diff --git a/internal/ui/form.go b/internal/ui/form.go
index de55cde..58231ad 100644
--- a/internal/ui/form.go
+++ b/internal/ui/form.go
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ func NewFormModel(database *db.DB, width, height int, workingDir string, availab
 		db:                  database,
 		width:               width,
 		height:              height,
-		focused:             FieldTitle, // Start on Title for simpler first experience
+		focused:             FieldProject, // Project first for immediate context
 		autocompleteSvc:     autocompleteSvc,
 		autocompleteEnabled: autocompleteEnabled,
 		taskRefAutocomplete: NewTaskRefAutocompleteModel(database, width-24),
@@ -383,13 +383,17 @@ func NewFormModel(database *db.DB, width, height int, workingDir string, availab
 	// Load last used executor for the selected project (overrides default if available)
 	m.loadLastExecutorForProject()
 
-	// Title input - focused by default for simpler first experience
+	// Title input
 	m.titleInput = textinput.New()
 	m.titleInput.Placeholder = "What needs to be done?"
 	m.titleInput.Prompt = ""
 	m.titleInput.Cursor.SetMode(cursor.CursorStatic)
 	m.titleInput.Width = width - 24
-	m.titleInput.Focus() // Start with title focused
+	// Focus title only if project field is not visible (showAdvanced is false)
+	if !m.showAdvanced {
+		m.focused = FieldTitle
+		m.titleInput.Focus()
+	}
 
 	// Body textarea
 	m.bodyInput = textarea.New()
diff --git a/internal/ui/form_test.go b/internal/ui/form_test.go
index 212de0a..ade3e9a 100644
--- a/internal/ui/form_test.go
+++ b/internal/ui/form_test.go
@@ -875,14 +875,14 @@ func TestFormDefaultsToFirstAvailableExecutor(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFormProgressiveDisclosure(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("new form starts in advanced mode focused on title", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("new form starts in advanced mode focused on project", func(t *testing.T) {
 		m := NewFormModel(nil, 100, 50, "", []string{"claude"})
 
 		if !m.showAdvanced {
 			t.Error("expected new form to start with showAdvanced=true")
 		}
-		if m.focused != FieldTitle {
-			t.Errorf("expected focus on FieldTitle, got %d", m.focused)
+		if m.focused != FieldProject {
+			t.Errorf("expected focus on FieldProject, got %d", m.focused)
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -945,6 +945,7 @@ func TestFormProgressiveDisclosure(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("focusNext skips hidden fields in simple mode", func(t *testing.T) {
 		m := NewFormModel(nil, 100, 50, "", []string{"claude"})
 		m.showAdvanced = false // Switch to simple mode for this test
+		m.focused = FieldTitle // Manually set focus to first visible field for this test
 
 		// Start on Title
 		if m.focused != FieldTitle {