Useful before impressive.
A design principle for the things we hope to build.
Begin with the work
A convincing demo is a useful starting point, but it is not the same as a useful product. We want to begin with the task: what someone needs, what context matters, and what a good outcome actually looks like.
Keep the human decisions visible
When AI is involved, clarity matters. A person should be able to understand a proposed next step, question an assumption, and choose another direction.
Start small enough to learn
Our first concepts are deliberately focused. Research, writing, planning, and knowledge work offer plenty of questions before they offer easy answers.