Make Things With Care

A few days ago, I found myself completely immersed in a conversation between Jony Ive and Patrick Collison. What I expected to be an interesting design talk became something else entirely — a reflection on how we work, why we make things, and how our internal state is imprinted on everything we create.

This is the kind of insight I return to when building The Fool. When you work with symbols, stories, and people's emotional lives — the energy you bring in matters.

"If you're consumed with anxiety, that's how the work will end up."

Ive's words reminded me that good work doesn't just happen from good strategy. It happens from a good place. Care, attention, humor, love — they all translate. And so does fear, control, and insecurity.

Make Things for Each Other

Paul Graham famously said: "Make something people want." But Jony said something softer, more human: "Make things for each other."

Because what if instead of trying to win or convert or scale, you made something because you care? Because you want to share something thoughtful with someone else? That shift in intent — from market to relationship — is powerful.

Design Is a Mirror

Jony also said:

"What we make stands testament to who we are. It describes our values."

I want to keep this in mind when designing the space inside the app. How can I make every part of the experience reflect care, clarity, and presence?

For example, in the card space — could the way a card is drawn feel like a moment of pause, not just a click? In the chat interface — could the typography, the pacing, or the response timing support reflection instead of rushing? Even in the smallest interaction, am I inviting the person to be with themselves?

The answer often depends on where I'm working from — not just what I'm working on.

Work Is Spiritual

Another moment that stayed with me was when he described caring about how a cable is wrapped — not to save seconds, but to let someone feel: "somebody cared about me." That's the work I want to do. The Fool shouldn't just be functional. It should feel like someone thought about you. Like someone left a light on for you.

In tarot, the card that comes to mind is The Empress — lush, nurturing, embodied care. Not because she has to. But because it's who she is.

So What Do We Do With This?

We make space. We ask better questions. We listen more than we speak.

Whether you're writing code, designing spreads, or starting something new, try asking yourself:

• What's the state I'm bringing into this work?
• Am I making this for someone, or at someone?
• What do I want them to feel when they use it?

And if you're not sure where to start — maybe ask the cards. They're good at showing us what we already know but haven't fully seen.