Intelligence-Research-OS
wiki/decisions/2026-05-21-ux-first-composite-workbench.md
ADR: UX-First Composite Workbench
Date: 2026-05-21 Status: Accepted
Context
Initial mockups swung between a dense all-in-one dashboard and an oversimplified Mission Control screen. Neither served the full use-case catalog.
Decision
Intelligence Research OS UX is a composite workbench built around shared primitives: Mission, Source Pack, Signal, Evidence, Synthesis, Output Pack, and Delta.
Rationale
- Serves all defined use cases without creating twelve separate products.
- Keeps each screen focused on one primary job.
- Makes provenance visible through Evidence Board and Output Workspace.
- Lets use-case specificity live in mission templates and output packs.
Alternatives Considered
| Option | Why rejected |
|---|---|
| One mega-dashboard | Too confusing; hides workflow and provenance. |
| One screen per use case | Duplicates product logic and fragments the UX. |
| Backend-first expansion | Risks building features without product shape. |
Consequences
- Six-screen workflow becomes the UI contract.
- Every use case must map through the coverage matrix.
- No app/dashboard implementation should bypass the IA.