Our Philosophy
Ethos
How we apply the canon of "less, but better" across the Create Something ecosystem.
Less, But Better
This isn't minimalism for aesthetics. It's discipline for clarity. It's constraint for excellence.
Dieter Rams asked: "Is my design good design?" We ask the same of every experiment, every paper, every line of code. The answer requires ruthless honesty.
Mies van der Rohe proved that "less is more" in architecture. We prove it in software. Not by removing features—by ensuring every element justifies its existence.
The Eameses showed us "the best for the most for the least." We build tools that serve developers without waste, without bloat, without compromise.
The Subtractive Triad
Creation is the discipline of removing what obscures. This meta-principle manifests at three levels, each with its own question:
| Level | Discipline | Question | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation | DRY | "Have I built this before?" | Unify |
| Artifact | Rams | "Does this earn its existence?" | Remove |
| System | Heidegger | "Does this serve the whole?" | Reconnect |
The triad is coherent because it's one principle—subtractive revelation—applied at three scales. Truth emerges through disciplined removal at every level of abstraction.
For any decision, ask the three questions in order. If you've built it before, unify. If it doesn't earn its place, remove. If it doesn't serve the whole, reconnect—or remove.
Visual Demonstration
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Frame 1 of 5
Inspired by Gabriel Santos (Stone Story RPG): "I start with the full pyramid and I erase it layer by layer."
Standards Across the Ecosystem
Research Standards
- — Every paper must answer: Is this useful? Not interesting, not novel—useful.
- — Findings must be reproducible. Methodology transparent. Metrics honest.
- — Writing serves the reader. Clarity over cleverness. Simple language over jargon.
- — If a principle from .ltd applies, cite it. Connect theory to the lineage.
Practice Standards
- — Every experiment must teach a principle, not just a technique.
- — Interfaces are minimal. Zero decoration. Only essential feedback.
- — Success is completion, not clicks. Measure learning, not engagement.
- — Link to .io for depth, to .ltd for philosophy. Practice without context is shallow.
Service Standards
- — Delivered work must meet canonical standards. No shortcuts, no compromises.
- — Solutions solve problems. Not features for features' sake.
- — Documentation is complete. Code is readable. Future maintainers are users too.
- — Case studies cite which .ltd principles were applied. Proof, not just claims.
The Hermeneutic Circle
.ltd provides the horizon of understanding for everything else. You can't evaluate research (.io) without standards. You can't design practice (.space) without principles. You can't deliver services (.agency) without a philosophical ground.
But the circle feeds back: real-world outcomes test the canon. If a principle doesn't hold in production, it doesn't belong in .ltd. The canon evolves—slowly, carefully—through validation.
.ltd (STANDARDS)
↓ provides criteria
.io (RESEARCH)
↓ validated through
.space (PRACTICE)
↓ applied to clients
.agency (SERVICES)
↓ feeds back to
.ltd (ethos evolves)