frontend-design

Overview

This public intake copy packages

packages/skills-catalog/skills/(design)/frontend-design

https://github.com/tech-leads-club/agent-skills

Use it when the operator needs the upstream workflow, support files, and repository context to stay intact while the public validator and private enhancer continue their normal downstream flow.

This intake keeps the copied upstream files intact and uses

metadata.json

ORIGIN.md

This skill guides creation of distinctive, production-grade frontend interfaces that avoid generic "AI slop" aesthetics. Implement real working code with exceptional attention to aesthetic details and creative choices.

Imported source sections that did not map cleanly to the public headings are still preserved below or in the support files. Notable imported sections: Design Direction, The AI Slop Test.

When to Use This Skill

Use this section as the trigger filter. It should make the activation boundary explicit before the operator loads files, runs commands, or opens a pull request.

• Use when the request clearly matches the imported source intent: Create distinctive, production-grade frontend interfaces with high design quality. Use this skill when the user asks to build web components, pages, artifacts, posters, or applications. Generates creative, polished....
• Use when the operator should preserve upstream workflow detail instead of rewriting the process from scratch.
• Use when provenance needs to stay visible in the answer, PR, or review packet.
• Use when copied upstream references, examples, or scripts materially improve the answer.
• Use when the workflow should remain reviewable in the public intake repo before the private enhancer takes over.

Operating Table

metadata.json

ORIGIN.md

references/color-and-contrast.md

references/interaction-design.md

## Related Skills

Workflow

This workflow is intentionally editorial and operational at the same time. It keeps the imported source useful to the operator while still satisfying the public intake standards that feed the downstream enhancer flow.

1. Confirm the user goal, the scope of the imported workflow, and whether this skill is still the right router for the task.
2. Read the overview and provenance files before loading any copied upstream support files.
3. Load only the references, examples, prompts, or scripts that materially change the outcome for the current request.
4. Execute the upstream workflow while keeping provenance and source boundaries explicit in the working notes.
5. Validate the result against the upstream expectations and the evidence you can point to in the copied files.
6. Escalate or hand off to a related skill when the work moves out of this imported workflow's center of gravity.
7. Before merge or closure, record what was used, what changed, and what the reviewer still needs to verify.

Imported Workflow Notes

Imported: Design Direction

Commit to a BOLD aesthetic direction:

• Purpose: What problem does this interface solve? Who uses it?
• Tone: Pick an extreme: brutally minimal, maximalist chaos, retro-futuristic, organic/natural, luxury/refined, playful/toy-like, editorial/magazine, brutalist/raw, art deco/geometric, soft/pastel, industrial/utilitarian, etc. There are so many flavors to choose from. Use these for inspiration but design one that is true to the aesthetic direction.
• Constraints: Technical requirements (framework, performance, accessibility).
• Differentiation: What makes this UNFORGETTABLE? What's the one thing someone will remember?

CRITICAL: Choose a clear conceptual direction and execute it with precision. Bold maximalism and refined minimalism both work—the key is intentionality, not intensity.

Then implement working code that is:

• Production-grade and functional
• Visually striking and memorable
• Cohesive with a clear aesthetic point-of-view
• Meticulously refined in every detail

Examples

Example 1: Ask for the upstream workflow directly

Use @frontend-design to handle <task>. Start from the copied upstream workflow, load only the files that change the outcome, and keep provenance visible in the answer.

Explanation: This is the safest starting point when the operator needs the imported workflow, but not the entire repository.

Example 2: Ask for a provenance-grounded review

Review @frontend-design against metadata.json and ORIGIN.md, then explain which copied upstream files you would load first and why.

Explanation: Use this before review or troubleshooting when you need a precise, auditable explanation of origin and file selection.

Example 3: Narrow the copied support files before execution

Use @frontend-design for <task>. Load only the copied references, examples, or scripts that change the outcome, and name the files explicitly before proceeding.

Explanation: This keeps the skill aligned with progressive disclosure instead of loading the whole copied package by default.

Example 4: Build a reviewer packet

Review @frontend-design using the copied upstream files plus provenance, then summarize any gaps before merge.

Explanation: This is useful when the PR is waiting for human review and you want a repeatable audit packet.

Imported Usage Notes

Imported: Examples

Example 1: Landing page with strong aesthetic

User says: "Build a landing page for a developer tools product, something that doesn't look like every other SaaS." Actions: Pick a bold direction (e.g. brutalist or editorial); choose a distinctive type pairing and a cohesive palette; implement with fluid spacing and one clear focal point; avoid cards-in-cards and hero-metric clichés. Result: A single-page layout with clear hierarchy, memorable typography, and no generic AI tells (no purple gradients, no rounded cards with thick accent borders).

