The Prime Directives of Design

In Star Trek, the crew doesn’t recite the Prime Directive every time they land somewhere new, but you can feel it in the air. A quiet reminder: stay aware, don’t assume, and respect the people whose world you’re stepping into. It guides their choices more than any gadget on the ship.

Design has something similar. You meet a flow that asks for a little too much. A layout that hides an option because it looks cleaner. A pattern that nudges instead of informs. Nothing catastrophic, just small choices that either respect the user’s world or ignore it.

That’s where your own Prime Directives come in.
• Clarity before cleverness
If someone is tired or overwhelmed, they shouldn’t have to fight your interface. Make the path obvious even when it feels less “designed.”

• Accessibility at the start
Real inclusivity begins in the first draft, not the final checklist. Think contrast, rhythm, alternatives - before the pixels get pretty.

• Care in the tiny decisions
A clear label, a gentle error, an honest toggle. These moments look small but carry the most weight. Respect accumulates.

Ethical design doesn’t arrive with dramatic music. It shows up quietly, in places no one praises, shaping an experience that feels safe even on someone’s worst day.
Your Prime Directives are simple: design like you’re stepping into someone else’s world, not inviting them into yours.