Tools Shape Thinking
The software we use doesn't just help us work—it influences how we think about work itself.
I've been thinking about why I care so much about the tools I use. It's not just efficiency or aesthetics (though those matter). It's that tools shape how we think about problems.
The Medium is the Message
When I switched from Sketch to Figma years ago, something shifted beyond just the interface. Collaboration became implicit in how I approached design. I started thinking in terms of shared libraries and live feedback because the tool made those things native.
More recently, moving to Arc changed how I think about browser tabs—from "things to manage" to "spaces for different contexts." The tool reframed the problem.
Defaults Matter
The real influence of tools comes through their defaults. What's easy to do? What's encouraged? What's hidden three menus deep?
Figma makes components easy, so people use them. Linear makes writing context with issues natural, so teams do it. The best tools don't just enable workflows—they gently guide you toward better ones.
Choosing Intentionally
This is why I'm picky about tools. Not out of precious aesthetics, but because I know they'll shape my thinking. Questions I ask when evaluating a new tool:
- What behavior does this make easier? - What does this tool assume about how work should be done? - What will I stop doing if I use this?
Sometimes the "worse" tool is right because it creates beneficial constraints. Sometimes the new shiny thing genuinely opens up new ways of thinking.
The point is to choose intentionally, knowing that your tools are teaching you something whether you're aware of it or not.
