When your preferred way of designing should override best practise

Design is like every other craft packed with rules of thumbs, best practises and general tips and tricks.

A very common advice when designing responsively is e.g. to "design for mobile first". The reason is that it generally makes you more efficient. But does this mean that you have to design mobile first just because you intend to support mobile screens? No it doesn't!

Function (progress) over form (theory)

It is perfectly fine to start designing on bigger screens first. In fact many professional designers prefer to do so. Creative work is challenging and each person must find a process that works for them.

As long as you move past your initial inability of filling up that white empty sheet or canvas that first mockingly stared at you, you are all good. Function (you designing, hence progressing) definitely beats form (whether you start on a small or large canvas) in this case!

So go with what suits you. Don't get stuck staring at the empty canvas. Start "drawing" and filling that canvas up, not matter how big or small it is! The responsive part comes secondly!