Awakening — "The Companion"
"Humans interact through intention. Your mouse is input. The cursor is acknowledgment. For the first time, you're going to write that acknowledgment yourself. This is the birth of your interface companion."
By the end of this stage, you'll have built a working custom cursor from scratch—with full control over appearance and behavior.
Est. time: 20–30 minutes · Beginner-friendly with scaffolded challenges
🎓 For Beginners:
Never built a custom UI element? Perfect. We'll guide you through every step with hints and live demos.
⚡ For Developers:
Ready to experiment? Use the live config panel to tweak values and see instant feedback on this page.
The Narrative
Every interface you've ever used has had a cursor. You've moved it millions of times without thinking. But today, you'll see it differently.
The cursor is the bridge between your intention and the digital world. It's the acknowledgment that says "I see where you're pointing." Without it, you'd be lost—clicking into void, hoping something responds.
In this stage, you'll build your first cursor from scratch. Not just any cursor—your cursor. One that reflects your choices about size, color, and presence.
Reflection Prompts
- •Why do you think cursors exist? What if they didn't?
- •What's the relationship between cursor speed and perceived app speed?
- •Before this, you took the cursor for granted. What does it do for you in real interfaces?
- •Imagine using a website where the cursor is broken. How would that feel?
Emotional Arc
What's Next?
You've mastered the basics! Continue your journey through the Cursor Lab:
Stage 2: Mastery - "The Conversation"
Add state machines and easing for responsive cursor behavior (45–60 min)
Stage 3: Transcendence - "The Architect"
Build a complete particle system with physics (90–120 min)
Ready for more? Stage 2 introduces state machines—your cursor will learn to respond to hovers and clicks with personality!