In UX, we talk a lot about cognitive load, but we rarely address Cognitive Debt—the mental weight of all those "open loops" we collect but never start.
Task Hoarding: Digital lists have become junk drawers. Because adding a task is frictionless, we do it without considering the mental cost.
Decision Fatigue: When everything is "High Priority," you spend more energy deciding what to do than actually doing it. This leads to "Productivity Guilt"—feeling busy all day but accomplishing nothing.
The Zeigarnik Effect: Our brains are wired to remember uncompleted tasks better than completed ones, creating a constant background hum of anxiety.
The Gap: Most apps are designed to help you store 20 things. Zero apps are designed to help you ignore 19 of them.
I acted as both designer and developer, handling the full product lifecycle: UX research, strategy, interaction design, and front-end development using Expo and Windsurf. I functioned as an architect, leveraging Agentic AI to manage syntax while I focused on the system logic and the psychological layer of the user experience.
The One is an "anti-task manager" designed to clear cognitive debt by forcing users to commit to a single objective at a time.
1. Silent AI Synthesis
I developed a "Silent AI" layer that distills rambling thoughts into crisp, 3-word objectives.
User input: "I need to compare these two websites for the Friday review."
AI output: "Compare Website Reviews."
This constraint forces the user to be the architect of their own time.
2. The Shred Ritual
A simple checkbox feels like a continuation; I wanted destruction. Upon completion, the app triggers a "Shred" animation paired with device-specific haptics. That tactile "thud" signals to the brain—both consciously and subconsciously—that the debt is paid.
3. Intentional Friction
Every choice is designed to reduce load. I moved away from "Top 3" lists or timers and landed on a single, persistent text field. By removing the ability to see what's next, we protect the quality of "what's now."
Deep Work Professionals: Designers, researchers, and engineers whose value comes from "Flow State" but whose days are fragmented by admin noise.
The Neurodivergent Community: For those with ADHD, the app acts as a "cognitive prosthetic," limiting the world to a single, manageable objective.
The Essentialist: Professionals (ages 28–55) who have reached a point where "more" is no longer the solution. They are looking for clarity through constraint.
I didn't start with a feature list; I started with a frustration. I looked at my own workflow and interviewed 5 senior product peers. The consensus? We weren't "forgetting" tasks; we were "hoarding" them.
Competitive Analysis: I analyzed heavy hitters like Todoist, Things 3, and Linear. These apps are world-class at organization, but they are "infinite." They allow you to feel productive by simply moving a task from "Today" to "Tomorrow." I wanted to build a tool where "Tomorrow" doesn't exist.
The Insight: The "Job to be Done" wasn't "help me remember." It was "help me commit."
I explored three distinct concepts before landing on the final "Focus Engine" model:
Concept 1 (The Funnel): A list that visually narrowed down to one item. Discarded: Too much visual noise.
Concept 2 (The Timer): A focus-duration-based app. Discarded: Felt like a chore, not a choice.
Concept 3 (The Anchor): A single, persistent text field that takes over the screen. This was the winner.
Iteration: Early sketches focused on traditional checkboxes. I quickly moved away from this because a "check" feels like a continuation. I needed something that felt like destruction.
Every choice in The One is designed to reduce cognitive load through Intentional Friction:
The Power of One: Why not a "Top 3"? Because 3 is still a list. One is a commitment. By removing the ability to choose, we remove decision fatigue.
The 3-Word Constraint: I worked with the Windsurf AI to tune the synthesis engine. Long sentences are vague. Three words ("Ship the Beta," "Draft the Paper," "Review the Budget") are actionable. It forces the user to be a "Senior Architect" of their own time.
The "Shred" Metaphor: In my film photography work, there is a finality to pressing the shutter. I wanted that same finality here. The "Shred" isn't just an animation; it's a psychological "release" of the task. Using device-level haptics, the "thud" signals to the brain that the debt is paid.
Silent AI Synthesis: The AI layer works invisibly, distilling rambling thoughts into crisp objectives without the user having to "think about" AI. The technology disappears, leaving only clarity.
I deployed the app to a closed group of 15 TestFlight users—mostly "overwhelmed professionals."
Initial Friction: Users initially felt "anxious" that they couldn't see their other tasks.
The Pivot: I realized the app shouldn't replace their calendar; it should act as the "Execution Layer." I refined the onboarding copy to emphasize: "Keep your lists elsewhere. Bring your focus here."
The Haptic Hit: The "Shred" was the most praised feature. Users reported a tangible "hit of dopamine" that a simple checkbox never provided. One tester said: "It feels like crossing something off with a Sharpie, but better."
Vibe Coding with Windsurf: Acted as an architect, using agentic AI to manage the syntax while I focused on system logic and Haptic UX. This allowed me to iterate on micro-interactions in real-time using Vite's high-speed HMR.
Agentic AI Synthesis: Developed a "Silent AI" layer that distills rambling user thoughts into clear, 3-word objectives. The user types naturally ("I wanted to compare two website for review"), and the AI returns "Streamline Website Comparison"—actionable and crisp.
The Shred Ritual: Engineered a tactile completion experience using device-specific Haptic APIs. The visual "shred" animation combined with haptic feedback creates a psychological release—signaling task completion at both conscious and subconscious levels.
Minimalist Interface: Clean, distraction-free design that "gets out of the way." The UI consists of just four states: Input, Review, Focus, and Complete. No tabs, no settings pages, no cognitive clutter.
Completion History: A simple archive of completed tasks provides a sense of progress without the burden of an active list. Users can look back and see what they've accomplished without feeling the weight of what's left undone.
The One is currently in TestFlight beta, with a small but engaged group of early adopters. The app is iOS-only for now, built with Expo for rapid iteration and future cross-platform potential.
Timeline: 2–4 weeks from concept to functional beta—a testament to the power of "Vibe Coding" and AI-assisted development.
What's Next: Based on beta feedback, I'm refining the onboarding experience to better communicate the "anti-task" philosophy. Future iterations may include a "Focus Timer" integration and Apple Watch companion for even more frictionless focus commitment.
The Proof: This project demonstrates that the future of design is build-capable. By leveraging AI tools like Windsurf, designers can bridge the gap between high-level strategy and finished product—moving from wireframe to working app in weeks, not months.
What Worked: The constraint-based design was counterintuitive but powerful. By removing options, I removed anxiety. The haptic feedback proved essential—it's the difference between "acknowledging" a task and "destroying" it.
The Challenge: The hardest part was communicating the "anti-task" mindset. Users are conditioned to expect infinite lists. Teaching them to commit to one required careful onboarding and framing.
The Surprise: The ADHD/neurodivergent community found the app particularly valuable. What I designed as a "focus tool" became a "cognitive prosthetic" for people who struggle with executive function.
If I Could Do It Again: I would have built the Apple Watch companion from day one. The friction of pulling out your phone is still too high. The watch could make "committing to one" a 5-second ritual.
The Big Idea: The future of productivity tools isn't about doing more—it's about doing less, better. The One is a bet that clarity beats capacity, every time.
