When working on product development and design, starting from first principles is crucial to find innovative solutions. This concept involves stripping away existing biases and constraints to understand a problem from scratch, without assuming any preconceived notions. By going back to the basics, you can identify new opportunities for improvement and create more effective solutions. This approach is exemplified by Elon Musk's story, who challenged conventional wisdom in the space industry to develop revolutionary technologies. The concept is also related to qualitative research methods, such as peeling an onion or using "The 5 Whys" technique, which involve iterative questioning to uncover deeper insights and human motivations.