive interface and algorithms that can truly help the user realize their ideas, rather than just generating a random design. That's why I believe that AI should assist the designer, not draw for them, which I explained in detail in the article Why I Decided That AI Should Assist the Designer, Not Draw for Them.

How to Plan in formspace.design

formspace.design is designed as an intuitive tool for anyone who wants to plan their property, whether a professional or a homeowner. Imagine you have a plot, say, 12 ares (or 1200 square meters), and you want to quickly get initial ideas for its zoning and concept. You can start with Module 2.1 “AI Concept,” by uploading a photo of your plot or simply specifying its approximate parameters. Artificial intelligence will suggest several zoning options, placement of main elements – from gazebos to ponds, considering sun orientation and your preferences.

Once you have a general concept, you can move to Modules 1.x (e.g., 1.2 “Plot Plan,” 1.3 “Plot Zones,” 1.4 “Plot Objects”). Here you can detail the AI-suggested ideas, refine the dimensions of paths (e.g., main path width 1.2-1.5 m, secondary 0.6-0.8 m), add specific objects from the library, and change their location. For example, you can quickly move a playground 10 meters closer to the house or enlarge a recreation area by 20 m². And finally, Module 3.1 “Design by Photo” will allow you to visualize the chosen design by overlaying elements onto a real photo of your plot, to see how it will look in real life before starting earthworks or purchasing plants.

FAQ

Is it difficult to start coding at a mature age?

Undoubtedly, it requires significant effort and time. But the most challenging part is not the code itself, but the change in mindset and the willingness to constantly learn. I found that my experience in business and planning helps me structure the learning and development process, making it more effective than if I had started from scratch at 20 without such a background.

Is an IT background necessary to create your own product?

A direct IT background is not essential, but subject matter expertise in the field for which the product is being created is critically important. My deep understanding of landscape design allows me to create a tool that truly solves user problems, rather than just mimicking functionality. AI today levels many technical barriers for those with ideas and domain knowledge.

How does AI help in the development of formspace.design?

AI acts as my personal assistant and mentor. It helps me generate code ideas, debug errors, explain complex concepts, and even write entire blocks of functions. This significantly accelerates the development process and allows me, a person without a specialized IT education, to create a complex and functional product that would otherwise require an entire team of specialists.

What were the main challenges along the way?

Besides acquiring new technical skills, the main challenge was overcoming psychological barriers and doubts. At 61, many prefer stability over radical changes. It was also difficult to find a balance between perfectionism and the need to move quickly, as speed and iterations play a key role in product development. I even almost made a mistake by fully trusting AI in a business decision, which I wrote about earlier.

Why not hire a team of developers?

Hiring a team of developers involves significant financial and managerial costs. In the initial stage of a project, especially when the concept is still forming and requires flexibility, it is much more efficient to work independently, using AI. This allows me to quickly test hypotheses, make changes, and maintain full control over the product vision, which is very important for me as someone who deeply understands the needs of the target audience.

How does past experience in landscape design help with formspace.design?

My 25 years of experience in landscape design are the foundation of formspace.design. I know what tools are needed, what problems arise at each stage of design and implementation. This helps me create an intuitive interface, functionality that is truly in demand, and ensure high accuracy in calculations and visualizations, which is critically important for meeting the needs of our users.

What advice would you give to those who want to start their own project at a mature age?

The most important thing is not to be afraid. If you have deep expertise in a certain area and a clear vision of the problem you want to solve, modern technologies, especially AI, offer unprecedented opportunities. Start small, use available tools, and be ready to learn every day. Your experience is a huge advantage, often more valuable than youth or specialized education.

My journey to creating formspace.design at 61 is a testament that it's never too late to start something new, especially when driven by genuine need and passion for creation. I believe that formspace.design will become the tool that helps thousands of property owners and landscape designers realize their dreams, making the planning process simpler and more accessible. This journey continues, and I invite you to join it by exploring the capabilities of our service.