Example 2: Dashboard or app UI

User says: "Create a dashboard for viewing analytics with a dark theme." Actions: Commit to a specific dark aesthetic (e.g. refined dark with tinted neutrals, not default glow-on-black); use container queries for panels; add one considered motion moment (e.g. staggered list load); ensure empty states are helpful. Result: Functional dashboard that feels intentionally designed—distinct palette, no cyan/purple glow, clear data hierarchy and responsive behavior.

Example 3: Poster or marketing artifact

User says: "Make a poster for a conference talk about frontend performance." Actions: Choose a strong typographic or visual concept; use a modular type scale and limited palette; avoid generic stock-photo + headline layout. Result: A poster that could stand alone as a designed artifact—memorable type and composition, not a template fill-in.

Best Practices

Treat the generated public skill as a reviewable packaging layer around the upstream repository. The goal is to keep provenance explicit and load only the copied source material that materially improves execution.

• Typography → Consult typography reference for scales, pairing, and loading strategies.

• Choose fonts that are beautiful, unique, and interesting.
• Pair a distinctive display font with a refined body font.
• DO: Use a modular type scale with fluid sizing (clamp) DO: Vary font weights and sizes to create clear visual hierarchy DON'T: Use overused fonts—Inter, Roboto, Arial, Open Sans, system defaults DON'T: Use monospace typography as lazy shorthand for "technical/developer" vibes DON'T: Put large icons with rounded corners above every heading—they rarely add value and make sites look templated ### Color & Theme → Consult color reference for OKLCH, palettes, and dark mode.
• Commit to a cohesive palette.
• Dominant colors with sharp accents outperform timid, evenly-distributed palettes.
• DO: Use modern CSS color functions (oklch, color-mix, light-dark) for perceptually uniform, maintainable palettes DO: Tint your neutrals toward your brand hue—even a subtle hint creates subconscious cohesion DON'T: Use gray text on colored backgrounds—it looks washed out; use a shade of the background color instead DON'T: Use pure black (#000) or pure white (#fff)—always tint; pure black/white never appears in nature DON'T: Use the AI color palette: cyan-on-dark, purple-to-blue gradients, neon accents on dark backgrounds DON'T: Use gradient text for "impact"—especially on metrics or headings; it's decorative rather than meaningful DON'T: Default to dark mode with glowing accents—it looks "cool" without requiring actual design decisions ### Layout & Space → Consult spatial reference for grids, rhythm, and container queries.

Imported Operating Notes

Imported: Frontend Aesthetics Guidelines

Typography

→ Consult typography reference for scales, pairing, and loading strategies.

Choose fonts that are beautiful, unique, and interesting. Pair a distinctive display font with a refined body font.

DO: Use a modular type scale with fluid sizing (clamp) DO: Vary font weights and sizes to create clear visual hierarchy DON'T: Use overused fonts—Inter, Roboto, Arial, Open Sans, system defaults DON'T: Use monospace typography as lazy shorthand for "technical/developer" vibes DON'T: Put large icons with rounded corners above every heading—they rarely add value and make sites look templated

Color & Theme

→ Consult color reference for OKLCH, palettes, and dark mode.

Commit to a cohesive palette. Dominant colors with sharp accents outperform timid, evenly-distributed palettes.

DO: Use modern CSS color functions (oklch, color-mix, light-dark) for perceptually uniform, maintainable palettes DO: Tint your neutrals toward your brand hue—even a subtle hint creates subconscious cohesion DON'T: Use gray text on colored backgrounds—it looks washed out; use a shade of the background color instead DON'T: Use pure black (#000) or pure white (#fff)—always tint; pure black/white never appears in nature DON'T: Use the AI color palette: cyan-on-dark, purple-to-blue gradients, neon accents on dark backgrounds DON'T: Use gradient text for "impact"—especially on metrics or headings; it's decorative rather than meaningful DON'T: Default to dark mode with glowing accents—it looks "cool" without requiring actual design decisions

Layout & Space

→ Consult spatial reference for grids, rhythm, and container queries.

Create visual rhythm through varied spacing—not the same padding everywhere. Embrace asymmetry and unexpected compositions. Break the grid intentionally for emphasis.

