Our Values
Tech is not a scourge; tech won’t save the world. But tech can be magic if we do it right.
Here are a few of the things we believe in:
Building in Public
Making our methods and processes transparent accomplishes two things: 1) it helps clients and potential-clients know what to expect and when, and 2) it demystifies the business of building technology.
The “who” and the “why” behind technology-building matters, and there’s room for everyone here. We want to do our part to encourage a diverse tech workforce by being open about who we are, why we do this work, and how we do it.
Usability, Accessibility & Inclusivity
Creators of the early internet had visions of a tool that leveled the playing field and connected people globally. The reality is that today’s internet has fallen vastly short of that goal.
The internet should be usable and accessible for everyone, not just the majority. We strive to build in ways that prioritize functionality and consider those with disabilities.
Anti-racist, Anti-sexist, Anti-imperialist
The internet runs on architectural systems that are informed by certain traditions, epistemologies, and cultural frameworks.
We believe de-colonizing the internet means remaining vigilant about the ways traditional development perpetuates bias and harm towards vulnerable groups of people.
Kill your darlings, kill your ego
Just like writing and editing, good tech development means knowing when to “kill your darlings.” We reject the version of the internet that bloats in response to user, stakeholder, or shareholder demands.
Adding is easy, taking away is hard. We make an effort to keep our egos out of the development process, so that the focus remains on building the best possible version of the product.
Design with the future in mind
We’re futurists, which means we think about the big-picture, and how what we’re building fits in to where we’re going as a society.
We’re not the type to keep our heads down and build. We are constantly looking up to gauge how what we’re building might play a role in larger systems. This allows us to make course-corrections towards building a healthier, happier, safer internet.
Listen to the data. Trust the experts
This one should be obvious, but alas. A healthy intuition is important when building technology, but validating your ideas and garnering support means going to the data.
One key component of this validation is knowing when to outsource expertise. That’s why we believe in collaboration between the people building technology, and the experts who study it.
Show them who you are and don’t apologize
Authenticity is key to meaning and connection, and isn’t that the whole point?
Empower the powerless
Powerlessness can kill you, literally. It’s our obligation to build technology that attempts to alleviate the unequal distribution of power, not worsen it.
Bigger isn’t always better.
The growth-at-all-costs ethos of today’s startup culture means that sometimes technology with the best intentions can end up missing the point altogether.
We reject the frameworks that insist on this kind of performative, one-size-fits-all approach.
Move fast & break things. Proceed with caution & humility because what you build and how you build it matters
“Move fast and break things” as a mantra doesn’t seem to have done Big Tech much good. We’re in favor of asking important questions upfront, not rushing to act in the name of dollars-and-cents efficiency.
Sometimes slow and steady really does win the race.