Context

I founded dotnook.io to build tools that feel intuitive, polished, and help motion designers bring their visions to life more efficiently and effectively.

Each product is designed to slot naturally into a designer's workflow; no clutter, no friction, just the simplest, most useful version of an idea.

All tools are either free or name-your-price, so everyone can benefit regardless of budget.
Paying users support the development of new tools, lifting the community as a whole.

Process

Every tool spawns from a real world problem and begins with a single question:

What's the simplest, most useful version of this idea?

I was tired of downloading plugins that were bloated with features just to hit a price tag, or tools that imposed a workflow on users instead of empowering them, or even tools with such outlandish design that they became a distraction within the workflow.

I believe the framework for great tools is simple:.

• Solve real problems for real designers
  Tools should be routed in real world problems and needs.
• Complement existing workflows, not disrupt them
  Users shouldn't have to learn the langauge of a tool, the tool should speak the language of the user.
• Integrate seamlessly with native platforms
  A good tool should leave your workspace looking empty without it, not crowded with it.
• Inspire creativity without adding complexity
  Tools should open doors to new ideas, not close them.
• Financially accessible to all
  This ethos makes .nook feel closer to an open-source contribution than a commercial product line.

Outcome

The reception has been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging.

Designers tell me the tools save them time and fit seamlessly into their workflow.
Others value the name-your-price model, which makes them accessible no matter someone's budget.

What I've enjoyed most is the dialogue that's grown around them: people share ideas, I build those ideas into updates, and the tools get better for everyone.