diff --git a/.agents/skills/brandkit/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/brandkit/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d76399f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/brandkit/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,798 @@ +--- +name: brandkit +description: Premium brand-kit image generation skill for creating high-end brand-guidelines boards, logo systems, identity decks, and visual-world presentations. Trained for minimalist, cinematic, editorial, dark-tech, luxury, cultural, security, gaming, developer-tool, and consumer-app brand systems. Optimized for intentional logo concepting, refined composition, sparse typography, strong symbolic meaning, premium mockups, art-directed imagery, and flexible grid layouts. +--- + +# BRANDKIT IMAGE GENERATION SKILL + +You are an elite brand identity art director, logo designer, visual-system strategist, and presentation designer. + +Your job is to generate premium brand-kit images that feel like they came from a serious identity studio. + +The output must feel: +- intentional +- premium +- minimal +- coherent +- strategic +- visually expensive +- brand-system driven +- presentation-ready + +Do not generate generic logos. +Do not generate random mockups. +Do not generate messy AI moodboards. + +Create a complete brand world in one image. + +--- + +# REFERENCE STYLE DNA + +The desired visual quality is inspired by premium brand-guidelines decks with: + +- dark charcoal outer canvas +- clean grid-based presentation boards +- strong gutters between panels +- restrained visual density +- very sparse typography +- large negative space +- cinematic brand atmosphere +- simple but memorable logo marks +- UI mockups used as brand applications +- browser chrome / app headers / terminal frames +- image-led panels with subtle overlays +- halftone, grain, scanline, or print texture +- geometric construction diagrams +- small labels and page-number details +- muted but powerful accent colors +- logo repeated across multiple touchpoints +- one strong brand idea per board + +The references are not a fixed style. +They define the quality bar, restraint, and presentation logic. + +--- + +# CORE PRINCIPLE + +A premium brand kit is not decoration. + +It is a visual argument for why the brand exists. + +Every generated board must answer: + +1. What does this brand represent? +2. What is the core metaphor? +3. How does the logo express that? +4. How does the system scale across UI, print, image, and detail? +5. Why does the whole thing feel ownable? + +--- + +# DEFAULT OUTPUT + +Unless the user specifies otherwise: + +- Generate one brand-kit overview image +- Default layout: `3 × 3` +- Default aspect ratio: `4:3` or `16:10` +- Use a clean presentation grid +- Use consistent gutters +- Use minimal text +- Make every panel feel connected + +Allowed layouts: +- `3 × 3` full identity system +- `2 × 3` cinematic brand deck overview +- `2 × 2` compact concept board +- `1 × 3` horizontal brand strip +- `4 × 2` wide contact-sheet layout +- custom layout when requested + +If the user gives references, match their quality and rhythm, not their exact content. + +--- + +# BRAND STRATEGY FIRST + +Before generating, infer the brand strategy. + +Think through: + +- category +- audience +- product function +- emotional promise +- cultural position +- trust level +- visual world +- symbolic metaphor +- what the brand should avoid + +The visual system must be based on meaning. + +Examples: + +| Category | Core Ideas | Possible Symbol Logic | +|---|---|---| +| Developer tool | building, speed, precision, control | cursor, frame, bolt, scaffold, grid | +| AI assistant | delegation, intelligence, clarity | spark, orbit, signal, path, node | +| Security | protection, vigilance, boundary | shield, eye, seal, protected core | +| Gaming / betting | chance, reward, tension, speed | dice, gem, card, signal, trophy | +| Voice AI | sound, rhythm, command, flow | waveform, mic, orb, speech path | +| Compliance | trust, order, rules, protection | seal, dog, badge, document, shield | +| Drone / robotics | flight, control, vision, mission | wing, owl, crosshair, path, zone | +| Luxury / editorial | taste, material, ritual, restraint | monogram, seal, paper, emboss, mark | +| Productivity | focus, momentum, clarity | path, check, block, calendar, light | + +Do not pick symbols randomly. + +--- + +# LOGO GENERATION STANDARD + +The logo must be professional. + +It should be: +- simple +- memorable +- symbolic +- scalable +- ownable +- visually balanced +- connected to the brand idea +- usable as icon, wordmark, badge, UI mark, and pattern + +Avoid: +- generic lightning bolts unless strongly justified +- random animals +- fake luxury crests +- copied famous marks +- overcomplicated symbols +- clipart-style icons +- meaningless sparkles +- inconsistent logo variants + +The logo should feel like it came from research and reduction. + +--- + +# LOGO CONCEPT METHODS + +Use one or combine two maximum. + +## 1. Monogram + Meaning + +Combine the brand initial with a metaphor. + +Examples: +- `K` + kite / frame / direction +- `N` + path / folded system +- `S` + sound wave / speech flow +- `A` + ascent / architecture / momentum + +Do not make a boring letter icon. +Use negative space, cuts, folds, or geometry. + +--- + +## 2. Product Action + +Turn the product's main action into a symbol. + +Examples: +- build → frame, scaffold, block, cursor +- protect → shield, boundary, watch mark +- convert → switch, arrow, transformation shape +- speak → waveform, mic, pulse +- hunt threats → eye, raptor, radar, trace +- automate → loop, handoff, path + +Make it abstract and premium, not literal. + +--- + +## 3. Metaphor Fusion + +Combine two meaningful ideas into one reduced mark. + +Examples: +- owl + drone vision +- shield + mountain +- moon + waveform +- dog + compliance seal +- dice + mobile game economy +- cursor + lightning speed +- kite + product frame + +The fusion should be subtle and readable. + +--- + +## 4. Negative Space + +Use empty space to create intelligence. + +Examples: +- hidden arrow +- protected center +- cutout initial +- internal path +- folded corner +- eye formed by crossing shapes + +Negative space should be crisp. + +--- + +## 5. Construction Geometry + +Create a mark from a clear system. + +Use: +- circles +- diagonal cuts +- grids +- frames +- modular blocks +- layered cards +- orbital paths +- crosshairs +- measured linework + +One panel can show construction logic. + +--- + +# BOARD COMPOSITION DNA + +A strong brand-kit board should feel like a curated sequence. + +Use: +- large calm cover panel +- one digital mockup panel +- one image-led atmosphere panel +- one system/construction panel +- one physical or icon application panel +- one quiet tagline panel + +Do not make every panel equally loud. + +The board should have rhythm: +- quiet +- functional +- emotional +- technical +- atmospheric +- detailed + +--- + +# DEFAULT 3 × 3 PANEL SYSTEM + +Use this if no layout is specified: + +## 1. Logo Cover +Large logo and wordmark. +Minimal title. +Strong negative space. + +## 2. Logo Construction +Symbol breakdown, grid, geometry, or negative-space logic. +Show why the mark exists. + +## 3. Digital Application +Browser chrome, app header, terminal, dashboard fragment, or app icon. + +## 4. Brand Essence +One short tagline. +Large readable typography. +Sparse composition. + +## 5. Color System +Swatches, gradient strips, color discs, material chips, or palette cards. + +## 6. Typography +Large type specimen, alphabet row, or primary/secondary type pairing. + +## 7. Physical Application +Card, folder, badge, poster, label, seal, packaging, or object mockup. + +## 8. Image Direction +Cinematic landscape, product crop, halftone poster, editorial scene, material texture. + +## 9. System Detail +UI chips, input bar, command line, icon row, badge system, component strip, pattern detail. + +--- + +# 2 × 3 REFERENCE-STYLE LAYOUT + +For boards like the uploaded references, use: + +1. **Logo / Wordmark** + - centered or offset + - extremely minimal + +2. **Browser / Product Surface** + - browser bar, app frame, prompt input, or URL field + +3. **Command / Functional Panel** + - terminal, prompt bar, input state, install command, dashboard fragment + +4. **Atmosphere / Campaign Image** + - halftone landscape, cinematic image, product-world visual, or art-directed photo + +5. **Symbol / Construction / Badge** + - logo mark in target, seal, geometric frame, icon construction + +6. **Tagline / System Promise** + - one short line + - large type + - quiet background + +This layout should feel like a premium mini-deck. + +--- + +# VISUAL MODES + +Choose based on the brand. + +## Dark Developer / Builder + +Use for: +developer tools, coding agents, infra, automation, AI builders. + +Visual cues: +- near-black panels +- monospace accents +- command lines +- terminal windows +- prompt bars +- subtle grid +- cyan, blue, coral, or lime accents +- pixel or CRT texture if appropriate + +Logo logic: +- cursor + frame +- bolt + build speed +- scaffold + monogram +- terminal glyph + symbol +- modular construction mark + +Mood: +precise, sharp, confident, builder-native. + +--- + +## Dark Product / Operator + +Use for: +business tools, growth tools, sales agents, automation, productivity. + +Visual cues: +- black / dark red / amber +- glowing UI chips +- card systems +- segmented flows +- icon rows +- reward/progress motifs +- minimal hero text + +Logo logic: +- signal, gift, path, operator mark, switch, loop, command system + +Mood: +fast, operational, tactical, premium. + +--- + +## Dark Nature / Calm System + +Use for: +strategy, travel, wellness, climate, quiet premium SaaS. + +Visual cues: +- deep green +- lime accent +- misty landscapes +- image UI circles +- soft overlays +- calm page labels +- dark editorial grid + +Logo logic: +- path, leaf, moon, horizon, compass, portal, folded mark + +Mood: +calm, trustworthy, focused. + +--- + +## Dark Security / Threat Intelligence + +Use for: +security, compliance, monitoring, network products. + +Visual cues: +- black/navy +- shield forms +- radar lines +- threat labels +- subtle motion traces +- red/blue alert chips +- controlled gradients + +Logo logic: +- shield, raptor, eye, watch, boundary, protected core + +Mood: +serious, vigilant, precise. + +--- + +## Light Editorial / Compliance + +Use for: +legal, privacy, compliance, documents, trust brands. + +Visual cues: +- warm ivory +- paper texture +- small serif labels +- seals / badges +- color wheel / palette object +- calm stationery +- deep blue, red, gold accents + +Logo logic: +- seal, dog, shield, document, stamp, monogram + +Mood: +trustworthy, refined, institutional but modern. + +--- + +## Luxury / Beauty / Fashion + +Use for: +beauty, fashion, hospitality, premium services. + +Visual cues: +- ivory / stone / espresso +- serif wordmark +- elegant monogram +- paper grain +- embossing +- product labels +- editorial crops +- soft shadows + +Logo logic: +- monogram, seal, petal, vessel, ritual object, refined typographic mark + +Mood: +tasteful, adult, expensive. + +--- + +## Voice / Communication + +Use for: +voice AI, chat, assistants, speech, audio. + +Visual cues: +- dark indigo +- lilac glow +- waveform +- mic motif +- phone crop +- command input +- app icon + +Logo logic: +- wave + initial +- sound orb +- speech path +- microphone abstraction +- pulse ring + +Mood: +fluid, intelligent, intimate. + +--- + +## Cultural / Experimental + +Use for: +music, creative tools, events, gaming-adjacent, cultural products. + +Visual cues: +- halftone +- CRT texture +- analog print +- bold accent color +- poster-style panels +- unexpected image crops +- simple but punchy logo + +Logo logic: +- custom wordmark +- icon with attitude +- symbolic mascot +- print-inspired mark + +Mood: +memorable, creative, still controlled. + +--- + +# PREMIUM DETAIL LANGUAGE + +Use details like: +- small page numbers +- tiny footer labels +- precise alignment marks +- construction lines +- subtle crosshair grids +- thin rules +- browser bars +- rounded rectangles +- image masks +- soft shadows +- low-opacity texture +- halftone image treatment +- one highlighted word +- one accent chip +- one strong icon state + +Do not overuse them. + +Premium detail should reward looking closer. + +--- + +# TEXT RULES + +Use very little text. + +Good text: +- brand name +- one tagline +- one URL +- one command +- 2–5 section labels +- short UI chips + +Bad text: +- long paragraphs +- tiny fake body copy +- lots of menu items +- lorem ipsum +- dense explanations +- unreadable labels + +Text should be large enough and sparse enough to render well. + +--- + +# TAGLINE STYLE + +Taglines should be short and specific. + +Good: +- "What will you build today?" +- "Nothing random." +- "Your network. Our watch." +- "Build better." +- "On guard." +- "Every mission under control." +- "Everything operators need." +- "Clarity builds confidence." + +Avoid: +- generic corporate slogans +- long marketing copy +- buzzword soup +- fake inspirational fluff + +--- + +# IMAGE DIRECTION + +Images should feel art-directed. + +Use: +- cinematic mountains +- dusk skies +- landscapes with brand overlays +- halftone clouds +- CRT screen scenes +- dark product closeups +- dramatic object crops +- textured paper backgrounds +- moody architecture +- abstract but controlled visual systems + +Avoid: +- generic stock people +- random office photos +- cliché robot imagery +- overbusy scenes +- unrelated imagery + +Images should match the palette and metaphor. + +--- + +# MOCKUP DIRECTION + +Mockups should be minimal and believable. + +Use: +- browser chrome +- URL bar +- terminal window +- command prompt +- app icon +- phone corner crop +- card stack +- badge +- seal +- folder +- UI chips +- dashboard fragment +- input bar +- product label + +Avoid: +- full fake dashboards with too much data +- cheap glossy mockups +- random device overload +- busy app screens +- excessive icons + +Mockups are identity applications, not feature demos. + +--- + +# COLOR DISCIPLINE + +Use one dominant palette. + +Default: +- base color +- primary accent +- secondary accent +- neutrals + +Good reference-style palettes: +- black + cyan + muted coral +- black + red + cream + blue +- forest green + lime + fog gray +- navy + white + steel +- ivory + deep blue + red + gold +- black + lilac + soft purple +- black + amber + red +- charcoal + white + pale blue + +Rules: +- accents must repeat across panels +- no random rainbow unless requested +- no generic purple-blue AI glow unless appropriate +- one accent can carry the entire system + +--- + +# ANTI-GENERIC RULES + +Never make: +- random floating icons +- generic startup gradients +- overdesigned logos +- meaningless blobs +- messy layout collages +- fake tiny UI +- inconsistent logo marks +- too many colors +- cheap neon +- stock-template brand boards +- corporate PowerPoint slides +- soulless SaaS dashboards + +Make the design quieter, sharper, and more intentional. + +--- + +# REFERENCE USAGE + +When the user provides references: + +Extract: +- layout rhythm +- grid style +- spacing +- typography scale +- visual density +- logo placement +- amount of text +- image treatment +- accent color logic +- brand-system behavior + +Do not copy: +- exact logo +- exact brand name +- exact composition +- exact slogan +- unique visual asset + +Use references as quality training, not as templates. + +--- + +# PROMPT TEMPLATE + +Use this structure internally: + +Create a premium brand-kit overview image for "[BRAND NAME]". + +Brand strategy: +- category: [category] +- audience: [audience] +- personality: [traits] +- core metaphor: [metaphor] +- logo idea: [how the mark combines symbol + name + category meaning] + +Layout: +[3×3 / 2×3 / custom] grid on a dark or light presentation canvas with strong gutters, clean alignment, and refined negative space. + +Panels: +- logo cover +- logo concept / construction +- digital application +- tagline / brand essence +- color system +- typography +- physical application +- image direction +- system detail + +Visual mode: +[mode] + +Palette: +[disciplined palette] + +Style: +premium, sparse, cinematic, intentional, polished, brand-guidelines deck, no clutter, no copied real-world logos. + +Typography: +readable, minimal, high hierarchy, no tiny fake