Start with reference, not from scratch
When approaching a new feature, the first step is always to look at successful solutions from respected companies and designers on Mobbin and Are.na. Good design stands on the shoulders of people who came before. Don’t reinvent the wheel — study what works, understand why it works, then adapt it.Build from parts
Take specific patterns — a nav system from one app, a card layout from another — deconstruct why they work, then rebuild them for our context. This is not copying; it’s informed composition.Dedicate your deepest thinking to unknown unknowns
Templates, macros, and proven patterns handle the known. The real design work is revealing what you haven’t considered yet. When new knowledge surfaces during the design process, don’t be afraid to abandon existing work and rebuild on a fresh foundation.Iterate quickly
Move fast through the structural decisions. Get to something testable. The goal is not a perfect first draft — it’s a sound skeleton that can be validated and refined.This maps directly onto the V0 principle from the overview: structural soundness first, expressive investment second — and only where it’s earned.