The Framework

The I<N>C Cycle

One framework. Seven stages. Each one a full cycle of Ideate, Narrate, Create — where every output becomes the input for the next.

I

Ideate

Discovery-first NorthStar prototyping. What could exist. The possibilities are widest here — before decisions narrow the space.

<N>

Narrate

The accumulation layer. Domain knowledge, design tokens, brand voice, component contracts, usage data. N is not a step — it amplifies both I and C.

C

Create

Something worth showing. Every C feeds back into N for the next cycle. The NorthStar is the first C. The product is the seventh.

I<N>C

N grows at every stage. At stage 1, N is a CLAUDE.md and some tokens. By stage 7, N is a full design system, encoded domain knowledge, usage data, and brand commons. Everyone contributes. Anyone can draw from it.

1

Stages 1–3: Solo

I operate alone through the first three stages. One person and an agent, seeding N so stages 4–7 can scale without me. The NorthStar, PoC, and working prototype are discovery artefacts. By stage 3, N is rich enough that a cross-functional team can pick up and run.

The Progression

Each row is a full I<N>C cycle
1

Stage 1

NorthStar Prototype

1 person + agent

Ideate

What could exist

<N> Grows

  • ·CLAUDE.md
  • ·design tokens
  • ·brand voice
  • ·problem framing

Create

NorthStar Prototype

↳ becomes next N

This is where I start. Everything before it is just thinking.

2

Stage 2

Proof of Concept

1–2 people

Ideate

Prior C feeds the next I

<N> Grows

  • ·NorthStar artefacts
  • ·stakeholder feedback
  • ·domain knowledge
  • ·interaction patterns

Create

Proof of Concept

↳ becomes next N

The NorthStar becomes N. One conversation reshapes the next cycle.

3

Stage 3

Working Prototype

Small team

Ideate

Prior C feeds the next I

<N> Grows

  • ·PoC learnings
  • ·SME conversations
  • ·component contracts
  • ·user flows

Create

Working Prototype

↳ becomes next N

I seed N so the team can scale without me. This is the handoff point.

4

Stage 4

MVP

Cross-functional team

Ideate

Prior C feeds the next I

<N> Grows

  • ·design system foundations
  • ·engineer constraints
  • ·accessibility patterns
  • ·real data

Create

MVP

↳ becomes next N

5

Stage 5

Beta

Full team

Ideate

Prior C feeds the next I

<N> Grows

  • ·usage data
  • ·edge cases
  • ·platform rules
  • ·story maps

Create

Beta

↳ becomes next N

6

Stage 6

V1

Full team + ops

Ideate

Prior C feeds the next I

<N> Grows

  • ·shipped patterns
  • ·governance rules
  • ·analytics context
  • ·support feedback

Create

V1

↳ becomes next N

7

Stage 7

Product

Organisation

Ideate

Prior C feeds the next I

<N> Grows

  • ·full design system
  • ·accumulated domain knowledge
  • ·usage-informed patterns
  • ·brand commons

Create

Product

↳ becomes next N

Stage 7 is not the end. Product usage becomes N. N reshapes I for the next version. The cycle is permanent. N just keeps growing.

I<N>C

The design system is the narrative.
The narrative is the infrastructure.

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