01
MVP Definition & Scope Boundaries
A clearly defined version-one product scope.
- What the MVP is
- What the MVP is not
- Features non-negotiable to the emotional core
- What should be phased later
- Scope boundaries to prevent feature drift during build
The first stage of work. Where vision becomes a buildable product.
Thank you again for the conversation, and for the depth of vision behind The Art of Unwinding.
This proposal covers Phase One: Architecture, Product Definition, and Specification. The purpose of this first phase is to take the current vision and translate it into a clear, buildable, commercially grounded foundation for the product. This is the stage where assumptions are removed, the MVP is properly defined, the emotional core of the experience is protected, and the structure is created to move into development with clarity and confidence.
In simple terms, this phase is about making sure we are building the right product, in the right order, before significant development spend begins.
Each item below is a defined piece of work I produce during Phase One. Together they form the foundation that makes the build phase faster, clearer, and far less risky.
A clearly defined version-one product scope.
A mapped definition of the user experience.
A structured product map showing the MVP architecture.
A practical definition of how AI should function in the MVP.
A clear structure for how the Chronicle works in version one.
A first-pass content framework for the MVP.
A practical recommendation for how the MVP should be built.
A structured specification clear enough to move into development responsibly.
A clear recommendation for what comes next after Phase One.
A grounded planning view of what the next stages are likely to require.
A high-level commercial and launch framework.
During this phase, I recommend working closely and iteratively so the product is shaped properly rather than guessed at from a distance. The depth of what you’re building demands real collaboration, not waterfall deliverables.
Suggested cadence: 2 to 3 focused sessions per week, with momentum and alignment maintained throughout.
Real-time shaping of the MVP definition, screen logic, and AI behaviour.
Structured checkpoints for feedback on each work product as it emerges.
The MVP structure is shaped through dialogue, not delivered as a fait accompli.
Your language and intent translated into something engineers can build from.
By the end of Phase One, you will receive a defined and usable foundation for the product.
You will have the product properly shaped, so we can move into development without building on guesswork.
This assumes:
Covers the architecture, product definition, specification work, strategic recommendations, and collaborative working process outlined above.
Phase One will begin once full payment has been received and the first working session has been scheduled.
This proposal is valid for 14 days from the date above.
This phase is intentionally focused on definition, structure, and de-risking. It is not the full product build. If any of the items below are brought into version one later, they would be scoped separately in the build phase.
The Art of Unwinding is not a simple content app. It is a guided, emotionally responsive system with a high degree of nuance in how users are led, reflected, and retained.
That means the success of the build will depend far more on the quality of the product definition and specification than on rushing into code.
This first phase is what gives the project its backbone. It is the work that makes the next stage faster, clearer, and far less risky.
If everything above looks in order, I will send the Phase One agreement and invoice, and we can schedule the first working session once the signed agreement and full payment are received.
Thanks,
Daniel