How I “Vibe-Coded” Our Email Signup System (with ChatGPT + Framer + ActiveCampaign)

I’m not a developer.

I don’t write code.

But somehow, I built a fully functional, handcrafted email signup system for isabellacamping.com. Powered by ActiveCampaign, Framer, and an unlikely collaborator: ChatGPT.

This isn’t a technical post.

But it is about curiosity and how it’s quietly becoming one of the most valuable tools in building Isabella’s presence in North America.

The Setup

When we began shaping Isabella USA, I wanted every digital touchpoint to feel like Isabella: Scandinavian simplicity and natural. If a customer can't touch our incredibly durable and high quality European canvas, they should be able to feel it through all of our digital assets. Even something as small as an email form should reflect that.

The challenge?

Framer is an incredible design tool, but it doesn’t naturally connect with ActiveCampaign. Our platform for newsletters, automations, and segmentation.

And I have exactly zero coding experience.

The Goal

As I built out our 'Coming Soon' landing page, I needed an email signup form for anyone (hopefully there would be someone) who landed on our page and was interested in keeping in tune of our launch.

For this email signup, I envisioned a two step process which I wanted to feel cohesive and intentional:

1. Coming Soon page —> to collect early signups.
2. Thank-You / Preferences page —> to ask new subscribers what kind of camping they love.

All synced perfectly with our ActiveCampaign lists, tags, and automations. No clunky embeds, no broken design, no developer required.

Enter ChatGPT

I opened ChatGPT and wrote:

I need to get an email signup form on my website, using ActiveCampaign. This will go on our 'Coming Soon' landing page. What are best practices I should think about when creating this form?

That one message started a process I didn’t expect to enjoy this much.

Together, we built:

• A custom Framer code component that posts directly to ActiveCampaign’s backend
• Clean, branded CSS that fits our design system
• Automatic email prefill between pages (via ?email= parameters)
• A frictionless user flow feeding new subscribers into our “Newsletter US” list, tagged by source

I didn’t code it. I directed it. One small question at a time.

The “Vibe-Coding” Philosophy

Somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t learning to code.

I was learning to translate intention into action.

I would save the code, then review the result. If I noticed something off, I’d type things like:

“Make it feel more balanced.”

“Center this field.”

“Use our red, not a generic one.”

ChatGPT turned those feelings into working code. I’d paste, test, break, fix, and iterate. Learning the rhythm of modern creation.

“Vibe coding” became my way of describing it: using instinct and AI to build something that feels right, even if you don’t fully understand what’s happening under the hood.

The result?

A seamless, on-brand signup experience that connects every part of our system. From signup-source tags to user preferences. All built inside Framer.

Why It Matters

This small project represents something bigger.

It’s proof that brand building today doesn’t start with expertise. It starts with curiosity.

I didn’t just add the out-of-the-box signup form ActiveCampaign created (yuk).

I created a living bridge between design, technology, and storytelling. Something that reflects the larger journey of bringing Isabella’s Danish craftsmanship into the American outdoor landscape.

Modern creativity isn’t about knowing every tool.

It’s about learning how to ask the right questions and staying curious enough to follow the answers.

“You don’t need to be a developer to build things. You just need to be curious enough to keep asking questions.”

What’s Next

Now the real work begins on building out our e-commerce site. Framer will be on the front end of our Shopify site, utilizing a native connector so our product info and native purchasing is all experienced on Framer.

Next up I plan on vibe coding:

• More personalize welcome journeys inside ActiveCampaign
• Bundles on product pages where they're needed
• The ability to display inventory amounts for each item
• Integrate other essential Shopify apps that will help us enter the e-commerce world

But for now, I’m proud that every pixel, checkbox, and redirect represents something handmade. Not by code, but by curiosity.

Try It Yourself

Visit isabellacamping.com Coming Soon page, scroll to the middle, and join The Isabella Club.