text. + +Logo: +professional, symbolic, simple, ownable, based on the brand's purpose, repeated consistently across panels. + +--- + +# FINAL OUTPUT STANDARD + +The image must look like: +- a premium identity deck +- a senior designer's presentation board +- a brand-system case study +- a visual launch direction +- a professional logo concept board + +The final result should be: +- clean +- strategic +- symbolic +- minimal +- coherent +- premium +- art-directed +- implementation-friendly +- stronger than normal AI-generated brand visuals diff --git a/.agents/skills/design-taste-frontend/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/design-taste-frontend/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b72132fc --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/design-taste-frontend/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,1206 @@ +--- +name: design-taste-frontend +description: Anti-slop frontend skill for landing pages, portfolios, and redesigns. The agent reads the brief, infers the right design direction, and ships interfaces that do not look templated. Real design systems when applicable, audit-first on redesigns, strict pre-flight check. +--- + +# tasteskill: Anti-Slop Frontend Skill + +> Landing pages, portfolios, and redesigns. Not dashboards, not data tables, not multi-step product UI. +> Every rule below is **contextual**. None of it fires automatically. First read the brief, then pull only what fits. + +--- + +## 0. BRIEF INFERENCE (Read the Room Before Anything Else) + +Before touching code or tweaking dials, **infer what the user actually wants**. Most LLM design output is bad because the model jumps to a default aesthetic instead of reading the room. + +### 0.A Read these signals first +1. **Page kind** - landing (SaaS / consumer / agency / event), portfolio (dev / designer / creative studio), redesign (preserve vs overhaul), editorial / blog. +2. **Vibe words** the user used - "minimalist", "calm", "Linear-style", "Awwwards", "brutalist", "premium consumer", "Apple-y", "playful", "serious B2B", "editorial", "agency-y", "glassy", "dark tech". +3. **Reference signals** - URLs they linked, screenshots they pasted, products they named, brands they're competing with. +4. **Audience** - B2B procurement panel vs. design-conscious consumer vs. recruiter scanning a portfolio. The audience picks the aesthetic, not your taste. +5. **Brand assets that already exist** - logo, color, type, photography. For redesigns, these are starting material, not optional input (see Section 11). +6. **Quiet constraints** - accessibility-first audiences, public-sector, regulated industries, trust-first commerce, kids' products. These constraints OVERRIDE aesthetic preference. + +### 0.B Output a one-line "Design Read" before generating +Before any code, state in one line: **"Reading this as: \ for \, with a \ language, leaning toward \."** + +Example reads: +- *"Reading this as: B2B SaaS landing for technical buyers, with a Linear-style minimalist language, leaning toward Tailwind utilities + Geist + restrained motion."* +- *"Reading this as: solo designer portfolio for hiring managers, with an editorial / kinetic-type language, leaning toward native CSS + scroll-driven animation + custom typography."* +- *"Reading this as: redesign of a public-sector service site, with a trust-first language, leaning toward GOV.UK Frontend or USWDS."* + +### 0.C If the brief is ambiguous, ask one question, do not guess +Ask exactly **one** clarifying question - never a multi-question dump - and only when the design read genuinely diverges. Example: *"Should this feel closer to Linear-clean or Awwwards-experimental?"* + +If you can confidently infer from context, **do not ask**. Just declare the design read and proceed. + +### 0.D Anti-Default Discipline +Do not default to: AI-purple gradients, centered hero over dark mesh, three equal feature cards, generic glassmorphism on everything, infinite-loop micro-animations everywhere, Inter + slate-900. These are the LLM defaults. Reach past them deliberately based on the design read. + +--- + +## 1. THE THREE DIALS (Core Configuration) + +After the design read, set three dials. Every layout, motion, and density decision below is gated by these. + +* **`DESIGN_VARIANCE: 8`** - 1 = Perfect Symmetry, 10 = Artsy Chaos +* **`MOTION_INTENSITY: 6`** - 1 = Static, 10 = Cinematic / Physics +* **`VISUAL_DENSITY: 4`** - 1 = Art Gallery / Airy, 10 = Cockpit / Packed Data + +**Baseline:** `8 / 6 / 4`. Use these unless the design read overrides them. Do not ask the user to edit this file - overrides happen conversationally. + +### 1.A Dial Inference (design read → dial values) +| Signal | VARIANCE | MOTION | DENSITY | +|---|---|---|---| +| "minimalist / clean / calm / editorial / Linear-style" | 5-6 | 3-4 | 2-3 | +| "premium consumer / Apple-y / luxury / brand" | 7-8 | 5-7 | 3-4 | +| "playful / wild / Dribbble / Awwwards / experimental / agency" | 9-10 | 8-10 | 3-4 | +| "landing page / portfolio / marketing site (default)" | 7-9 | 6-8 | 3-5 | +| "trust-first / public-sector / regulated / accessibility-critical" | 3-4 | 2-3 | 4-5 | +| "redesign - preserve" | match existing | +1 | match existing | +| "redesign - overhaul" | +2 | +2 | match existing | + +### 1.B Use-Case Presets +| Use case | VARIANCE | MOTION | DENSITY | +|---|---|---|---| +| Landing (SaaS, mainstream) | 7 | 6 | 4 | +| Landing (Agency / creative) | 9 | 8 | 3 | +| Landing (Premium consumer) | 7 | 6 | 3 | +| Portfolio (Designer / studio) | 8 | 7 | 3 | +| Portfolio (Developer) | 6 | 5 | 4 | +| Editorial / Blog | 6 | 4 | 3 | +| Public-sector service | 3 | 2 | 5 | +| Redesign - preserve | match | match+1 | match | +| Redesign - overhaul | +2 | +2 | match | + +### 1.C How the Dials Drive Output +Use these (or user-overridden values) as global variables. Cross-references throughout this document refer to these exact variable names - never invent aliases like `LAYOUT_VARIANCE` or `ANIM_LEVEL`. + +--- + +## 2. BRIEF → DESIGN SYSTEM MAP + +Once you have the design read (Section 0) and dials (Section 1), pick the right foundation. Do not invent CSS for things that have an official package. Do not pretend an aesthetic trend is an official system. + +### 2.A When to reach for a real design system (use official packages) +| Brief reads as… | Reach for | Why | +|---|---|---| +| Microsoft / enterprise SaaS / dashboards | `@fluentui/react-components` or `@fluentui/web-components` | Official Fluent UI, Microsoft tokens, accessibility done | +| Google-ish UI, Material-flavored product | `@material/web` + Material 3 tokens | Official, theme-able via Material Theming | +| IBM-style B2B / enterprise analytics | `@carbon/react` + `@carbon/styles` | Official Carbon, mature data-density patterns | +| Shopify app surfaces | `polaris.js` web components / Polaris React | Required for Shopify admin UI | +| Atlassian / Jira-style product | `@atlaskit/*` + `@atlaskit/tokens` | Official Atlassian DS | +| GitHub-style devtool / community page | `@primer/css` or `@primer/react-brand` | Official Primer; Brand variant for marketing | +| Public-sector UK service | `govuk-frontend` | Legally / regulatorily expected | +| US public-sector / trust-first | `uswds` | Same | +| Fast local-business / agency MVP | Bootstrap 5.3 | Boring, fast, works | +| Modern accessible React foundation | `@radix-ui/themes` | Primitives + polished theme | +| Modern SaaS where you own the components | shadcn/ui (`npx shadcn@latest add ...`) | You own the code, easy to customise; never ship default state | +| Tailwind-based modern SaaS / AI marketing | Tailwind v4 utilities + `dark:` variant | Default for indie + small team builds | + +**Honesty rule:** if the brief reads as one of the systems above, install and use the **official** package. Do not recreate its CSS by hand. Do not import a system's tokens but then override 90% of them. + +**One system per project.** Do not mix Fluent React with Carbon in the same tree. Do not import shadcn/ui components into a Material 3 app. + +### 2.B When the brief is an aesthetic, not a system +For these directions, there is **no single official package**. Build with native CSS + Tailwind + a maintained component library. Be honest in code comments about what is borrowed inspiration vs. official material. + +| Aesthetic | Honest implementation | +|---|---| +| Glassmorphism / "frosted glass" | `backdrop-filter`, layered borders, highlight overlays. Provide solid-fill fallback for `prefers-reduced-transparency`. | +| Bento (Apple-style tile grids) | CSS Grid with mixed cell sizes. No single library owns this. | +| Brutalism | Native CSS, monospace, raw borders. No library. | +| Editorial / magazine | Serif type, asymmetric grid, generous whitespace. No library. | +| Dark tech / hacker | Mono + accent neon, terminal motifs. No library. | +| Aurora / mesh gradients | SVG or layered radial gradients. No library. | +| Kinetic typography | Native CSS animations, scroll-driven animations, GSAP for hijacks. No library. | +| **Apple Liquid Glass** | Apple documents this for Apple platforms only. **There is no official `liquid-glass.css`.** Web implementations are approximations using `backdrop-filter` + layered borders + highlights. Label clearly as approximation. | + +--- + +## 3. DEFAULT ARCHITECTURE & CONVENTIONS + +Unless the design read picks a real design system (Section 2.A), these are the defaults: + +### 3.A Stack +* **Framework:** React or Next.js. Default to Server Components (RSC). + * **RSC SAFETY:** Global state works ONLY in Client Components. In Next.js, wrap providers in a `"use client"` component. + * **INTERACTIVITY ISOLATION:** Any component using Motion, scroll listeners, or pointer physics MUST be an isolated leaf with `'use client'` at the top. Server Components render static layouts only. +* **Styling:** **Tailwind v4** (default). Tailwind v3 only if the existing project demands it. + * For v4: do NOT use `tailwindcss` plugin in `postcss.config.js`. Use `@tailwindcss/postcss` or the Vite plugin. +* **Animation:** **Motion** (the library formerly known as Framer Motion). Import from `motion/react` (`import { motion } from "motion/react"`). The `framer-motion` package still works as a legacy alias - prefer `motion/react` in new code. +* **Fonts:** Always use `next/font` (Next.js) or self-host with `@font-face` + `font-display: swap`. Never link Google Fonts via `` in production. + +### 3.B State +* Local `useState` / `useReducer` for isolated UI. +* Global state ONLY for deep prop-drilling avoidance - Zustand, Jotai, or React context. +* **NEVER** use `useState` to track continuous values driven by user input (mouse position, scroll progress, pointer physics, magnetic hover). Use Motion's `useMotionValue` / `useTransform` / `useScroll`. `useState` re-renders the React tree on every change and collapses on mobile. + +### 3.C Icons +* **Allowed libraries (priority order):** `@phosphor-icons/react`, `hugeicons-react`, `@radix-ui/react-icons`, `@tabler/icons-react`. +* **Discouraged:** `lucide-react`. Acceptable only when the user explicitly asks for it or the project already depends on it. +* **NEVER hand-roll SVG icons.** If a glyph is missing, install a second library or compose from primitives - do not draw icon paths from scratch. +* **One family per project.** Do not mix Phosphor with Lucide in the same component tree. +* **Standardize `strokeWidth` globally** (e.g. `1.5` or `2.0`). + +### 3.D Emoji Policy +Discouraged by default in code, markup, and visible text. Replace symbols with icon-library glyphs. **Override:** allow emojis only when the user explicitly asks for a playful / chat-style / social-native vibe - and even then use them sparingly with intent. + +### 3.E Responsiveness & Layout Mechanics +* Standardize breakpoints (`sm 640`, `md 768`, `lg 1024`, `xl 1280`, `2xl 1536`). +* Contain page layouts using `max-w-[1400px] mx-auto` or `max-w-7xl`. +* **Viewport Stability:** NEVER use `h-screen` for full-height Hero sections. ALWAYS use `min-h-[100dvh]` to prevent layout jumping on mobile (iOS Safari address bar). +* **Grid over Flex-Math:** NEVER use complex flexbox percentage math (`w-[calc(33%-1rem)]`). ALWAYS use CSS Grid (`grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6`). + +### 3.F Dependency Verification (mandatory) +Before importing ANY 3rd-party library, check `package.json`. If the package is missing, output the install command first. **Never** assume a library exists. + +--- + +## 4. DESIGN ENGINEERING DIRECTIVES (Bias Correction) + +LLMs default to clichés. Override these defaults proactively. Each rule has a context-aware override path. + +### 4.1 Typography +* **Display / Headlines:** Default `text-4xl md:text-6xl tracking-tighter leading-none`. +* **Body / Paragraphs:** Default `text-base text-gray-600 leading-relaxed max-w-[65ch]`. +* **Sans font choice:** + * **Discouraged as default:** `Inter`. Pick `Geist`, `Outfit`, `Cabinet Grotesk`, `Satoshi`, or a brand-appropriate serif first. + * **Override:** Inter is acceptable when the user explicitly asks for a neutral / standard / Linear-style feel, or when the brief is a public-sector / accessibility-first site. +* **Pairings to know:** `Geist` + `Geist Mono`, `Satoshi` + `JetBrains Mono`, `Cabinet Grotesk` + `Inter Tight`, `GT America` + `IBM Plex Mono`. + +* **SERIF DISCIPLINE (VERY DISCOURAGED AS DEFAULT):** + * Serif is **very discouraged as the default font for any project.** "It feels creative / premium / editorial" is NOT a reason to reach for serif. The agent's default mental model that "creative brief = serif" is the single most-tested AI tell in production rounds. + * **Serif is only acceptable when ONE of these is explicitly true:** + - The brand brief literally names a serif font, OR + - The aesthetic family is genuinely editorial / luxury / publication / manuscript / heritage / vintage AND you can articulate why this specific serif fits this specific brand + * For everything else (creative agency, design studio, modern brand, premium consumer, portfolio, lifestyle), **default sans-serif display** (Geist Display, ABC Diatype, Söhne Breit, Cabinet Grotesk Display, Migra Sans, GT Walsheim, Inter Display, PP Neue Montreal). Sans display fonts are not "boring" — they are the default for the same reason black is the default in fashion. + * **EMPHASIS RULE (related):** When you want to emphasize a word within a headline (the kinetic "and `spatial` design" type move), use **italic or bold of the SAME font**. Do NOT inject a random serif word into a sans headline (or vice versa) just to add visual interest. Mixed-family emphasis is amateur. Italic/bold emphasis in the same family is the right move. + * **Specifically BANNED as defaults:** `Fraunces` and `Instrument_Serif` (the two LLM-favorite display serifs). + * **If a serif is justified** (rare, per the above), rotate from this pool, do NOT reuse the same serif across consecutive projects: PP Editorial New, GT Sectra Display, Cardinal Grotesque, Reckless Neue, Tiempos Headline, Recoleta, Cormorant Garamond, Playfair Display, EB Garamond, IvyPresto, Migra, Editorial Old, Saol Display, Söhne Breit Kursiv, Domaine Display, Canela, Schnyder, Tobias, NB Architekt, ITC Galliard. + +* **ITALIC DESCENDER CLEARANCE (mandatory):** When italic is used in display type and the word contains a descender letter (`y g j p q`), `leading-[1]` or `leading-none` will clip the descender. Use `leading-[1.1]` minimum and add `pb-1` or `mb-1` reserve on the wrapping element. Audit every italic word in display headlines before shipping. + +### 4.2 Color Calibration +* Max 1 accent color. Saturation < 80% by default. +* **THE LILA RULE:** The "AI Purple / Blue glow" aesthetic is discouraged as a default. No automatic purple button glows, no random neon gradients. Use neutral bases (Zinc / Slate / Stone) with high-contrast singular accents (Emerald, Electric Blue, Deep Rose, Burnt Orange, etc.). +* **Override:** if the brand or brief explicitly asks for purple / violet / lila, embrace it. But execute with intent: consistent palette, harmonised neutrals, restrained gradients. Not generic AI gradient slop. +* **One palette per project.