Claude Desktop App

I have been having so much fun playing around with the Claude desktop app and trying out new products. So here's a quick and dirty primer of features + inspo so you can join in on the fun!

1️⃣ Claude Chat + Projects
What it is: The conversational interface + "Projects," which allows you to create workspaces for specific projects with custom instructions and examples.

Try this: Create a project called "Communications Assistant", add your system prompt to the instructions, and upload examples of your comms.
Pro tip: Ask Claude to ask YOU questions one by one to create a system prompt for this (or any) project.

2️⃣ Claude Cowork (desktop app)
What it is: Agentic AI for non-coders. You give Claude access to specific folders on your computer and give it a goal.

Try this: Ask Claude Cowork to help you organize and make sense of 40 program reports. For example, "Create a new spreadsheet with every outcome metric and organize by program area. Then, flag the three strongest stories, and draft a 2-page board narrative." Walk away. Come back to a draft.

3️⃣ Claude Code (terminal / desktop)
What it is: An agentic coding tool. Yes — even if you don't code.

Try this: Have a messy Excel of 5 years of donor data? Anonymize it, and then ask Claude Code to structure it--deduplicate, standardize, and produce a giving-trends analysis.

4️⃣ Claude Design (claude.ai/design)
What it is: A visual creation tool for prototypes, slide decks, one-pagers, mockups.

Try this: "Create a 6-slide funder one-pager for our youth literacy program. Use these outcome numbers, these two photos, and our brand colors. Output as PPTX." You'll get something polished in minutes, then export to Canva for final touches.

AI has shifted from answering questions to completing work.
Your mind will be blown once you see the incredible capabilities of these tools firsthand!