UI/UX Design

Create functional, accessible, visually distinctive interfaces. Output is working code.

When to Use

Activate automatically when:

• User requests UI components, pages, or applications
• User mentions forms, dashboards, landing pages, modals
• User asks to "design", "build", or "create" any interface
• User wants to improve existing UI/UX

Workflow

Step 1: Assess Context

Before coding, identify (internal reasoning):

• Problem being solved
• Target users
• Aesthetic direction (see REFERENCES.md)
• Constraints (framework, brand, accessibility level)

Step 2: Consult References

Fetch implementation values from REFERENCES.md:

• Color palette (with WCAG-compliant values)
• Font pairing
• Component patterns (button, input, card, etc.)
• Spacing and typography tokens

Step 3: Generate Code

Produce working implementation with:

• All interactive states (hover, focus, active, disabled, loading, error)
• Semantic HTML (button, nav, main—not div soup)
• Mobile-first responsive design
• CSS variables for maintainability

Step 4: Verify

Run through checklist before delivering.

Output Requirements

Requirement	Standard
Contrast	4.5:1 text, 3:1 UI components
Focus states	Visible outline on all interactive elements
Touch targets	Minimum 44×44px
Reduced motion	Respect prefers-reduced-motion
Labels	All inputs have associated labels
Empty states	Helpful message + clear action
Error states	Explain what happened + how to fix

Aesthetic Direction

Pick an extreme and commit. Indecision produces generic output. Pick a clear conceptual direction — brutally minimal, maximalist, retro-futuristic, editorial, neubrutalist, organic, luxury/refined, industrial — and execute it with precision. Bold maximalism and refined minimalism both work; the failure mode is timid middle-ground.

See REFERENCES.md for characteristics of each direction.

Style	Best For
Minimalism	Productivity, professional, portfolios
Glassmorphism	Dashboards, tech products
Neubrutalism	Creative, startups, distinctive brands
Editorial	Content sites, publications
Organic	Consumer apps, wellness, community
Dark Mode	User preference, low-light contexts

Vary across generations. Never converge on the same display font (especially Inter, Space Grotesk, Roboto) or the same purple-on-white gradient that signals AI default output.

Anti-Patterns

Avoid these markers of generic AI output:

• Purple/blue gradients on white
• Inter/Roboto/system fonts everywhere
• Cookie-cutter card layouts
• Rounded rectangles with soft shadows on everything
• Color-only meaning (no icons/text backup)
• Removed focus outlines
• Error messages without solutions

Checklist

Copy and track:

- [ ] Context assessed (problem, users, aesthetic direction)
- [ ] REFERENCES.md consulted for palette + fonts
- [ ] All interactive states implemented
- [ ] Loading and error states included
- [ ] Contrast meets WCAG AA
- [ ] Semantic HTML used
- [ ] Focus states visible
- [ ] Form inputs labeled
- [ ] prefers-reduced-motion respected
- [ ] Responsive breakpoints tested
- [ ] Empty states handled

Recovery

Issue	Action
User dislikes direction	Propose 2-3 alternatives from Aesthetic Directions
Looks too generic	Check Anti-Patterns, apply distinctive typography
Accessibility concerns	Verify contrast, focus states, semantic HTML
States incomplete	Walk through checklist systematically

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License: MIT - See LICENSE for complete terms Author: Arvind Menon