The Story Behind the Methodology

I discovered something counterintuitive while working with AI tools: my best results consistently came when I stepped away from the keyboard first.

My name is Joshua Buckminster Race, and I've spent my career exploring the intersection of analog and digital thinking. What began as a personal observation has evolved into a researched methodology I call "Analog First."

What Is Analog First?

Analog First is both a philosophy and a practical approach to working with artificial intelligence. It's built on a simple premise:

The quality of your AI interactions depends enormously on the quality of your thinking before you ever touch the keyboard.

Through intentional analog practices—sketching, journaling, mapping conversations on paper—you can dramatically transform what you get back from AI systems.

This isn't just about "better prompting." It's about fundamentally changing how you approach human-AI collaboration.

The Living Theory Project

This Journal serves as the public research journal for what I call a "Living Theory" about AI-human interaction. Each week, I share:

Deep dives into specific analog techniques that enhance digital outcomes
Case studies demonstrating the before/after impact of the approach
Emerging patterns and principles from my ongoing research
Practical challenges you can try for yourself

I'm documenting this work in real-time, inviting you to witness—and participate in—the development of this methodology.

Beyond This Journal

While these weekly deep dives will always be free, I've also created:

The Analog First Community: A dedicated space for practitioners to share their experiences and refine their approaches
The Foundations Course: A comprehensive introduction to the methodology with physical materials and guided practice
Case Studies: In-depth examinations of how the approach transforms specific use cases