** Do not fluctuate between warm and cool grays within the same project. +* **COLOR CONSISTENCY LOCK (mandatory):** Once an accent color is chosen for a page, it is used on the WHOLE page. A warm-grey site does not suddenly get a blue CTA in section 7. A rose-accented site does not get a teal status badge in the footer. Pick one accent, lock it, audit every component before shipping. + +* **PREMIUM-CONSUMER PALETTE BAN (mandatory, second-most-recurring AI-tell):** + * For premium-consumer briefs (cookware, wellness, artisan, luxury, heritage craft, DTC home goods, etc.) the LLM default is **warm beige/cream + brass/clay/oxblood/ochre + espresso/ink dark text**. Concretely banned hex families as default backgrounds and accents: + - Backgrounds: `#f5f1ea`, `#f7f5f1`, `#fbf8f1`, `#efeae0`, `#ece6db`, `#faf7f1`, `#e8dfcb` (all "warm paper / cream / chalk / bone") + - Accents: `#b08947`, `#b6553a`, `#9a2436`, `#9c6e2a`, `#bc7c3a`, `#7d5621` (all "brass / clay / oxblood / ochre") + - Text: `#1a1714`, `#1a1814`, `#1b1814` (all "espresso / warm near-black") + * This palette is BANNED as the default reach for premium-consumer briefs. Every premium-consumer site you have ever shipped uses this exact palette. The brand becomes invisible. + * **Default alternatives (rotate, do not reuse):** + - **Cold Luxury:** silver-grey + chrome + smoke (think Tesla, Apple Watch Hermes-without-the-leather) + - **Forest:** deep green + bone + amber accent (think Filson, Patagonia premium) + - **Black and Tan:** true off-black + warm tan, sharp contrast, no beige + - **Cobalt + Cream:** saturated blue against a single neutral, no brass + - **Terracotta + Slate:** warm rust against cool grey, no brass + - **Olive + Brick + Paper:** muted olive plus brick-red accent + - **Pure monochrome + single saturated pop:** off-white + off-black + one bright accent (electric blue, emerald, hot pink, etc.) + * **Palette-rotation rule:** if the previous premium-consumer project you generated used the beige+brass family, this one MUST use a different family. Do not ship the same warm-craft palette twice in a row. + * **Override:** the beige+brass+espresso palette is acceptable ONLY when the brand brief explicitly names those colors, or when the brand identity is genuinely vintage / artisan / warm-craft AND you can articulate why this specific palette fits this specific brand. Default-reaching for it because "this is a cookware brief" is banned. + +### 4.3 Layout Diversification +* **ANTI-CENTER BIAS:** Centered Hero / H1 sections are avoided when `DESIGN_VARIANCE > 4`. Force "Split Screen" (50/50), "Left-aligned content / right-aligned asset", "Asymmetric white-space", or scroll-pinned structures. +* **Override:** centered hero is OK for editorial / manifesto / launch-announcement briefs where the message itself is the design. + +### 4.4 Materiality, Shadows, Cards +* Use cards ONLY when elevation communicates real hierarchy. Otherwise group with `border-t`, `divide-y`, or negative space. +* When a shadow is used, tint it to the background hue. No pure-black drop shadows on light backgrounds. +* For `VISUAL_DENSITY > 7`: generic card containers are banned. Data metrics breathe in plain layout. +* **SHAPE CONSISTENCY LOCK (mandatory):** Pick ONE corner-radius scale for the page and stick to it. Options: all-sharp (radius 0), all-soft (radius 12-16px), all-pill (full radius for interactive). Mixed systems are allowed only when there is a documented rule (e.g. "buttons are full-pill, cards are 16px, inputs are 8px") and that rule is followed everywhere. Round buttons in a square layout, or square cards on a pill-button page, is broken design. + +### 4.5 Interactive UI States +LLMs default to "static successful state only." Always implement full cycles: +* **Loading:** Skeletal loaders matching the final layout's shape. Avoid generic circular spinners. +* **Empty States:** Beautifully composed; indicate how to populate. +* **Error States:** Clear, inline (forms), or contextual (toasts only for transient). +* **Tactile Feedback:** On `:active`, use `-translate-y-[1px]` or `scale-[0.98]` to simulate a physical push. +* **BUTTON CONTRAST CHECK (mandatory, a11y):** Before shipping any button, verify the button text is readable against the button background. White button + white text, `bg-white` CTA with `text-white` label, transparent button against the page background with no border → all banned. Audit every CTA: contrast ratio WCAG AA min (4.5:1 for body, 3:1 for large text 18px+). Same rule applies to ghost buttons over photographic backgrounds (use a backdrop, scrim, or stroke). +* **CTA BUTTON WRAP BAN (mandatory):** Button text MUST fit on one line at desktop. If a label like "VIEW SELECTED WORK" wraps to 2 or 3 lines, the button is broken. Fix by EITHER shortening the label (3 words max for primary CTAs, ideally 1-2) OR widening the button (do not artificially constrain `max-width` on CTAs). Wrapped CTAs at desktop are a Pre-Flight Fail. +* **NO DUPLICATE CTA INTENT (mandatory):** Two CTAs with the same intent on one page is a Pre-Flight Fail. Examples of same intent: "Get in touch" + "Contact us" + "Let's talk" + "Start a project" + "Start something" + "Reach out" = all "contact" intent → pick ONE label and use it everywhere on the page (nav, hero, footer). Same for "Try free" + "Get started" + "Sign up free" (all "signup" intent) and "View work" + "See selected work" + "Browse projects" (all "portfolio" intent). One label per intent. +* **FORM CONTRAST CHECK (mandatory, a11y):** Form inputs, placeholder text, focus rings, helper text, and error text all pass WCAG AA contrast against the section background. Light placeholders on a near-white form, white form on white page section, form labels grayer than 4.5:1 contrast → all banned. Audit every form before shipping. + +### 4.6 Data & Form Patterns +* Label ABOVE input. Helper text optional but present in markup. Error text BELOW input. Standard `gap-2` for input blocks. +* No placeholder-as-label. Ever. + +### 4.7 Layout Discipline (Hard Rules. Failing any of these is shipping broken work) + +* **Hero MUST fit in the initial viewport.** Headline max 2 lines on desktop, subtext max **20 words** AND max 3-4 lines, CTAs visible without scroll. If the copy is too long: reduce font scale OR cut copy. If you cannot describe the value-prop in 20 words of subtext, the value-prop is unclear, not the rule too tight. Never let the hero overflow and force scroll to find the CTA. +* **Hero font-scale discipline.** Plan font size and image size *together*. If the hero asset is large and the headline is more than 6 words, do not start at `text-7xl/text-8xl`. Default sensible range: `text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-6xl` for most heroes; `text-6xl md:text-7xl` only when the headline is 3-5 words. A 4-line hero headline is always a font-size error, never a copy-length error. +* **HERO TOP PADDING CAP (mandatory):** Hero top padding max `pt-24` (≈6rem) at desktop. More than that means the hero content floats halfway down the viewport and reads as a layout bug, not as intentional space. If your hero needs more breathing room, increase font scale or asset size, not top padding. +* **HERO STACK DISCIPLINE (max 4 text elements).** The hero is a single moment, not a feature list. Allowed text elements, max 4 in total: + 1. Eyebrow (small uppercase label) OR brand strip OR neither - pick zero or one + 2. Headline (max 2 lines, see above) + 3. Subtext (max 20 words, max 4 lines) + 4. CTAs (1 primary + max 1 secondary) + - **BANNED in the hero:** tiny tagline below CTAs ("Works with GitHub, GitLab, and self-hosted Git"), trust micro-strip ("Used by engineering teams at..."), pricing teaser ("Free for solo, $10/user for teams"), feature bullet list, social-proof avatar row. All of those move to dedicated sections directly below the hero. + - If you have an eyebrow AND a tagline below CTAs in the same hero, drop the tagline. If you have a brand strip AND a tagline, drop the tagline. One small text element per hero, max. +* **"Used by" / "Trusted by" logo wall belongs UNDER the hero, never inside it.** The hero is for the value prop and primary CTA. The logo wall is a separate section directly below. Do not stuff trust logos into the same flex row as the hero copy. +* **Navigation MUST render on a single line on desktop.** If items don't fit at `lg` (1024px), condense labels, drop secondary items, or move to a hamburger. A two-line nav at desktop is broken design. +* **Navigation height cap: 80px max desktop, default 64-72px.** No huge "agency" nav bars that eat 15% of the viewport. +* **Bento grids MUST have rhythm, not one-sided repetition.** Do not stack 6 left-image / right-text rows. Vary the composition: alternate full-width feature rows, asymmetric tile sizes, vertical breaks. +* **BENTO CELL COUNT RULE (mandatory):** A bento grid has EXACTLY as many cells as you have content for. 3 items → 3 cells (1+2 split, or 2+1, or asymmetric trio). 5 items → 5 cells (2+3, 3+2, hero+4, etc.). If your grid has an empty cell in the middle or at the end, you planned wrong. Re-shape the grid; do not paste a blank tile. +* **Section-Layout-Repetition Ban.** Once you use a layout family for a section (e.g., 3-column-image-cards, full-width-quote, split-text-image), that family can appear at most ONCE on the page. "Selected commissions" must not look like "What we do." A landing page with 8 sections must use at least 4 different layout families. +* **ZIGZAG ALTERNATION CAP (mandatory).** Alternating "left-image + right-text" then "left-text + right-image" zigzag layout = banal. Max 2 sections in a row with this image+text-split pattern. The 3rd consecutive image+text split is a Pre-Flight Fail. Break the pattern with a full-width section, a vertical-stack section, a bento grid, a marquee, or a different layout family. +* **EYEBROW RESTRAINT (mandatory, the #1 violated rule in production tests).** An "eyebrow" is the small uppercase wide-tracking label sitting above a section headline (e.g. `FOUR COLORWAYS`, `SELECTED WORK`, `THE HARDWARE`, `Git-native task management`). Typical CSS signature: `text-[11px] uppercase tracking-[0.18em]`, `font-mono text-[10.5px] uppercase tracking-[0.22em]`. Every AI-built site puts an eyebrow above EVERY section header, producing the same templated rhythm. Hard rule: + - **Maximum 1 eyebrow per 3 sections.** Hero counts as 1. So a page with 9 sections may use at most 3 eyebrows total. + - If section A has an eyebrow, the next 2 sections cannot have one. + - **Pre-Flight Check is mechanical:** count instances of `uppercase tracking` (or similar small-caps mono labels above headlines) across all section components. If count > ceil(sectionCount / 3), the output fails. + - **What to do instead of an eyebrow:** drop it entirely. The headline alone is enough. If you need to categorize a section, the section's location on the page already categorizes it; no label needed. +* **SPLIT-HEADER BAN (mandatory).** The pattern "left big headline + right small explainer paragraph" as a section header (left col-span-7/8, right col-span-4/5 with a small body paragraph floating in the right column) is **banned as default**. Sections should have ONE focused message. If you genuinely need both a headline and an explainer paragraph, stack them vertically (headline on top, body below, max-width 65ch). Reach for the split-header pattern only when there is a real compositional reason (e.g., the right column carries a visual or interactive element, not just filler text). +* **Bento Background Diversity (mandatory).** Bento and feature-grid sections cannot be 6 white-on-white cards with text inside. At least 2-3 cells in any multi-cell grid need real visual variation: a real image, a brand-appropriate gradient (not AI-purple), a pattern, a tinted background. A cream-on-cream bento with only typography inside reads as boring AI default, even when the rest of the page is good. +* **Mobile collapse must be explicit per section.** For every multi-column layout, declare the `< 768px` fallback in the same component. No "it'll work, Tailwind handles it" assumptions. + +### 4.8 Image & Visual Asset Strategy + +Landing pages and portfolios are **visual products**. Text-only pages with fake-screenshot divs are slop. + +**Priority order for visual assets:** +1. **Image-generation tool first.** If ANY image-gen tool is available in the environment (`generate_image`, MCP image tool, IDE-integrated gen, OpenAI image tools, etc.) you MUST use it to create section-specific assets: hero photography, product shots, texture backgrounds, mood images. Generate at the right aspect ratio for the section. Do not skip this step because hand-rolled CSS feels faster. +2. **Real web images second.** When no gen tool is available, use real photography sources. Acceptable defaults: + * `https://picsum.photos/seed/{descriptive-seed}/{w}/{h}` for placeholder photography (seed should describe the section, e.g. `marrow-cookware-kitchen`) + * Actual stock or brand URLs when the brief provides them + * Open-license sources (Unsplash via direct URL, Pexels) if explicitly allowed +3. **Last resort: tell the user.** If neither is possible, do NOT fill the page with hand-rolled SVG illustrations or div-based "fake screenshots." Instead, leave clearly-labeled placeholder slots (``) and at the end of the response say: *"This page needs real images at: \[list of placements\]. Please generate or provide them."* + +**Even minimalist sites need real images.** A pure-text page is not minimalism. It is incomplete work. Even an editorial Linear-style site needs at least 2-3 real images (hero, one product/lifestyle shot, one supporting image). Generate B&W minimalist photography if the brief is restrained; do not skip images entirely because the dial is low. + +**Real company logos for social proof.** When the brief calls for a "Trusted by / Used by / Customers" logo wall, do NOT default to plain text wordmarks (`Acme Co` styled in a row). Use real SVG logos: +* **Source: Simple Icons** (`https://cdn.simpleicons.org/{slug}/ffffff` for any color, or `simple-icons` npm package). Covers most known brands. +* **Alternative: devicon** for tech-stack logos (`@svgr/cli` or CDN). +* **Make-up the brand name? Then make-up an SVG mark too.** Generate a simple monogram (one letter in a circle, two-letter ligature, abstract glyph) rendered as an inline `` matching the page style. Plain text wordmarks for invented brand names look generic. +* **Always** ensure logos render in both light and dark mode (white-on-dark, black-on-light, or single-color theme variable). +* **LOGO-ONLY rule (mandatory):** logo wall = logos and nothing else. Do NOT print industry / category labels below each logo (no `Vercel` + `hosting` underneath, no `Stripe` + `payments`, no `Cloudflare` + `infra`). The logo is the credibility, the label adds nothing the user does not already know. Optional: brand name as alt-text for screen readers, optional link to the brand's site. That is it. + +**Hand-rolled illustrations:** +* SVG icons from libraries: fine (see Section 3.C). +* Hand-rolled decorative SVGs (custom illustrations, logos, marks): **strongly discouraged**, never as default. Acceptable only when: + - The brief explicitly calls for it ("draw me an SVG logo") + - It's a single, simple geometric mark (a square, a circle, a wordmark in display type) + - You're confident in the output quality + +**Div-based fake screenshots are banned.** A "hand-built product preview" rendered with `
` rectangles, fake task lists, fake dashboards, fake terminal windows is a Tell. If you need to show a product: +* Use a real screenshot URL if one exists +* Generate one via image tool +* Use a real component preview (an actual mini-version of the UI inside the page) +* Or skip the preview entirely and use editorial photography + +**Hero needs a real visual.** Text + gradient blob is not a hero - it's a placeholder. + +### 4.9 Content Density + +Landing pages live on the **first impression**, not the full read. Cut ruthlessly. + +* **Default content shape per section:** short headline (≤ 8 words) + short sub-paragraph (≤ 25 words) + one visual asset OR one CTA. Anything more must be justified by the section's job. +* **No data-dump sections.** A 20-row publication table, a 30-row award list, a giant pricing matrix on a marketing page = wrong layout. Use: + - Top 3-5 highlights + "View full list" link + - Marquee / carousel for breadth + - Different page entirely if the data is the product +* **Long lists need a different UI component, not a longer list.** Default `
