design-tenets-for-decision-making

Design tenets are strategic decision-making tools that force a choice between two valid directions. Unlike "design principles," which are often indisputable platitudes (e.g., "make it simple"), tenets provide a specific point of view that allows teams to move from a mindset of control to one of choreography.

Core Principles

• Argue the Opposite: If you cannot reasonably argue the opposite of a statement, it is a principle (a platitude), not a tenet.
• Limit to Three or Four: Tenets must be memorizable. If a team has to consult a handbook to remember them, they will not use them in real-time debates.
• Decision Utility: A tenet's primary job is to settle a debate once and for all so the team doesn't have the same argument every six months.

The Process for Creating Tenets

1. Identify Repetitive Debates

Audit recent design reviews and product meetings. Look for "bifurcation points" where the team consistently splits into two camps. Common areas include:

• Power vs. Simplicity
• Compatibility vs. Innovation
• Customization vs. Standardized UI

2. Draft "Paper vs. Plastic" Statements

Write tenets that explicitly favor one approach over another. Use the "X over Y" or "X is a failure" format to ensure the trade-off is clear.