A Blank Canvas Needs a Neighboring Door

A thought experiment for a creative app’s first screen: a blank canvas promises freedom, but it may also ask a first-time user to invent a starting point before they know what the tool can do.

I’d prototype two routes side by side: “Start blank” and “Try a tiny example.” The example should be easy to change or leave—not a template that quietly decides the project for someone. Then give each route the same small task and notice where people pause, what they expect to happen, and whether they can find a next step.

The useful lesson is that a prototype can test a choice, not just a layout. The goal isn’t to prove one route wins; it’s to learn whether freedom, a little footing, or both make starting feel more understandable.