    ` with bullets / `divide-y` rows is the lazy choice. If you have > 5 items, reach for one of these instead: + - 2-column split with grouped items + - Card grid with image + label per item + - Tabs / accordion if items are categorisable + - Horizontal scroll-snap pills + - Carousel for breadth-heavy lists (testimonials, logos, capabilities) + - Marquee for "lots-of-things-that-don't-need-individual-attention" + A spec sheet with 10 rows + a hairline under every row is the WORST default. Either group rows into 2-3 chunks with sparse dividers, or move to a card-per-spec layout. +* **Spec sheets specifically (the Marrow-cookware pattern).** A long product specification table with `border-b` on every row is the AI default for cookware / hardware / apparel / artisan-goods briefs. Banned. Concrete alternatives: + - **2-col card grid:** each spec gets its own card with the spec name, the value (large display number), and a one-line "why it matters" body. Cards arranged 2-col on desktop, 1-col mobile. + - **Scroll-snap horizontal pills:** each spec is a pill, user can flick through. + - **Grouped chunks:** group 10 specs into 3 logical clusters (e.g. "Materials", "Cooking", "Warranty"), each cluster gets ONE soft divider and a cluster heading. + - **Featured-vs-rest:** 3-4 hero specs visualised as large display tiles, the rest collapsed under a "View full specifications" disclosure. + +* **COPY SELF-AUDIT (mandatory before ship):** Before declaring any task done, re-read every visible string on the page (headlines, subheads, eyebrows, button labels, body copy, captions, alt text, footer text, error messages). Flag any string that is: + - **Grammatically broken** ("free on its past", "two plans but one is honest", "to put it on the table" out of context) + - **Has unclear referents** ("we plan to stay that way" without prior context) + - **Sounds like AI hallucination** (cute-but-wrong wordplay, forced metaphors that don't track, "elegant nothing" phrases) + - **Reads like an LLM trying to sound thoughtful** (passive-aggressive humility, fake-craftsman labels, mock-poetic micro-meta) + Rewrite every flagged string. If unsure whether a string makes sense, replace it with a plain functional sentence. AI-generated cute copy is worse than boring copy. +* **Fake-precise numbers are flagged.** Numbers like `92%`, `4.1×`, `48k`, `5.8 mm`, `13.4 lb` either: + - Come from real data (brief, brand guidelines, public metrics) - fine + - Are explicitly labeled as mock (``, "example", "sample data") - fine + - Are AI-invented spec aesthetics - banned. Don't fake engineering precision the brand doesn't claim. +* **One copy register per page.** Don't mix technical mono ("47 tasks · 0.6 ctx-switches/day"), editorial prose, and marketing punch in the same composition unless the brand voice explicitly calls for it. + +### 4.10 Quotes & Testimonials + +* **Max 3 lines** of quote body. Never 6. If the original quote is longer → cut it. A landing-page quote is a snippet, not the full review. +* For very small font sizes (e.g. footer-style testimonials), the line cap can stretch slightly. Spirit: "fits in a glance." +* **No em-dashes inside the quote text** as design flourish (long pauses, kinetic em-dashes, em-dash-bullets). See Section 9.G - em-dash is completely banned. +* Attribution: name + role + (optionally) company. Never name only ("- Sarah"). +* Quote marks: use real typographic quotes ( " " ) or none at all. Not straight ASCII ( " ). + +### 4.11 Page Theme Lock (Light / Dark Mode Consistency) + +The page has ONE theme. Sections do not invert. + +* If the page is dark mode, ALL sections are dark mode. No light-mode-warm-paper section sandwiched between dark sections (or vice versa). The user must not feel they walked into a different website mid-scroll. +* The exception: if the brief explicitly calls for a "Color Block Story" or "Theme Switch on Scroll" device AND that is a deliberate composition (one full theme switch with a strong transition, not random alternation), it is allowed once per page. +* Default behaviour: pick light, dark, or auto (`prefers-color-scheme`) at the page level and lock it. Section-level background tints within the same theme family are fine (`bg-zinc-950` next to `bg-zinc-900`); flipping to `bg-amber-50` in the middle of a `bg-zinc-950` page is broken. +* When using a design system with built-in theming (Radix Themes, shadcn/ui with ``), set the theme ONCE in `layout.tsx` or the page root. Do not let individual sections override. + +--- + +## 5. CONTEXT-AWARE PROACTIVITY + +These are tools, not defaults. Use them when the design read calls for them. **None of these fire automatically.** + +* **Liquid Glass / Glassmorphism:** Appropriate for premium consumer, Apple-adjacent, luxury brand, or media-overlay vibes. Inappropriate for dashboards, public-sector, or "boring B2B." When used, go beyond `backdrop-blur`: add a 1px inner border (`border-white/10`) and a subtle inner shadow (`shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_rgba(255,255,255,0.1)]`) for physical edge refraction. Provide a solid-fill fallback under `prefers-reduced-transparency`. +* **Magnetic Micro-physics:** Use when `MOTION_INTENSITY > 5` AND the brief reads premium / playful / agency. Implement EXCLUSIVELY with Motion's `useMotionValue` / `useTransform` outside the React render cycle. Never `useState`. See Section 3.B. +* **Perpetual Micro-Interactions** (Pulse, Typewriter, Float, Shimmer, Carousel): Use when `MOTION_INTENSITY > 5` AND the section actively benefits from motion (status indicators, live feeds, AI-feel). **Not every card needs an infinite loop.** If a section is informational, leave it still. Apply Spring Physics (`type: "spring", stiffness: 100, damping: 20`) - no linear easing. +* **"Motion claimed, motion shown."** If `MOTION_INTENSITY > 4`, the page must actually move: entry transitions on hero, scroll-reveal on key sections, hover physics on CTAs, at minimum. A static page that claims `MOTION_INTENSITY: 7` is broken. Conversely, if you cannot ship working motion in the available scope, drop the dial to 3 and ship a clean static page. Never half-build motion that breaks (cut-off ScrollTriggers, jumpy enters, missing cleanups). +* **MOTION MUST BE MOTIVATED (mandatory).** Before adding any animation, ask: "what does this animation communicate?" Valid answers: hierarchy (drawing attention to the right thing), storytelling (revealing content in sequence that matches a narrative), feedback (acknowledging a user action), state transition (showing something changed). Invalid answer: "it looked cool". GSAP everywhere because GSAP is available is amateur. Each ScrollTrigger, each marquee, each pinned section needs a reason. If you cannot articulate the reason in one sentence, drop the animation. +* **MARQUEE MAX-ONE-PER-PAGE (mandatory).** Horizontal scrolling text marquees ("logos endlessly scrolling", "manifesto scrolling sideways", "kinetic word strip") are appropriate at most ONCE per page. Two or more marquees on the same page reads as lazy filler. Pick the one section where the marquee actually serves the content; the others get a different layout. +* **GSAP Sticky-Stack Pattern (when scroll-stack is used).** A "card stack on scroll" must be a REAL sticky-stack, not a sequential reveal list. See Section 5.A below for the canonical code skeleton. Common failure: trigger fires halfway through scroll instead of pinning at viewport top. Fix: `start: "top top"` not `start: "top center"` or `"top 80%"`. +* **GSAP Horizontal-Pan Pattern (when horizontal scroll-hijack is used).** See Section 5.B below for the canonical skeleton. Common failure: animation starts before the section is pinned, so the user sees half a slide. Same fix: `start: "top top"`, pin the wrapper, scrub the inner track. + +### 5.A Sticky-Stack - Canonical Skeleton + +```tsx +"use client"; +import { useRef, useEffect } from "react"; +import { gsap } from "gsap"; +import { ScrollTrigger } from "gsap/ScrollTrigger"; +import { useReducedMotion } from "motion/react"; + +gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger); + +export function StickyStack({ cards }: { cards: React.ReactNode[] }) { + const ref = useRef(null); + const reduce = useReducedMotion(); + + useEffect(() => { + if (reduce || !ref.current) return; + const ctx = gsap.context(() => { + const cardEls = gsap.utils.toArray(".stack-card"); + cardEls.forEach((card, i) => { + if (i === cardEls.length - 1) return; + ScrollTrigger.create({ + trigger: card, + start: "top top", // pin at viewport top + endTrigger: cardEls[cardEls.length - 1], + end: "top top", + pin: true, + pinSpacing: false, + }); + gsap.to(card, { + scale: 0.92, + opacity: 0.55, + ease: "none", + scrollTrigger: { + trigger: cardEls[i + 1], + start: "top bottom", + end: "top top", + scrub: true, + }, + }); + }); + }, ref); + return () => ctx.revert(); + }, [reduce]); + + return ( +
    + {cards.map((card, i) => ( +
    + {card} +
    + ))} +
    + ); +} +``` + +Critical points: `start: "top top"`, `pin: true`, every card except the last is pinned, the scale/opacity transform is driven by the NEXT card's scroll trigger (so previous card shrinks as next one arrives). + +### 5.B Horizontal-Pan - Canonical Skeleton + +```tsx +"use client"; +import { useRef, useEffect } from "react"; +import { gsap } from "gsap"; +import { ScrollTrigger } from "gsap/ScrollTrigger"; +import { useReducedMotion } from "motion/react"; + +gsap.registerPlugin(ScrollTrigger); + +export function HorizontalPan({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) { + const wrap = useRef(null); + const track = useRef(null); + const reduce = useReducedMotion(); + + useEffect(() => { + if (reduce || !wrap.current || !track.current) return; + const ctx = gsap.context(() => { + const distance = track.current!.scrollWidth - window.innerWidth; + gsap.to(track.current, { + x: -distance, + ease: "none", + scrollTrigger: { + trigger: wrap.current, + start: "top top", // pin starts when section top hits viewport top + end: () => `+=${distance}`, // scroll distance = track width minus viewport + pin: true, + scrub: 1, + invalidateOnRefresh: true, + }, + }); + }, wrap); + return () => ctx.revert(); + }, [reduce]); + + return ( +
    +
    + {children} +
    +
    + ); +} +``` + +Critical points: `start: "top top"`, `pin: true`, `end: "+=${distance}"` (scroll length = horizontal travel needed), `scrub: 1`. The wrapper is pinned, the inner track slides horizontally as the user scrolls vertically. + +### 5.C Scroll-Reveal Stagger - Canonical Skeleton (lighter alternative) + +For simple "items appear as they enter viewport" (no pinning), prefer Motion's `whileInView` over GSAP - lighter, no ScrollTrigger needed: + +```tsx +"use client"; +import { motion, useReducedMotion } from "motion/react"; + +export function RevealStagger({ items }: { items: string[] }) { + const reduce = useReducedMotion(); + return ( +
      + {items.map((item, i) => ( + + {item} + + ))} +
    + ); +} +``` + +Use this for: feature lists, testimonial grids, logo walls, anything that just needs "enter on scroll." Save GSAP for actual pin/scrub work. + +### 5.D Forbidden Animation Patterns + +* **`window.addEventListener("scroll", ...)`** is banned. It runs on every scroll frame, jank-prone, no batching. Use Motion's `useScroll()`, GSAP's `ScrollTrigger`, IntersectionObserver, or CSS `scroll-driven animations` (`animation-timeline: view()`). +* **Custom scroll progress calculations using `window.scrollY`** in React state. Same reason. Re-renders on every frame. +* **`requestAnimationFrame` loops that touch React state.** Use motion values (`useMotionValue` + `useTransform`) instead. +* **Layout Transitions:** Use Motion's `layout` and `layoutId` props for visible state changes (re-ordering lists, expanding modals, shared elements between routes). Do not wrap static content in `layout` props "for safety" - it costs measurement work. +* **Staggered Orchestration:** Use `staggerChildren` (Motion) or CSS cascade (`animation-delay: calc(var(--index) * 100ms)`) for reveal moments where sequence matters. For `staggerChildren`, parent (`variants`) and children MUST share the same Client Component tree. + +--- + +## 6. PERFORMANCE & ACCESSIBILITY GUARDRAILS + +### 6.A Hardware Acceleration +* Animate ONLY `transform` and `opacity`. Never animate `top`, `left`, `width`, `height`. +* Use `will-change: transform` sparingly - only on elements that will actually animate. + +### 6.B Reduced Motion (mandatory) +* **Any motion above `MOTION_INTENSITY > 3` MUST honor `prefers-reduced-motion`.** This is non-negotiable. +* In Motion: wrap with `useReducedMotion()` and degrade to static. +* In CSS: gate animations behind `@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference)` or provide an override block under `@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)` that disables. +* Infinite loops, parallax, scroll-hijack, and magnetic physics MUST collapse to static / instant under reduced motion. + +### 6.C Dark Mode (mandatory for any consumer-facing page) +* Design for **both modes from the start**. Never ship light-only or dark-only without explicit user instruction. +* Use Tailwind `dark:` variant OR CSS variables for tokens. Pick one strategy per project. +* **Do not prescribe specific dark-mode colors here.** The brief decides. Maintain visual hierarchy, brand identity, and WCAG AA contrast (AAA for body) across both modes. +* Respect `prefers-color-scheme: dark`. Default to system preference unless the brand insists on one mode. + +### 6.D Core Web Vitals Targets +* **LCP** < 2.5s. Hero image must be `next/image priority` or preloaded. +* **INP** < 200ms. Heavy work off main thread. +* **CLS** < 0.1. Reserve space for images, fonts, embeds. +* Run Lighthouse before declaring a page done. + +### 6.E DOM Cost +* Apply grain / noise filters EXCLUSIVELY to fixed, `pointer-events-none` pseudo-elements (e.g., `fixed inset-0 z-[60] pointer-events-none`). NEVER on scrolling containers - continuous GPU repaints destroy mobile FPS. +* Be aware of bundle size. Motion is not tiny. Three.js is large. Lazy-load anything that's not above-the-fold. + +### 6.F Z-Index Restraint +NEVER spam arbitrary `z-50` or `z-10`. Use z-index strictly for systemic layer contexts (sticky navbars, modals, overlays, grain). Document the z-index scale in a project constants file. + +--- + +## 7. DIAL DEFINITIONS (Technical Reference) + +### DESIGN_VARIANCE (Level 1-10) +* **1-3 (Predictable):** Symmetrical CSS Grid (12-col, equal fr-units), equal paddings, centered alignment. +* **4-7 (Offset):** `margin-top: -2rem` overlaps, varied image aspect ratios (4:3 next to 16:9), left-aligned headers over center-aligned data. +* **8-10 (Asymmetric):** Masonry layouts, CSS Grid with fractional units (`grid-template-columns: 2fr 1fr 1fr`), massive empty zones (`padding-left: 20vw`). +* **MOBILE OVERRIDE:** For levels 4-10, asymmetric layouts above `md:` MUST collapse to strict single-column (`w-full`, `px-4`, `py-8`) on viewports `< 768px`. + +### MOTION_INTENSITY (Level 1-10) +* **1-3 (Static):** No automatic animations. CSS `:hover` and `:active` states only. `prefers-reduced-motion` is the default mode anyway. +* **4-7 (Fluid CSS):** `transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1)`. `animation-delay` cascades for load-ins. Focus on `transform` and `opacity`. +* **8-10 (Advanced Choreography):** Complex scroll-triggered reveals, parallax, scroll-driven animation (CSS `animation-timeline` or GSAP ScrollTrigger). Use Motion hooks. **NEVER use `window.addEventListener('scroll')`** - it is a hard ban, not a "prefer-not." See Section 5.D for the allowed alternatives. + +### VISUAL_DENSITY (Level 1-10) +* **1-3 (Art Gallery):** Lots of white space. Huge section gaps (`py-32` to `py-48`). Expensive, clean. +* **4-7 (Daily App):** Standard web app spacing (`py-16` to `py-24`). +* **8-10 (Cockpit):** Tight paddings. No card boxes; 1px lines separate data. Mandatory: `font-mono` for all numbers. + +--- + +## 8. DARK MODE PROTOCOL + +Dual-mode by default. Never assume light-only unless the brief is print-emulating editorial. + +### 8.A Token Strategy (pick one, stick to it) +* **Tailwind `dark:` variant** (default for utility-first projects): every color utility paired with its dark variant (`bg-white dark:bg-zinc-950`, `text-gray-900 dark:text-gray-100`). +* **CSS variables** (for shadcn/ui, Radix Themes, or component libraries with theming): define semantic tokens (`--surface`, `--surface-elevated`, `--text-primary`, `--accent`) and swap values under `[data-theme="dark"]` or `@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark)`. + +### 8.B Do Not Prescribe Specific Colors Here +The brief and brand decide. This skill enforces only: +* **Contrast** - WCAG AA minimum for body text, AAA target for hero copy. +* **Hierarchy parity** - visual hierarchy that works in light must work in dark. If a CTA pops in light, it pops in dark. +* **Brand fidelity** - primary brand color stays recognisable. Don't desaturate the brand into a dark mode. +* **No pure `#000000` and no pure `#ffffff`** - use off-black (zinc-950, near-black warm gray) and off-white. Pure values kill depth. + +### 8.C Default Mode +Respect `prefers-color-scheme` unless the brand insists. Add a manual toggle if either mode would lose key brand expression. + +### 8.D Test in Both Modes Before Finishing +Open the page in both modes during development. Do not ship a page you've only seen in one mode. + +--- + +## 9. AI TELLS (Forbidden Patterns) + +Avoid these signatures unless the brief explicitly asks for them. + +### 9.A Visual & CSS +* **NO neon / outer glows** by default. Use inner borders or subtle tinted shadows. +* **NO pure black (`#000000`).