Your first chapter / Stillfield Studio

Welcome to Stillfield

A fictional onboarding plan for a small design studio. Names, schedules and milestones are invented.

Morgan ValeProduct designer

Start: 2026-10-12 · Europe/London

What this role owns

Document the reasoning behind a small design decision.
Learn the team's research and review habits.
Build a first prototype with a clear acceptance condition.

A gentle beginning

Find your footing.

Meet your buddyAsk how the team shares work in progress.hello · Jamie Reed · Monday 09:30–10:00Due: 2026-10-12 · Europe/LondonComplete when: You know where to ask a day-to-day question.Review the role briefRead the supplied responsibility boundaries with your manager.context · Alex Rowan · Monday 11:00–11:30Due: 2026-10-12 · Europe/LondonComplete when: One open scope question is recorded.

Learn the shape of the team

Build a little context each day.

Observe a research reviewNotice how the team distinguishes observation from interpretation.observe · Alex Rowan · Wednesday team reviewDue: 2026-10-14 · Europe/LondonComplete when: Write one observation and one question.Map the working rhythmRecord the supplied review and handoff rituals.map · Jamie Reed · Friday check-inDue: 2026-10-16 · Europe/LondonComplete when: Your buddy confirms the map is accurate.

You do not have to figure it out alone.

Your buddy: Jamie Reed

Alex Rowan

Design manager

Scope, priorities and milestone reviews.

Contact: Fictional studio directory / Alex

Jamie Reed

Onboarding buddy

Questions about tools, rituals and the first week.

Contact: Fictional studio directory / Jamie

Robin Elm

Studio operations

Equipment and account access.

Contact: Fictional studio directory / Robin

Get the essentials in place.

Mark completion only after the supplied acceptance condition is met.

Confirm the equipment checklistUse the studio's approved handover record.equipment · Robin Elm · First morningDue: 2026-10-12 · Europe/LondonComplete when: The agreed equipment is acknowledged.Confirm the required accountsFollow the supplied access process; do not put credentials in this guide.accounts · Robin Elm · First dayDue: 2026-10-12 · Europe/LondonComplete when: You can access the approved project spaces.First complete: equipment

Learn by doing something small.

Make a small prototypeUse the supplied exercise brief and document one design choice.prototype · Alex Rowan · First two weeksDue: 2026-10-23 · Europe/LondonComplete when: The prototype answers the exercise question.First complete: accountsAsk for a focused reviewInvite feedback against the exercise acceptance condition.review · Jamie Reed · After the prototypeDue: 2026-10-26 · Europe/LondonComplete when: Record feedback and one next action.First complete: prototype

A checkpoint, not an inferred deadline

30days

Understand the working system

Explain the team's review flow and complete one bounded design exercise.

Evidence to bring

A short workflow map and a reviewed prototype.

Review date: 2026-11-11 · Europe/London
Reviewer: Alex Rowan

Linked tasks

map · Map the working rhythm
prototype · Make a small prototype

A checkpoint, not an inferred deadline

60days

Own a small design decision

Take a supplied problem through research review and prototype feedback.

Evidence to bring

A decision note linking observations to the chosen next step.

Review date: 2026-12-11 · Europe/London
Reviewer: Alex Rowan

Linked tasks

review · Ask for a focused review

A checkpoint, not an inferred deadline

90days

Make the next handoff clear

Deliver a bounded design task with explicit acceptance and open questions.

Evidence to bring

A peer can explain the design's current limits from the handoff.

Review date: 2027-01-10 · Europe/London
Reviewer: Alex Rowan

Linked tasks

ready · Agree the next independent task

You are set when…

Your manager confirms the agreed evidence. Checking a box here does not update an HR system.

Agree the next independent taskReview readiness with the manager.ready · Alex Rowan · 30-day reviewDue: 2026-11-11 · Europe/LondonComplete when: The next task has an owner, scope and acceptance condition.First complete: reviewYour reference shelf

handbook

Fictional studio handbook · link not supplied

Synthetic reference item; replace with an approved internal resource.

exercise

First prototype exercise · link not supplied

Original demonstration brief, supplied separately by the fictional manager.

Search filters the guide. Clearing search restores all ten sections. Checklist state does not sync to a company system.