DO: Create visual rhythm through varied spacing—tight groupings, generous separations DO: Use fluid spacing with clamp() that breathes on larger screens DO: Use asymmetry and unexpected compositions; break the grid intentionally for emphasis DON'T: Wrap everything in cards—not everything needs a container DON'T: Nest cards inside cards—visual noise, flatten the hierarchy DON'T: Use identical card grids—same-sized cards with icon + heading + text, repeated endlessly DON'T: Use the hero metric layout template—big number, small label, supporting stats, gradient accent DON'T: Center everything—left-aligned text with asymmetric layouts feels more designed DON'T: Use the same spacing everywhere—without rhythm, layouts feel monotonous

Visual Details

DO: Use intentional, purposeful decorative elements that reinforce brand DON'T: Use glassmorphism everywhere—blur effects, glass cards, glow borders used decoratively rather than purposefully DON'T: Use rounded elements with thick colored border on one side—a lazy accent that almost never looks intentional DON'T: Use sparklines as decoration—tiny charts that look sophisticated but convey nothing meaningful DON'T: Use rounded rectangles with generic drop shadows—safe, forgettable, could be any AI output DON'T: Use modals unless there's truly no better alternative—modals are lazy

Motion

→ Consult motion reference for timing, easing, and reduced motion.

Focus on high-impact moments: one well-orchestrated page load with staggered reveals creates more delight than scattered micro-interactions.

DO: Use motion to convey state changes—entrances, exits, feedback DO: Use exponential easing (ease-out-quart/quint/expo) for natural deceleration DO: For height animations, use grid-template-rows transitions instead of animating height directly DON'T: Animate layout properties (width, height, padding, margin)—use transform and opacity only DON'T: Use bounce or elastic easing—they feel dated and tacky; real objects decelerate smoothly

Interaction

→ Consult interaction reference for forms, focus, and loading patterns.

Make interactions feel fast. Use optimistic UI—update immediately, sync later.

DO: Use progressive disclosure—start simple, reveal sophistication through interaction (basic options first, advanced behind expandable sections; hover states that reveal secondary actions) DO: Design empty states that teach the interface, not just say "nothing here" DO: Make every interactive surface feel intentional and responsive DON'T: Repeat the same information—redundant headers, intros that restate the heading DON'T: Make every button primary—use ghost buttons, text links, secondary styles; hierarchy matters

Responsive

→ Consult responsive reference for mobile-first, fluid design, and container queries.

DO: Use container queries (@container) for component-level responsiveness DO: Adapt the interface for different contexts—don't just shrink it DON'T: Hide critical functionality on mobile—adapt the interface, don't amputate it

UX Writing

→ Consult ux-writing reference for labels, errors, and empty states.

DO: Make every word earn its place DON'T: Repeat information users can already see

Imported: Implementation Principles

Match implementation complexity to the aesthetic vision. Maximalist designs need elaborate code with extensive animations and effects. Minimalist or refined designs need restraint, precision, and careful attention to spacing, typography, and subtle details.

Interpret creatively and make unexpected choices that feel genuinely designed for the context. No design should be the same. Vary between light and dark themes, different fonts, different aesthetics. NEVER converge on common choices across generations.

Remember: the AI is capable of extraordinary creative work. Don't hold back—show what can truly be created when thinking outside the box and committing fully to a distinctive vision.

Troubleshooting

Problem: The operator skipped the imported context and answered too generically

Symptoms: The result ignores the upstream workflow in

packages/skills-catalog/skills/(design)/frontend-design

metadata.json

ORIGIN.md

Problem: The imported workflow feels incomplete during review

Symptoms: Reviewers can see the generated

SKILL.md

Problem: The task drifted into a different specialization

Symptoms: The imported skill starts in the right place, but the work turns into debugging, architecture, design, security, or release orchestration that a native skill handles better. Solution: Use the related skills section to hand off deliberately. Keep the imported provenance visible so the next skill inherits the right context instead of starting blind.

Related Skills

• @accessibility

  - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.

• @ai-cold-outreach

  - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.

• @ai-pricing

  - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.

• @ai-sdr

  - Use when the work is better handled by that native specialization after this imported skill establishes context.

Additional Resources

Use this support matrix and the linked files below as the operator packet for this imported skill. They should reflect real copied source material, not generic scaffolding.

references

references/color-and-contrast.md

examples

examples/n/a

scripts

scripts/n/a

agents

agents/n/a

assets

assets/n/a

• color-and-contrast.md
• interaction-design.md
• motion-design.md
• responsive-design.md
• color-and-contrast.md
• interaction-design.md

Imported Reference Notes

Imported: The AI Slop Test

Critical quality check: If you showed this interface to someone and said "AI made this," would they believe you immediately? If yes, that's the problem.

A distinctive interface should make someone ask "how was this made?" not "which AI made this?"

Review the DON'T guidelines above—they are the fingerprints of AI-generated work from 2024-2025.