** Off-black, zinc-950, or charcoal. +* **NO oversaturated accents.** Desaturate to blend with neutrals. +* **NO excessive gradient text** for large headers. +* **NO custom mouse cursors.** Outdated, accessibility-hostile, perf-hostile. + +### 9.B Typography +* **AVOID Inter as default.** See Section 4.1. Override path exists. +* **NO oversized H1s** that just scream. Control hierarchy with weight + color, not raw scale. +* **Serif constraints:** Serif for editorial / luxury / publication. Not for dashboards. + +### 9.C Layout & Spacing +* **Mathematically perfect** padding and margins. No floating elements with awkward gaps. +* **NO 3-column equal feature cards.** The generic "three identical cards horizontally" feature row is banned. Use 2-column zig-zag, asymmetric grid, scroll-pinned, or horizontal-scroll alternative. + +### 9.D Content & Data ("Jane Doe" Effect) +* **NO generic names.** "John Doe", "Sarah Chan", "Jack Su" → use creative, realistic, locale-appropriate names. +* **NO generic avatars.** No SVG "egg" or Lucide user icons → use believable photo placeholders or specific styling. +* **NO fake-perfect numbers.** Avoid `99.99%`, `50%`, `1234567`. Use organic, messy data (`47.2%`, `+1 (312) 847-1928`). +* **NO startup-slop brand names.** "Acme", "Nexus", "SmartFlow", "Cloudly" → invent contextual, premium names that sound real. +* **NO filler verbs.** "Elevate", "Seamless", "Unleash", "Next-Gen", "Revolutionize" → concrete verbs only. + +### 9.E External Resources & Components +* **NO hand-rolled SVG icons.** Use Phosphor / HugeIcons / Radix / Tabler. Lucide on explicit request only. +* **Hand-rolled decorative SVGs strongly discouraged** as default (see Section 4.8). +* **NO div-based fake screenshots.** Never build a fake product UI out of `
    ` rectangles to simulate a screenshot. Use real images, generated images, or skip the preview. +* **NO broken Unsplash links.** Use `https://picsum.photos/seed/{descriptive-string}/{w}/{h}`, or generated photo placeholders, or actual assets. +* **shadcn/ui customization:** Allowed, but NEVER in default state. Customize radii, colors, shadows, typography to the project aesthetic. +* **Production-Ready Cleanliness:** Code visually clean, memorable, meticulously refined. + +### 9.F Production-Test Tells (banned outright) + +These patterns came out of real LLM-generated landing-page tests. They are the signatures the model defaults to when it tries to "look designed." Treat them as hard bans unless the brief explicitly calls for one. + +**Hero & top-of-page** +* **NO version labels in the hero.** `V0.6`, `v2.0`, `BETA`, `INVITE-ONLY PREVIEW`, `EARLY ACCESS`, `ALPHA` - banned as default eyebrows. Only acceptable when the brief is explicitly about a product launch / preview status. +* **NO "Brand · No. 01"-style sub-eyebrows.** "Marrow · No. 01 · The 6-quart" type micro-meta lines. Skip them. + +**Section numbering & micro-labels** +* **NO section-number eyebrows.** `00 / INDEX`, `001 · Capabilities`, `002 · Featured commission`, `06 · how it works`, `05 · The honest table` - banned. Eyebrows should name the topic in plain language, not enumerate. +* **NO `01 / 4`-style pagination on images or bento tiles.** If the user can count, they don't need the label. +* **NO `Scroll · 001 Capabilities`-style scroll cues.** A simple arrow or "Scroll" is enough; no section-number prefix. +* **NO "Index of Work, 2018 - 2026"-style range labels** as eyebrows. Just say what the section is. + +**Separators & dots** +* **The middle-dot (`·`) is rationed.** Maximum 1 per line in metadata strips. Do NOT use it as the default separator for everything ("foo · bar · baz · qux · quux"). If you need a separator family, prefer line breaks, hairlines, or columns. +* **NO decorative colored status dots on every list/nav/badge.** A colored dot before "ONE Q4 SLOT OPEN" or before every nav link, or every task row - banned by default. Acceptable only when the dot conveys actual semantic state (a server status, an availability flag) and is used sparingly. + +**Em-dashes & typography flourishes** +* **NO em-dash (`—`) as a design element OR anywhere else.** See Section 9.G below for the complete, non-negotiable ban. The em-dash character is forbidden in headlines, eyebrows, pills, body copy, quotes, attribution, captions, button text, and alt text. Use the regular hyphen (`-`). +* **NO `
    `-broken-and-italicized headlines** as a default "design move." "for thirty\*years.*" type splits. Headlines should read naturally first, get clever only when the brief demands it. +* **NO vertical rotated text** ("INDEX OF WORK, 2018 - 2026" rotated 90°). Agency-portfolio cliché. Use it only when the brief is explicitly agency / Awwwards / experimental AND it serves a real composition purpose. +* **NO crosshair / hairline grid lines as decoration.** Vertical and horizontal lines drawn just to make the page "feel designed" - banned. Use them only when they organize real content. + +**Fake product previews** +* **NO div-based fake product UI in the hero** (fake task list, fake terminal, fake dashboard built from styled divs). It is the #1 LLM-design Tell. Use a real screenshot, a generated image, a real component preview, or none at all. +* **NO fake version footers** ("v0.6.2-rc.1", "last sync 4s ago · main") inside fake screenshots. Adds nothing, screams AI. + +**Marketing-copy Tells** +* **NO "Quietly in use at" / "Quietly trusted by"** social-proof headers. Use natural language: "Trusted by", "Used at", "Customers include", or skip the heading entirely if the logos speak. +* **NO "From the field" / "Field notes" / "Currently on the bench" / "On our desks" / "Loose plates" style poetic labels** on quote, blog, or sidebar sections. Reads as performative-craftsman. Use plain functional labels ("Testimonials", "Latest writing", "Now working on") or skip the label. +* **NO "We respect the French ones"-style** mock-humble industry-references in body copy. Cute and AI-y. +* **NO weather / locale strips** ("LIS 14:23 · 18°C") in headers/footers unless the brief is explicitly about a place / time-zone-distributed studio. +* **NO micro-meta-sentences under eyebrows.** Sentences like *"Each of these is a feature we ship today, not a roadmap promise. The list will stay short on purpose."* sitting under a section heading are clutter. Eyebrow + Headline + Body is enough. +* **NO generic step labels.** "Stage 1 / Stage 2 / Stage 3", "Step 1 / Step 2 / Step 3", "Phase 01 / Phase 02 / Phase 03", "Pass One / Pass Two / Pass Three". Banned. The actual step content is the label. If you must show progression, use the verb-noun directly ("Install", "Configure", "Ship") not "Stage 1: Install". + +**Pills, labels and version stamps** +* **NO pills/labels/tags overlaid on images.** No `` overlays on photos with tags like `Brand · 02`, `PLATE · BRAND`, `Field notes - journal`. Either let the image speak alone, or add a caption directly below (outside the image). +* **NO photo-credit captions as decoration.** Strings like `Field study no. 12 · Ines Caetano`, `Plate 03 · House archive`, `Frame XII · 35mm` under stock/picsum images are pretentious. Photo credit is allowed ONLY when there is a real photographer being credited for a real photo (with permission). Otherwise: skip the caption or use a one-line functional caption ("The 6-quart, in Sage."). +* **NO version footers on marketing pages.** Footer strings like `v1.4.2`, `Build 0048`, `last sync 4s ago · main` are CLI / devtool fixtures, not landing-page content. Banned on marketing/landing/portfolio pages. +* **NO "Reservation 412 of 800"-style live-stock counters** as decoration. Only if the brief is explicitly a limited-run waitlist with real data. + +**Decoration text strips** +* **NO decoration text strip at hero bottom.** Patterns like `BRAND. MOTION. SPATIAL.`, `TYPE / FORM / MOTION`, `DESIGN · BUILD · SHIP`, `ESTD. 2018 · LISBON · BRAND. MOTION. SPATIAL.` as a small mono-caps strip across the bottom of the hero are an agency-portfolio cliché. Banned by default. Only acceptable when the strip carries real, navigable links (sticky bottom nav) or real status info (cookie banner, build info on a docs site). +* **NO floating top-right sub-text in section headings.** Pattern: section has a giant left-aligned headline; in the top-right corner of the same section header there is a small explainer paragraph floating with no clear alignment to anything else. That floater is the Tell. Either put the sub-text directly under the headline, or build a clean 2-column header (left: headline, right: aligned body), but not a tiny corner paragraph. + +**Lists, dividers and scoring** +* **NO `border-t` + `border-b` on every row of a long list / spec table.** Pick one (bottom-border between rows OR top-border above the group) and use it sparsely. A 10-row spec table with hairlines under each row is the laziest layout - see Section 4.9 for alternative UI components. +* **NO scoring/progress bars with filled background tracks** as comparison visuals. If you need to show "X out of Y" comparisons, prefer a number + small icon, or a tiny inline bar WITHOUT a background track. Big filled `bg-zinc-200` tracks with a partial fill on top are dashboard-UI clutter on a landing page. + +**Locale, time, scroll cues** +* **Locale / city-name / time / weather strips are banned for 99% of briefs.** "Lisbon, working with founders" in the hero, "1200-690 Lisbon, Portugal" in the footer, "Lisbon 14:23 · 18°C" in the nav. These are agency-portfolio decoration tells. Allowed ONLY when: the brief explicitly describes a globally-distributed studio with timezone-relevant work, OR a travel-focused brand, OR a real-world physical venue. A single contact-address mention in the footer is fine; an atmospheric locale strip is not. +* **Scroll cues are banned.** `Scroll`, `↓ scroll`, `Scroll to explore`, `Scroll to walk through it`, animated mouse-wheel icons. If the user has not scrolled yet, they are looking at the hero. They know what scroll is. The bottom of the viewport does not need a label. +* **ZERO decorative status dots by default.** A coloured dot before nav items, before list rows, before badges, before status labels is a Tell. Only acceptable when conveying real semantic state (a live indicator on actual server status, a live availability flag) and limited to one per page section. + +### 9.G EM-DASH BAN (the single most-violated Tell) + +**Em-dash (`—`) is COMPLETELY banned.** It is the LLM's signature stylistic crutch and it is the #1 visual Tell in production tests. There is no "limited use" allowance, no "natural language frequency" allowance, no "in body copy is fine" allowance. None. + +* **Banned in headlines.** Use a period or a comma. +* **Banned in eyebrows / labels / pills / button text / image captions / nav items.** Replace with line breaks, columns, or hairlines. +* **Banned in body copy.** Restructure the sentence: two sentences with a period, OR a comma, OR parentheses, OR a colon. +* **Banned in quote attribution.** Use a normal hyphen with spaces (` - `) or a line break + smaller-weight name. +* **Banned in en-dash form too (`–`) when used as a separator.** Date ranges (`2018-2026`) use a hyphen. Number ranges (`€40-80k`) use a hyphen. + +The ONLY permitted dash characters on the page are: +* Regular hyphen `-` (for compound words, ranges, line dividers in markup) +* Minus sign in math (`-5°C`) + +If your output contains a single `—` or `–` anywhere visible to the user, the output fails the Pre-Flight Check and must be rewritten. + +This rule is non-negotiable. The agent has historically ignored em-dash limits when phrased as "use sparingly." The phrasing here is binary: zero em-dashes. + +--- + +## 10. REFERENCE VOCABULARY (Pattern Names the Agent Should Know) + +This is a vocabulary, not a library. The agent should KNOW these pattern names to communicate about them, design with them in mind, and reach for them when the design read calls for them. **Implementations and code sketches live in the Block Library (Section 12), which is populated iteratively.** + +### Hero Paradigms +* **Asymmetric Split Hero** - Text on one side, asset on the other, generous white space. +* **Editorial Manifesto Hero** - Large type, no asset, almost-poster. +* **Video / Media Mask Hero** - Type cut out as mask over video background. +* **Kinetic-Type Hero** - Animated typography as the primary visual. +* **Curtain-Reveal Hero** - Hero parts on scroll like a curtain. +* **Scroll-Pinned Hero** - Hero stays pinned while content scrolls behind. + +### Navigation & Menus +* **Mac OS Dock Magnification** - Edge nav, icons scale fluidly on hover. +* **Magnetic Button** - Pulls toward cursor. +* **Gooey Menu** - Sub-items detach like viscous liquid. +* **Dynamic Island** - Morphing pill for status / alerts. +* **Contextual Radial Menu** - Circular menu expanding at click point. +* **Floating Speed Dial** - FAB springing into curved secondary actions. +* **Mega Menu Reveal** - Full-screen dropdown, stagger-fade content. + +### Layout & Grids +* **Bento Grid** - Asymmetric tile grouping (Apple Control Center). +* **Masonry Layout** - Staggered grid, no fixed row height. +* **Chroma Grid** - Borders / tiles with subtle animating gradients. +* **Split-Screen Scroll** - Two halves sliding in opposite directions. +* **Sticky-Stack Sections** - Sections that pin and stack on scroll. + +### Cards & Containers +* **Parallax Tilt Card** - 3D tilt tracking mouse coordinates. +* **Spotlight Border Card** - Borders illuminate under cursor. +* **Glassmorphism Panel** - Frosted glass with inner refraction. +* **Holographic Foil Card** - Iridescent rainbow shift on hover. +* **Tinder Swipe Stack** - Physical card stack, swipe-away. +* **Morphing Modal** - Button expands into its own dialog. + +### Scroll Animations +* **Sticky Scroll Stack** - Cards stick and physically stack. +* **Horizontal Scroll Hijack** - Vertical scroll → horizontal pan. +* **Locomotive / Sequence Scroll** - Video / 3D sequence tied to scrollbar. +* **Zoom Parallax** - Central background image zooming on scroll. +* **Scroll Progress Path** - SVG line drawing along scroll. +* **Liquid Swipe Transition** - Page transition like viscous liquid. + +### Galleries & Media +* **Dome Gallery** - 3D panoramic gallery. +* **Coverflow Carousel** - 3D carousel with angled edges. +* **Drag-to-Pan Grid** - Boundless draggable canvas. +* **Accordion Image Slider** - Narrow strips expanding on hover. +* **Hover Image Trail** - Mouse leaves popping image trail. +* **Glitch Effect Image** - RGB-channel shift on hover. + +### Typography & Text +* **Kinetic Marquee** - Endless text bands reversing on scroll. +* **Text Mask Reveal** - Massive type as transparent window to video. +* **Text Scramble Effect** - Matrix-style decoding on load / hover. +* **Circular Text Path** - Text curving along spinning circle. +* **Gradient Stroke Animation** - Outlined text with running gradient. +* **Kinetic Typography Grid** - Letters dodging the cursor. + +### Micro-Interactions & Effects +* **Particle Explosion Button** - CTA shatters into particles on success. +* **Liquid Pull-to-Refresh** - Reload indicator like detaching droplets. +* **Skeleton Shimmer** - Shifting light reflection across placeholders. +* **Directional Hover-Aware Button** - Fill enters from cursor's exact side. +* **Ripple Click Effect** - Wave from click coordinates. +* **Animated SVG Line Drawing** - Vectors drawing themselves in real time. +* **Mesh Gradient Background** - Organic lava-lamp blobs. +* **Lens Blur Depth** - Background UI blurred to focus foreground action. + +### Animation Library Choice +* **Motion (`motion/react`)** - default for UI / Bento / state-change motion. +* **GSAP + ScrollTrigger** - for full-page scrolltelling and scroll hijacks. Isolate in dedicated leaf components with `useEffect` cleanup. +* **Three.js / WebGL** - for canvas backgrounds and 3D scenes. Same isolation rule. +* **NEVER mix GSAP / Three.js with Motion in the same component tree.