Three ideas shape everything on this site: who it is for, what the AI is for, and who decides.
The open hand
Design knowledge is a commons. The platform is built for the learner farthest from a design school: someone who may never set foot in a studio, whatever their geography, background or institution. It is built on open software, and what we make will be shared the same way.
AI opens, never closes
The AI is there to develop the student’s eye and judgement, not to do the work. It prepares the ground; it does not occupy it. In practice that means:
- It asks rather than answers. It offers references and questions, not solutions or finished designs.
- It keeps to the stage. In a crit, description and analysis come before judgement.
- It cites its sources. When it draws on course material, it says where from.
- It is specific. It speaks to this course, this week, this piece of work – not in generalities.
- It prepares for the crit; it never replaces it. The conversation that counts is between people.
In development
These are commitments for the AI assistant, which is in development: no AI model is connected yet. They are the rules it will be built to, and tested against.
Human judgement stays final
Critique, assessment and certification are made by people. AI can help a student prepare, and help a teacher see; it does not grade, and it does not decide.