Inspiration
We were inspired by how overwhelming it can feel to juggle dozens of open tabs, notes, and windows—especially for people with ADHD or executive dysfunction. We wanted to build a spatial workspace inspired by game mechanics that reduces friction starting from a minimal interface to avoid overwhelming options, and an intuitive control schema that reduces the learning curve as much as possible.
What it does
Zither transforms your computer into a 2D visual workspace that mirrors how your mind actually organizes ideas- spatially, not hierarchically. Notes, files, and images live together in one infinite canvas, auto-clustered by AI instead of buried in folders. It’s organization that feels intuitive, flexible, and personal to reflect your thought process, not a file system.
Challenges we ran into
Balancing minimalism with functionality was tough because we wanted Zither simple without sacrificing power and flexibility . Designing for neurodiverse needs also required rethinking traditional layouts and interactions from the ground up. The technical challenges that came alongside a pseudo infinite working space were also significant, requiring careful thought and planning that drew upon our member's game design experience.
What we learned
Planning is critical. Always knowing what to do next kept us productive and in our flow states, as well as knowing what to reprioritize when inevitable delays happen.
What's next for Zither
We’re aiming to further polish the UI, integrating real-time sync and cross-device access, expanding AI clustering feature to include semantic tagging, and adding exciting functionality like a 'backpack' and waypoints on the world map.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.