** They fight over the same frames. + +--- + +## 11. REDESIGN PROTOCOL + +This skill handles **greenfield builds AND redesigns**. Misclassifying the mode is the single biggest source of bad redesign output. + +### 11.A Detect the Mode (first action) +* **Greenfield** - no existing site, or full overhaul approved. Dial baseline from Section 1. +* **Redesign - Preserve** - modernise without breaking the brand. Audit first, extract brand tokens, evolve gradually. +* **Redesign - Overhaul** - new visual language on top of existing content. Treat as greenfield for visuals; preserve content and IA. + +If ambiguous, ask **once**: *"Should this redesign preserve the existing brand, or are we starting visually from scratch?"* + +### 11.B Audit Before Touching +Document the current state before proposing changes: +* **Brand tokens** - primary / accent colors, type stack, logo treatment, radii. +* **Information architecture** - page tree, primary nav, key conversion paths. +* **Content blocks** - what exists, what's doing work, what's filler. +* **Patterns to preserve** - signature interactions, recognisable hero, copy voice. +* **Patterns to retire** - AI-slop tells, broken layouts, dead links, generic stock imagery, perf traps. +* **Dial reading of the existing site** - infer current `DESIGN_VARIANCE` / `MOTION_INTENSITY` / `VISUAL_DENSITY`. That's your starting point, not the baseline. +* **SEO baseline** - current ranking pages, meta titles, structured data, OG cards. **SEO migration is the #1 redesign risk.** + +### 11.C Preservation Rules +* **Do not change information architecture** unless asked. Keep page slugs, anchor IDs, primary nav labels stable for SEO and muscle memory. +* **Extract brand colors before applying Section 4.2.** A brand that is already purple stays purple - apply the LILA RULE's override. +* **Preserve copy voice** unless asked for a rewrite. Visual modernisation ≠ content rewrite. +* **Honor existing accessibility wins.** Do not regress focus states, alt text, keyboard nav, contrast. +* **Respect existing analytics events.** Do not rename buttons, form fields, section IDs that downstream tracking depends on. + +### 11.D Modernisation Levers (priority order) +Apply in order - stop when the brief is satisfied: +1. **Typography refresh** - biggest visual lift per unit of risk. +2. **Spacing & rhythm** - increase section padding, fix vertical rhythm. +3. **Color recalibration** - desaturate, unify neutrals, keep brand accent. +4. **Motion layer** - add `MOTION_INTENSITY`-appropriate micro-interactions to existing components. +5. **Hero & key-section recomposition** - restructure top-of-funnel using Section 10 vocabulary. +6. **Full block replacement** - only when the existing block is unsalvageable. + +### 11.E Decision Tree: Targeted Evolution vs Full Redesign +* IA, content, and SEO sound → **targeted evolution** (Levers 1-4). ~70% of value at ~40% of risk. +* Visual debt is structural (broken IA, no design system, broken mobile) → **full redesign** with strict content preservation. +* Brand itself is changing → **greenfield**. + +### 11.F What Never Changes Silently +Never modify without explicit user approval: +* URL structure / route slugs. +* Primary nav labels. +* Form field names or order (breaks analytics + autofill). +* Brand logo or wordmark. +* Existing legal / consent / cookie copy. + +--- + +## 12. THE BLOCK LIBRARY (Contract - Implementations Land Here Iteratively) + +The Reference Vocabulary (Section 10) names patterns. The Block Library implements them with real props, real motion specs, and real code sketches. + +**Status:** schema defined here. Blocks will be added iteratively. Do not freelance new blocks without following this schema. + +### 12.A File Location +``` +skills/taste-skill/blocks/ + hero/ + asymmetric-split.md + editorial-manifesto.md + kinetic-type.md + ... + feature/ + bento-grid.md + sticky-scroll-stack.md + zig-zag.md + ... + social-proof/ + pricing/ + cta/ + footer/ + navigation/ + portfolio/ + transition/ +``` + +### 12.B Required Frontmatter +```yaml +--- +name: asymmetric-split-hero +category: hero +dial_compatibility: + variance: [6, 10] + motion: [3, 10] + density: [2, 5] +when_to_use: "Landing pages with one strong asset and one strong message. Default hero for SaaS, agency, premium consumer." +not_for: "Editorial / manifesto launches where the message IS the design." +stack: ["react", "next", "tailwind", "motion"] +--- +``` + +### 12.C Required Body Sections +1. **Visual sketch** - short ASCII or description of the layout. +2. **Props API** - the component's interface. +3. **Code sketch** - minimal working implementation (Server Component default, Client island for motion). +4. **Mobile fallback** - explicit collapse rules for `< 768px`. +5. **Motion variants** - one variant per `MOTION_INTENSITY` band (1-3, 4-7, 8-10). Reduced-motion fallback explicit. +6. **Dark-mode notes** - token strategy specific to this block. +7. **Anti-patterns** - common ways this block goes wrong. +8. **References** - links to real examples in production. + +### 12.D Block-Library Discipline +* One block per file. No multi-block files. +* Every block must work standalone (drop it into a page, it renders). +* Every block must pass the Pre-Flight Check (Section 14). +* Blocks that depend on a design system from Section 2.A live under `blocks//--.md` (e.g. `feature/bento-grid--material.md`). + +--- + +## 13. OUT OF SCOPE + +This skill is NOT for: +* Dashboards / dense product UI / admin panels (use Fluent, Carbon, Atlassian, or Polaris from Section 2.A). +* Data tables (use TanStack Table or AG Grid). +* Multi-step forms / wizards (use Form-specific patterns; this skill won't make them better). +* Code editors (use Monaco / CodeMirror with their official skinning). +* Native mobile (use Apple HIG / Material directly). +* Realtime collab UIs (presence, cursors, OT-aware - different problem class). + +If the brief is one of the above, **say so explicitly**, point to the right tool, and only apply this skill's marketing-page / about-page / landing-page parts to the surfaces where they apply. + +--- + +## 14. FINAL PRE-FLIGHT CHECK + +Run this matrix before outputting code. This is the last filter. + +**THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL. Run every box. If any box fails, the output is not done.** + +- [ ] **Brief inference** declared (Section 0.B one-liner)? +- [ ] **Dial values** explicit and reasoned from the brief, not silently using baseline? +- [ ] **Design system** chosen from Section 2 if applicable, or aesthetic labeled honestly? +- [ ] **Redesign mode** detected and audit performed (if applicable, Section 11)? +- [ ] **ZERO em-dashes (`—`) anywhere on the page.** Headlines, eyebrows, pills, body, quotes, attribution, captions, buttons, alt text. Zero. (Section 9.G - non-negotiable.) +- [ ] **Page Theme Lock**: ONE theme (light, dark, or auto) for the whole page. No section flips to inverted mode mid-page (Section 4.11)? +- [ ] **Color Consistency Lock**: one accent color used identically across all sections (Section 4.2)? +- [ ] **Shape Consistency Lock**: one corner-radius system applied consistently (Section 4.4)? +- [ ] **Button Contrast Check**: every CTA text is readable against its background (no white-on-white, WCAG AA 4.5:1)? +- [ ] **CTA Button Wrap**: no CTA label wraps to 2+ lines at desktop? +- [ ] **Form Contrast Check**: form inputs, placeholders, focus rings, labels all pass WCAG AA against the section background? +- [ ] **Serif discipline**: if a serif is used, it is NOT Fraunces or Instrument_Serif (or it is, with explicit brand justification)? Different serif from your previous project? +- [ ] **Premium-consumer palette check**: if the brief is premium-consumer (cookware / wellness / artisan / luxury), the palette is NOT the AI-default beige+brass+oxblood+espresso family? Different family from your previous premium-consumer project? +- [ ] **Italic descender clearance**: every italic word with `y g j p q` has `leading-[1.1]` min + `pb-1` reserve? +- [ ] **Hero fits the viewport**: headline ≤ 2 lines, subtext ≤ 20 words AND ≤ 4 lines, CTA visible without scroll, font scale planned around image? +- [ ] **Hero top padding**: max `pt-24` at desktop, hero content does not float halfway down the viewport? +- [ ] **Hero stack discipline**: max 4 text elements in hero (eyebrow OR brand strip, headline, subtext, CTAs)? No tiny tagline below CTAs, no trust micro-strip in hero? +- [ ] **EYEBROW COUNT (mechanical)**: count instances of `uppercase tracking` micro-labels above section headlines across all components. Count ≤ ceil(sectionCount / 3)? Hero counts as 1. +- [ ] **Split-Header Ban**: no "left big headline + right small explainer paragraph" pattern as a section header (vertical stack instead)? +- [ ] **Zigzag Alternation Cap**: no 3+ consecutive sections with the same image+text-split layout? +- [ ] **No Duplicate CTA Intent**: no two CTAs with the same intent ("Get in touch" + "Let's talk" both on page = Fail)? +- [ ] **Logo wall = logo only**: no industry / category labels printed below logos? +- [ ] **Bento Background Diversity**: at least 2-3 bento cells have real visual variation (image, gradient, pattern), not all white-on-white text cards? +- [ ] **"Used by / Trusted by" logo wall** lives UNDER the hero, not inside it, uses REAL SVG logos (Simple Icons / devicon) or generated SVG marks, NOT plain text wordmarks? +- [ ] **Copy Self-Audit**: every visible string re-read, no grammatically-broken or AI-hallucinated phrases ("free on its past" type) shipped? +- [ ] **Motion motivated**: every animation can be justified in one sentence (hierarchy / storytelling / feedback / state transition), no GSAP-for-show? +- [ ] **Marquee max-one-per-page**: no two horizontal marquees on the same page? +- [ ] **Navigation on ONE line** at desktop, height ≤ 80px? +- [ ] **Section-Layout-Repetition** check: no two sections share the same layout family (at least 4 different families across 8 sections)? +- [ ] **Bento has rhythm AND exact cell count** (N items → N cells, no empty cells in middle or at end)? +- [ ] **Long lists use the right UI component** (not default `
      ` with `divide-y` for > 5 items - see Section 4.9 alternatives)? +- [ ] **Real images used** (gen-tool first, then Picsum-seed, then explicit placeholder slots) - NO div-based fake screenshots, NO hand-rolled decorative SVGs, NO pure-text minimalism? +- [ ] **No pills/labels overlaid on images** (no `Plate · Brand`, no `Field notes - journal`)? +- [ ] **No photo-credit captions as decoration** (`Field study no. 12 · Ines Caetano`)? +- [ ] **No version footers** (`v1.4.2`, `Build 0048`) on marketing pages? +- [ ] **No micro-meta-sentences** under eyebrows ("Each of these is a feature we ship today...")? +- [ ] **No decoration text strip at hero bottom** (`BRAND. MOTION. SPATIAL.`)? +- [ ] **No floating top-right sub-text** in section headings? +- [ ] **No scoring/progress bars with filled background tracks** as comparison visuals? +- [ ] **No locale / city-name / time / weather strips** unless brief is genuinely globally-distributed or place-focused? +- [ ] **No scroll cues** (`Scroll`, `↓ scroll`, `Scroll to explore`)? +- [ ] **No version labels in hero** (V0.6, BETA, INVITE-ONLY) unless the brief is a launch? +- [ ] **No section-numbering eyebrows** (`00 / INDEX`, `001 · Capabilities`, `06 · how it works`)? +- [ ] **No decorative dots** (zero by default, only for real semantic state)? +- [ ] **No `border-t` + `border-b` on every row** of long lists / spec tables? +- [ ] **Content density** sane: no 20-row data tables, no fake-precise specs without justification, ≤ 25-word sub-paragraphs by default? +- [ ] **Quotes ≤ 3 lines** of body, attribution clean (no em-dash)? +- [ ] **Motion claimed = motion shown**: if `MOTION_INTENSITY > 4`, page actually animates, not just claimed? +- [ ] **GSAP sticky-stack / horizontal-pan** implemented per Section 5.A / 5.B canonical skeleton (`start: "top top"`, `pin: true`, correct scrub)? +- [ ] **No `window.addEventListener('scroll')`** - using Motion `useScroll()` / ScrollTrigger / IntersectionObserver / CSS scroll-driven animations only? +- [ ] **Reduced motion** wrapped for everything `MOTION_INTENSITY > 3`? +- [ ] **Dark mode** tokens defined and tested in both modes? +- [ ] **Mobile collapse** explicit (`w-full`, `px-4`, `max-w-7xl mx-auto`) for high-variance layouts? +- [ ] **Viewport stability**: `min-h-[100dvh]`, never `h-screen`? +- [ ] **`useEffect` animations** have strict cleanup functions? +- [ ] **Empty / loading / error** states provided? +- [ ] **Cards omitted** in favor of spacing where possible? +- [ ] **Icons** from an allowed library only (Phosphor / HugeIcons / Radix / Tabler), no hand-rolled SVG paths? +- [ ] **Motion** isolated in client-leaf components with `'use client'` at the top, memoized? +- [ ] **No AI Tells** from Section 9 (Inter as default, AI-purple, three-equal cards, Jane Doe, Acme, "Quietly in use at")? +- [ ] **Core Web Vitals** plausibly hit (LCP < 2.5s, INP < 200ms, CLS < 0.1)? +- [ ] **One design system** per project (no Material + shadcn mixed)? + +If a single checkbox cannot be honestly ticked, the page is not done. Fix it before delivering. + +--- + +# APPENDICES - Real Source-Backed Reference Material + +The sections below are vendored reference content. They give the agent real install commands, real canonical doc links, and real working starter snippets for each design system named in Section 2. Use them to ground decisions in production reality, not training-data fiction. + +## Appendix A - Install Commands per Design System + +```bash +# Material Web (Material 3) +npm install @material/web + +# Fluent UI React (v9) +npm install @fluentui/react-components + +# Fluent UI Web Components (framework-free) +npm install @fluentui/web-components @fluentui/tokens + +# IBM Carbon +npm install @carbon/react @carbon/styles + +# Radix Themes +npm install @radix-ui/themes + +# shadcn/ui (open code, owned components) +npx shadcn@latest init +npx shadcn@latest add button card badge separator input + +# Primer CSS (GitHub product/devtool UI) +npm install --save @primer/css + +# Primer Brand (GitHub marketing UI) +npm install @primer/react-brand + +# GOV.UK Frontend +npm install govuk-frontend + +# USWDS (US Web Design System) +npm install uswds + +# Atlassian Design System (Atlaskit) +yarn add @atlaskit/css-reset @atlaskit/tokens @atlaskit/button @atlaskit/badge @atlaskit/section-message @atlaskit/card + +# Bootstrap 5.3 +npm install bootstrap + +# Shopify Polaris Web Components (Shopify apps only) +# Add this to your app HTML head: +# +# +``` + +## Appendix B - Canonical Sources (read these before reinventing) + +### Material Web +- https://github.com/material-components/material-web +- https://material-web.dev/theming/material-theming/ +- https://m3.material.io/develop/web + +### Fluent UI +- https://fluent2.microsoft.design/get-started/develop +- https://fluent2.microsoft.design/components/web/react/ +- https://github.com/microsoft/fluentui +- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fluent-ui/web-components/ + +### Carbon +- https://carbondesignsystem.com/ +- https://github.com/carbon-design-system/carbon +- https://carbondesignsystem.com/developing/react-tutorial/overview/ +- https://carbondesignsystem.com/developing/web-components-tutorial/overview/ + +### Shopify Polaris +- https://shopify.dev/docs/api/app-home/web-components +- https://github.com/Shopify/polaris-react +- https://polaris-react.shopify.com/components + +### Atlassian +- https://atlassian.design/get-started/develop +- https://atlassian.design/components/button/examples +- https://atlaskit.atlassian.com/packages/design-system/button/example/disabled +- https://atlassian.design/tokens/design-tokens + +### Primer +- https://primer.style/ +- https://github.com/primer/css +- https://github.com/primer/brand + +### GOV.UK +- https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/button/ +- https://design-system.service.gov.uk/styles/layout/ +- https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend + +### USWDS +- https://designsystem.digital.gov/documentation/developers/ +- https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/button/ +- https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/card/ +- https://github.com/uswds/uswds + +### Bootstrap +- https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.3/layout/grid/ +- https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.3/components/card/ + +### Tailwind +- https://tailwindcss.com/docs/dark-mode +- https://tailwindcss.com/blog/tailwindcss-v4 + +### Radix +- https://www.radix-ui.com/themes/docs/components/theme +- https://www.radix-ui.com/themes/docs/components/card +- https://github.com/radix-ui/themes + +### shadcn/ui +- https://ui.shadcn.com/docs +- https://ui.shadcn.com/docs/components/card +- https://github.com/shadcn-ui/ui + +### Native CSS / W3C standards +- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/Properties/backdrop-filter +- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/At-rules/@media/prefers-color-scheme +- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Reference/At-rules/@media/prefers-reduced-motion +- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Grid_layout +- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Guides/Scroll-driven_animations +- https://drafts.csswg.org/scroll-animations-1/ + +### Apple Liquid Glass (Apple platforms only) +- https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/materials +- https://developer.apple.com/documentation/TechnologyOverviews/liquid-glass +- https://developer.apple.com/documentation/TechnologyOverviews/adopting-liquid-glass +- https://developer.apple.com/documentation/SwiftUI/Material + +--- + +## Appendix C - Apple Liquid Glass: Honest Web Approximation + +Do **not** treat random CSS snippets as official Apple Liquid Glass. + +### What is official +Apple documents Liquid Glass inside Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and Developer Documentation for **Apple platforms**. It is a dynamic material used across Apple platform UI. Apple's native implementation belongs to Apple platform APIs and system components, **not a public web CSS package**. + +Relevant official docs: +- Apple Human Interface Guidelines → Materials +- Apple Developer Documentation → Liquid Glass +- Apple Developer Documentation → Adopting Liquid Glass +- SwiftUI → Material + +### What is NOT official +There is no `liquid-glass.css` from Apple for normal websites. + +A web approximation can use: +- `backdrop-filter` +- transparent backgrounds +- layered borders +- highlight overlays +- gradients +- motion +- strong contrast fallbacks + +But that is **web glassmorphism / frosted-glass approximation**, not official Apple Liquid Glass. Label it as such in comments. + +### Safer web approximation skeleton + +```css +.liquid-glass-web-approx { + position: relative; + isolation: isolate; + overflow: hidden; + border-radius: 999px; + border: 1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / .32); + background: + linear-gradient(135deg, rgb(255 255 255 / .30), rgb(255 255 255 / .08)), + rgb(255 255 255 / .12); + backdrop-filter: blur(24px) saturate(180%) contrast(1.05); + -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(24px) saturate(180%) contrast(1.05); + box-shadow: + inset 0 1px 0 rgb(255 255 255 / .48), + inset 0 -1px 0 rgb(255 255 255 / .12), + 0 18px 60px rgb(0 0 0 / .18); +} + +.liquid-glass-web-approx::before { + content: ""; + position: absolute; + inset: 0; + z-index: -1; + border-radius: inherit; + background: + radial-gradient(circle at 20% 0%, rgb(255 255 255 / .55), transparent 34%), + linear-gradient(90deg, rgb(255 255 255 / .18), transparent 42%, rgb(255 255 255 / .14)); + pointer-events: none; +} + +.liquid-glass-web-approx::after { + content: ""; + position: absolute; + inset: 1px; + border-radius: inherit; + border: 1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / .14); + pointer-events: none; +} + +@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) { + .liquid-glass-web-approx { + border-color: rgb(255 255 255 / .18); + background: + linear-gradient(135deg, rgb(255 255 255 / .16), rgb(255 255 255 / .04)), + rgb(15 23 42 / .42); + box-shadow: + inset 0 1px 0 rgb(255 255 255 / .22), + 0 18px 60px rgb(0 0 0 / .42); + } +} + +@media (prefers-reduced-transparency: reduce) { + .liquid-glass-web-approx { + background: rgb(255 255 255 / .96); + backdrop-filter: none; + -webkit-backdrop-filter: none; + } +} +``` + +**Important:** `prefers-reduced-transparency` has uneven browser support; test it. Always provide enough contrast even without blur. + +--- + +**End of appendices.** Install commands above are reality anchors. The Apple Liquid Glass skeleton is a labeled approximation, not an Apple-issued package. For canonical docs per design system, consult the system's official docs (links in Section 2 plus Appendix B). diff --git a/.agents/skills/high-end-visual-design/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/high-end-visual-design/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4038f41e --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/high-end-visual-design/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,98 @@ +--- +name: high-end-visual-design +description: Teaches the AI to design like a high-end agency. Defines the exact fonts, spacing, shadows, card structures, and animations that make a website feel expensive. Blocks all the common defaults that make AI designs look cheap or generic. +--- + +# Agent Skill: Principal UI/UX Architect & Motion Choreographer (Awwwards-Tier) + +## 1. Meta Information & Core Directive +- **Persona:** `Vanguard_UI_Architect` +- **Objective:** You engineer $150k+ agency-level digital experiences, not just websites. Your output must exude haptic depth, cinematic spatial rhythm, obsessive micro-interactions, and flawless fluid motion. +- **The Variance Mandate:** NEVER generate the exact same layout or aesthetic twice in a row. You must dynamically combine different premium layout archetypes and texture profiles while strictly adhering to the elite "Apple-esque / Linear-tier" design language. + +## 2. THE "ABSOLUTE ZERO" DIRECTIVE (STRICT ANTI-PATTERNS) +If your generated code includes ANY of the following, the design instantly fails: +- **Banned Fonts:** Inter, Roboto, Arial, Open Sans, Helvetica. (Assume premium fonts like `Geist`, `Clash Display`, `PP Editorial New`, or `Plus Jakarta Sans` are available). +- **Banned Icons:** Standard thick-stroked Lucide, FontAwesome, or Material Icons. Use only ultra-light, precise lines (e.g., Phosphor Light, Remix Line). +- **Banned Borders & Shadows:** Generic 1px solid gray borders. Harsh, dark drop shadows (`shadow-md`, `rgba(0,0,0,0.3)`). +- **Banned Layouts:** Edge-to-edge sticky navbars glued to the top. Symmetrical, boring 3-column Bootstrap-style grids without massive whitespace gaps. +- **Banned Motion:** Standard `linear` or `ease-in-out` transitions. Instant state changes without interpolation. + +## 3. THE CREATIVE VARIANCE ENGINE +Before writing code, silently "roll the dice" and select ONE combination from the following archetypes based on the prompt's context to ensure the output is uniquely tailored but always premium: + +### A. Vibe & Texture Archetypes (Pick 1) +1. **Ethereal Glass (SaaS / AI / Tech):** Deepest OLED black (`#050505`), radial mesh gradients (e.g., subtle glowing purple/emerald orbs) in the background. Vantablack cards with heavy `backdrop-blur-2xl` and pure white/10 hairlines. Wide geometric Grotesk typography. +2. **Editorial Luxury (Lifestyle / Real Estate / Agency):** Warm creams (`#FDFBF7`), muted sage, or deep espresso tones. High-contrast Variable Serif fonts for massive headings. Subtle CSS noise/film-grain overlay (`opacity-[0.03]`) for a physical paper feel. +3. **Soft Structuralism (Consumer / Health / Portfolio):** Silver-grey or completely white backgrounds. Massive bold Grotesk typography. Airy, floating components with unbelievably soft, highly diffused ambient shadows. + +### B. Layout Archetypes (Pick 1) +1. **The Asymmetrical Bento:** A masonry-like CSS Grid of varying card sizes (e.g., `col-span-8 row-span-2` next to stacked `col-span-4` cards) to break visual monotony. + - **Mobile Collapse:** Falls back to a single-column stack (`grid-cols-1`) with generous vertical gaps (`gap-6`). All `col-span` overrides reset to `col-span-1`. +2. **The Z-Axis Cascade:** Elements are stacked like physical cards, slightly overlapping each other with varying depths of field, some with a subtle `-2deg` or `3deg` rotation to break the digital grid. + - **Mobile Collapse:** Remove all rotations and negative-margin overlaps below `768px`. Stack vertically with standard spacing. Overlapping elements cause touch-target conflicts on mobile. +3. **The Editorial Split:** Massive typography on the left half (`w-1/2`), with interactive, scrollable horizontal image pills or staggered interactive cards on the right. + - **Mobile Collapse:** Converts to a full-width vertical stack (`w-full`). Typography block sits on top, interactive content flows below with horizontal scroll preserved if needed. + +**Mobile Override (Universal):** Any asymmetric layout above `md:` MUST aggressively fall back to `w-full`, `px-4`, `py-8` on viewports below `768px`. Never use `h-screen` for full-height sections — always use `min-h-[100dvh]` to prevent iOS Safari viewport jumping. + +## 4. HAPTIC MICRO-AESTHETICS (COMPONENT MASTERY) + +### A. The "Double-Bezel" (Doppelrand / Nested Architecture) +Never place a premium card, image, or container flatly on the background. They must look like physical, machined hardware (like a glass plate sitting in an aluminum tray) using nested enclosures. +- **Outer Shell:** A wrapper `div` with a subtle background (`bg-black/5` or `bg-white/5`), a hairline outer border (`ring-1 ring-black/5` or `border border-white/10`), a specific padding (e.g., `p-1.5` or `p-2`), and a large outer radius (`rounded-[2rem]`). +- **Inner Core:** The actual content container inside the shell. It has its own distinct background color, its own inner highlight (`shadow-[inset_0_1px_1px_rgba(255,255,255,0.15)]`), and a mathematically calculated smaller radius (e.g., `rounded-[calc(2rem-0.375rem)]`) for concentric curves. + +### B. Nested CTA & "Island" Button Architecture +- **Structure:** Primary interactive buttons must be fully rounded pills (`rounded-full`) with generous padding (`px-6 py-3`). +- **The "Button-in-Button" Trailing Icon:** If a button has an arrow (`↗`), it NEVER sits naked next to the text. It must be nested inside its own distinct circular wrapper (e.g., `w-8 h-8 rounded-full bg-black/5 dark:bg-white/10 flex items-center justify-center`) placed completely flush with the main button's right inner padding. + +### C. Spatial Rhythm & Tension +- **Macro-Whitespace:** Double your standard padding. Use `py-24` to `py-40` for sections. Allow the design to breathe heavily. +- **Eyebrow Tags:** Precede major H1/H2s with a microscopic, pill-shaped badge (`rounded-full px-3 py-1 text-[10px] uppercase tracking-[0.2em] font-medium`). + +## 5. MOTION CHOREOGRAPHY (FLUID DYNAMICS) +Never use default transitions. All motion must simulate real-world mass and spring physics. Use custom cubic-beziers (e.g., `transition-all duration-700 ease-[cubic-bezier(0.32,0.72,0,1)]`). + +### A. The "Fluid Island" Nav & Hamburger Reveal +- **Closed State:** The Navbar is a floating glass pill detached from the top (`mt-6`, `mx-auto`, `w-max`, `rounded-full`). +- **The Hamburger Morph:** On click, the 2 or 3 lines of the hamburger icon must fluidly rotate and translate to form a perfect 'X' (`rotate-45` and `-rotate-45` with absolute positioning), not just disappear. +- **The Modal Expansion:** The menu should open as a massive, screen-filling overlay with a heavy glass effect (`backdrop-blur-3xl bg-black/80` or `bg-white/80`). +- **Staggered Mask Reveal:** The navigation links inside the expanded state do not just appear. They fade in and slide up from an invisible box (`translate-y-12 opacity-0` to `translate-y-0 opacity-100`) with a staggered delay (`delay-100`, `delay-150`, `delay-200` for each item). + +### B. Magnetic Button Hover Physics +- Use the `group` utility. On hover, do not just change the background color. +- Scale the entire button down slightly (`active:scale-[0.98]`) to simulate physical pressing. +- The nested inner icon circle should translate diagonally (`group-hover:translate-x-1 group-hover:-translate-y-[1px]`) and scale up slightly (`scale-105`), creating internal kinetic tension. + +### C. Scroll Interpolation (Entry Animations) +- Elements never appear statically on load. As they enter the viewport, they must execute a gentle, heavy fade-up (`translate-y-16 blur-md opacity-0` resolving to `translate-y-0 blur-0 opacity-100` over 800ms+). +- For JavaScript-driven scroll reveals, use `IntersectionObserver` or Framer Motion's `whileInView`. Never use `window.addEventListener('scroll')` — it causes continuous reflows and kills mobile performance. + +## 6. PERFORMANCE GUARDRAILS +- **GPU-Safe Animation:** Never animate `top`, `left`, `width`, or `height`. Animate exclusively via `transform` and `opacity`. Use `will-change: transform` sparingly and only on elements that are actively animating. +- **Blur Constraints:** Apply `backdrop-blur` only to fixed or sticky elements (navbars, overlays). Never apply blur filters to scrolling containers or large content areas — this causes continuous GPU repaints and severe mobile frame drops. +- **Grain/Noise Overlays:** Apply noise textures exclusively to fixed, `pointer-events-none` pseudo-elements (`position: fixed; inset: 0; z-index: 50`). Never attach them to scrolling containers. +- **Z-Index Discipline:** Do not use arbitrary `z-50` or `z-[9999]`. Reserve z-indexes strictly for systemic layers: sticky nav, modals, overlays, tooltips. + +## 7. EXECUTION PROTOCOL +When generating UI code, follow this exact sequence: +1. **[SILENT THOUGHT]** Roll the Variance Engine (Section 3). Choose your Vibe and Layout Archetypes based on the prompt's context to ensure a unique output. +2. **[SCAFFOLD]** Establish the background texture, macro-whitespace scale, and massive typography sizes. +3. **[ARCHITECT]** Build the DOM strictly using the "Double-Bezel" (Doppelrand) technique for all major cards, inputs, and feature grids. Use exaggerated squircle radii (`rounded-[2rem]`). +4. **[CHOREOGRAPH]** Inject the custom `cubic-bezier` transitions, the staggered navigation reveals, and the button-in-button hover physics. +5. **[OUTPUT]** Deliver flawless, pixel-perfect React/Tailwind/HTML code. Do not include basic, generic fallbacks. + +## 8. PRE-OUTPUT CHECKLIST +Evaluate your code against this matrix before delivering. This is the last filter. +- [ ] No banned fonts, icons, borders, shadows, layouts, or motion patterns from Section 2 are present +- [ ] A Vibe Archetype and Layout Archetype from Section 3 were consciously selected and applied +- [ ] All major cards and containers use the Double-Bezel nested architecture (outer shell + inner core) +- [ ] CTA buttons use the Button-in-Button trailing icon pattern where applicable +- [ ] Section padding is at minimum `py-24` — the layout breathes heavily +- [ ] All transitions use custom cubic-bezier curves — no `linear` or `ease-in-out` +- [ ] Scroll entry animations are present — no element appears statically +- [ ] Layout collapses gracefully below `768px` to single-column with `w-full` and `px-4` +- [ ] All animations use only `transform` and `opacity` — no layout-triggering properties +- [ ] `backdrop-blur` is only applied to fixed/sticky elements, never to scrolling content +- [ ] The overall impression reads as "$150k agency build", not "template with nice fonts" diff --git a/.agents/skills/industrial-brutalist-ui/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/industrial-brutalist-ui/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f5375b90 --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/industrial-brutalist-ui/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,92 @@ +--- +name: industrial-brutalist-ui +description: Raw mechanical interfaces fusing Swiss typographic print with military terminal aesthetics. Rigid grids, extreme type scale contrast, utilitarian color, analog degradation effects. For data-heavy dashboards, portfolios, or editorial sites that need to feel like declassified blueprints. +--- + +# SKILL: Industrial Brutalism & Tactical Telemetry UI + +## 1. Skill Meta +**Name:** Industrial Brutalism & Tactical Telemetry Interface Engineering +**Description:** Advanced proficiency in architecting web interfaces that synthesize mid-century Swiss Typographic design, industrial manufacturing manuals, and retro-futuristic aerospace/military terminal interfaces. This discipline requires absolute mastery over rigid modular grids, extreme typographic scale contrast, purely utilitarian color palettes, and the programmatic simulation of analog degradation (halftones, CRT scanlines, bitmap dithering). The objective is to construct digital environments that project raw functionality, mechanical precision, and high data density, deliberately discarding conventional consumer UI patterns. + +## 2. Visual Archetypes +The design system operates by merging two distinct but highly compatible visual paradigms. **Pick ONE per project and commit to it. Do not alternate or mix both modes within the same interface.** + +### 2.1 Swiss Industrial Print +Derived from 1960s corporate identity systems and heavy machinery blueprints. +* **Characteristics:** High-contrast light modes (newsprint/off-white substrates). Reliance on monolithic, heavy sans-serif typography. Unforgiving structural grids outlined by visible dividing lines. Aggressive, asymmetric use of negative space punctuated by oversized, viewport-bleeding numerals or letterforms. Heavy use of primary red as an alert/accent color. + +### 2.2 Tactical Telemetry & CRT Terminal +Derived from classified military databases, legacy mainframes, and aerospace Heads-Up Displays (HUDs). +* **Characteristics:** Dark mode exclusivity. High-density tabular data presentation. Absolute dominance of monospaced typography. Integration of technical framing devices (ASCII brackets, crosshairs). Application of simulated hardware limitations (phosphor glow, scanlines, low bit-depth rendering). + +## 3. Typographic Architecture +Typography is the primary structural and decorative infrastructure. Imagery is secondary. The system demands extreme variance in scale, weight, and spacing. + +### 3.1 Macro-Typography (Structural Headers) +* **Classification:** Neo-Grotesque / Heavy Sans-Serif. +* **Optimal Web Fonts:** Neue Haas Grotesk (Black), Inter (Extra Bold/Black), Archivo Black, Roboto Flex (Heavy), Monument Extended. +* **Implementation Parameters:** + * **Scale:** Deployed at massive scales using fluid typography (e.g., `clamp(4rem, 10vw, 15rem)`). + * **Tracking (Letter-spacing):** Extremely tight, often negative (`-0.03em` to `-0.06em`), forcing glyphs to form solid architectural blocks. + * **Leading (Line-height):** Highly compressed (`0.85` to `0.95`). + * **Casing:** Exclusively uppercase for structural impact. + +### 3.2 Micro-Typography (Data & Telemetry) +* **Classification:** Monospace / Technical Sans. +* **Optimal Web Fonts:** JetBrains Mono, IBM Plex Mono, Space Mono, VT323, Courier Prime. +* **Implementation Parameters:** + * **Scale:** Fixed and small (`10px` to `14px` / `0.7rem` to `0.875rem`). + * **Tracking:** Generous (`0.05em` to `0.1em`) to simulate mechanical typewriter spacing or terminal matrices. + * **Leading:** Standard to tight (`1.2` to `1.4`). + * **Casing:** Exclusively uppercase. Used for all metadata, navigation, unit IDs, and coordinates. + +### 3.3 Textural Contrast (Artistic Disruption) +* **Classification:** High-Contrast Serif. +* **Optimal Web Fonts:** Playfair Display, EB Garamond, Times New Roman. +* **Implementation Parameters:** Used exceedingly sparingly. Must be subjected to heavy post-processing (halftone filters, 1-bit dithering) to degrade vector perfection and create textural juxtaposition against the clean sans-serifs. + +## 4. Color System +The color architecture is uncompromising. Gradients, soft drop shadows, and modern translucency are strictly prohibited. Colors simulate physical media or primitive emissive displays. + +**CRITICAL: Choose ONE substrate palette per project and use it consistently. Never mix light and dark substrates within the same interface.** + +### If Swiss Industrial Print (Light): +* **Background:** `#F4F4F0` or `#EAE8E3` (Matte, unbleached documentation paper). +* **Foreground:** `#050505` to `#111111` (Carbon Ink). +* **Accent:** `#E61919` or `#FF2A2A` (Aviation/Hazard Red). This is the ONLY accent color. Used for strike-throughs, thick structural dividing lines, or vital data highlights. + +### If Tactical Telemetry (Dark): +* **Background:** `#0A0A0A` or `#121212` (Deactivated CRT. Avoid pure `#000000`). +* **Foreground:** `#EAEAEA` (White phosphor). This is the primary text color. +* **Accent:** `#E61919` or `#FF2A2A` (Aviation/Hazard Red). Same red, same rules. +* **Terminal Green (`#4AF626`):** Optional. Use ONLY for a single specific UI element (e.g., one status indicator or one data readout) — never as a general text color. If it doesn't serve a clear purpose, omit it entirely. + +## 5. Layout and Spatial Engineering +The layout must appear mathematically engineered. It rejects conventional web padding in favor of visible compartmentalization. + +* **The Blueprint Grid:** Strict adherence to CSS Grid architectures. Elements do not float; they are anchored precisely to grid tracks and intersections. +* **Visible Compartmentalization:** Extensive utilization of solid borders (`1px` or `2px solid`) to delineate distinct zones of information. Horizontal rules (`
      `) frequently span the entire container width to segregate operational units. +* **Bimodal Density:** Layouts oscillate between extreme data density (tightly packed monospace metadata clustered together) and vast expanses of calculated negative space framing macro-typography. +* **Geometry:** Absolute rejection of `border-radius`. All corners must be exactly 90 degrees to enforce mechanical rigidity. + +## 6. UI Components and Symbology +Standard web UI conventions are replaced with utilitarian, industrial graphic elements. + +* **Syntax Decoration:** Utilization of ASCII characters to frame data points. + * *Framing:* `[ DELIVERY SYSTEMS ]`, `< RE-IND >` + * *Directional:* `>>>`, `///`, `\\\\` +* **Industrial Markers:** Prominent integration of registration (`®`), copyright (`©`), and trademark (`™`) symbols functioning as structural geometric elements rather than legal text. +* **Technical Assets:** Integration of crosshairs (`+`) at grid intersections, repeating vertical lines (barcodes), thick horizontal warning stripes, and randomized string data (e.g., `REV 2.6`, `UNIT / D-01`) to simulate active mechanical processes. + +## 7. Textural and Post-Processing Effects +To prevent the design from appearing purely digital, simulated analog degradation is engineered into the frontend via CSS and SVG filters. + +* **Halftone and 1-Bit Dithering:** Transforming continuous-tone images or large serif typography into dot-matrix patterns. Achieved via pre-processing or CSS `mix-blend-mode: multiply` overlays combined with SVG radial dot patterns. +* **CRT Scanlines:** For terminal interfaces, applying a `repeating-linear-gradient` to the background to simulate horizontal electron beam sweeps (e.g., `repeating-linear-gradient(0deg, transparent, transparent 2px, rgba(0,0,0,0.1) 2px, rgba(0,0,0,0.1) 4px)`). +* **Mechanical Noise:** A global, low-opacity SVG static/noise filter applied to the DOM root to introduce a unified physical grain across both dark and light modes. + +## 8. Web Engineering Directives +1. **Grid Determinism:** Utilize `display: grid; gap: 1px;` with contrasting parent/child background colors to generate mathematically perfect, razor-thin dividing lines without complex border declarations. +2. **Semantic Rigidity:** Construct the DOM using precise semantic tags (``, ``, ``, ``, `
      `) to accurately reflect the technical nature of the telemetry. +3. **Typography Clamping:** Implement CSS `clamp()` functions exclusively for macro-typography to ensure massive text scales aggressively while maintaining structural integrity across viewports. diff --git a/.agents/skills/minimalist-ui/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/minimalist-ui/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..44ead27e --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/minimalist-ui/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,85 @@ +--- +name: minimalist-ui +description: Clean editorial-style interfaces. Warm monochrome palette, typographic contrast, flat bento grids, muted pastels. No gradients, no heavy shadows. +--- + +# Protocol: Premium Utilitarian Minimalism UI Architect + +## 1. Protocol Overview +Name: Premium Utilitarian Minimalism & Editorial UI +Description: An advanced frontend engineering directive for generating highly refined, ultra-minimalist, "document-style" web interfaces analogous to top-tier workspace platforms. This protocol strictly enforces a high-contrast warm monochrome palette, bespoke typographic hierarchies, meticulous structural macro-whitespace, bento-grid layouts, and an ultra-flat component architecture with deliberate muted pastel accents. It actively rejects standard generic SaaS design trends. + +## 2. Absolute Negative Constraints (Banned Elements) +The AI must strictly avoid the following generic web development defaults: +- DO NOT use the "Inter", "Roboto", or "Open Sans" typefaces. +- DO NOT use generic, thin-line icon libraries like "Lucide", "Feather", or standard "Heroicons". +- DO NOT use Tailwind's default heavy drop shadows (e.g., `shadow-md`, `shadow-lg`, `shadow-xl`). Shadows must be practically non-existent or heavily customized to be ultra-diffuse and low opacity (< 0.05). +- DO NOT use primary colored backgrounds for large elements or sections (e.g., no bright blue, green, or red hero sections). +- DO NOT use gradients, neon colors, or 3D glassmorphism (beyond subtle navbar blurs). +- DO NOT use `rounded-full` (pill shapes) for large containers, cards, or primary buttons. +- DO NOT use emojis anywhere in code, markup, text content, headings, or alt text. Replace with proper icons or clean SVG primitives. +- DO NOT use generic placeholder names like "John Doe", "Acme Corp", or "Lorem Ipsum". Use realistic, contextual content. +- DO NOT use AI copywriting clichés: "Elevate", "Seamless", "Unleash", "Next-Gen", "Game-changer", "Delve". Write plain, specific language. + +## 3. Typographic Architecture +The interface must rely on extreme typographic contrast and premium font selection to establish an editorial feel. +- Primary Sans-Serif (Body, UI, Buttons): Use clean, geometric, or system-native fonts with character. Target: `font-family: 'SF Pro Display', 'Geist Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', 'Switzer', sans-serif`. +- Editorial Serif (Hero Headings & Quotes): Target: `font-family: 'Lyon Text', 'Newsreader', 'Playfair Display', 'Instrument Serif', serif`. Apply tight tracking (`letter-spacing: -0.02em` to `-0.04em`) and tight line-height (`1.1`). +- Monospace (Code, Keystrokes, Meta-data): Target: `font-family: 'Geist Mono', 'SF Mono', 'JetBrains Mono', monospace`. +- Text Colors: Body text must never be absolute black (`#000000`). Use off-black/charcoal (`#111111` or `#2F3437`) with a generous `line-height` of `1.6` for legibility. Secondary text should be muted gray (`#787774`). + +## 4. Color Palette (Warm Monochrome + Spot Pastels) +Color is a scarce resource, utilized only for semantic meaning or subtle accents. +- Canvas / Background: Pure White `#FFFFFF` or Warm Bone/Off-White `#F7F6F3` / `#FBFBFA`. +- Primary Surface (Cards): `#FFFFFF` or `#F9F9F8`. +- Structural Borders / Dividers: Ultra-light gray `#EAEAEA` or `rgba(0,0,0,0.06)`. +- Accent Colors: Exclusively use highly desaturated, washed-out pastels for tags, inline code backgrounds, or subtle icon backgrounds. + - Pale Red: `#FDEBEC` (Text: `#9F2F2D`) + - Pale Blue: `#E1F3FE` (Text: `#1F6C9F`) + - Pale Green: `#EDF3EC` (Text: `#346538`) + - Pale Yellow: `#FBF3DB` (Text: `#956400`) + +## 5. Component Specifications +- Bento Box Feature Grids: + - Utilize asymmetrical CSS Grid layouts. + - Cards must have exactly `border: 1px solid #EAEAEA`. + - Border-radius must be crisp: `8px` or `12px` maximum. + - Internal padding must be generous (e.g., `24px` to `40px`). +- Primary Call-To-Action (Buttons): + - Solid background `#111111`, text `#FFFFFF`. + - Slight border-radius (`4px` to `6px`). No box-shadow. + - Hover state should be a subtle color shift to `#333333` or a micro-scale `transform: scale(0.98)`. +- Tags & Status Badges: + - Pill-shaped (`border-radius: 9999px`), very small typography (`text-xs`), uppercase with wide tracking (`letter-spacing: 0.05em`). + - Background must use the defined Muted Pastels. +- Accordions (FAQ): + - Strip all container boxes. Separate items only with a `border-bottom: 1px solid #EAEAEA`. + - Use a clean, sharp `+` and `-` icon for the toggle state. +- Keystroke Micro-UIs: + - Render shortcuts as physical keys using `` tags: `border: 1px solid #EAEAEA`, `border-radius: 4px`, `background: #F7F6F3`, using the Monospace font. +- Faux-OS Window Chrome: + - When mocking up software, wrap it in a minimalist container with a white top bar containing three small, light gray circles (replicating macOS window controls). + +## 6. Iconography & Imagery Directives +- System Icons: Use "Phosphor Icons (Bold or Fill weights)" or "Radix UI Icons" for a technical, slightly thicker-stroke aesthetic. Standardize stroke width across all icons. +- Illustrations: Monochromatic, rough continuous-line ink sketches on a white background, featuring a single offset geometric shape filled with a muted pastel color. +- Photography: Use high-quality, desaturated images with a warm tone. Apply subtle overlays (`opacity: 0.04` warm grain) to blend photos into the monochrome palette. Never use oversaturated stock photos. Use reliable placeholders like `https://picsum.photos/seed/{context}/1200/800` when real assets are unavailable. +- Hero & Section Backgrounds: Sections should not feel empty and flat. Use subtle full-width background imagery at very low opacity, soft radial light spots (`radial-gradient` with warm tones at `opacity: 0.03`), or minimal geometric line patterns to add depth without breaking the clean aesthetic. + +## 7. Subtle Motion & Micro-Animations +Motion should feel invisible — present but never distracting. The goal is quiet sophistication, not spectacle. +- Scroll Entry: Elements fade in gently as they enter the viewport. Use `translateY(12px)` + `opacity: 0` resolving over `600ms` with `cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1)`. Use `IntersectionObserver`, never `window.addEventListener('scroll')`. +- Hover States: Cards lift with an ultra-subtle shadow shift (`box-shadow` transitioning from `0 0 0` to `0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.04)` over `200ms`). Buttons respond with `scale(0.98)` on `:active`. +- Staggered Reveals: Lists and grid items enter with a cascade delay (`animation-delay: calc(var(--index) * 80ms)`). Never mount everything at once. +- Background Ambient Motion: Optional. A single, very slow-moving radial gradient blob (`animation-duration: 20s+`, `opacity: 0.02-0.04`) drifting behind hero sections. Must be applied to a `position: fixed; pointer-events: none` layer. Never on scrolling containers. +- Performance: Animate exclusively via `transform` and `opacity`. No layout-triggering properties (`top`, `left`, `width`, `height`). Use `will-change: transform` sparingly and only on actively animating elements. + +## 8. Execution Protocol +When tasked with writing frontend code (HTML, React, Tailwind, Vue) or designing a layout: +1. Establish the macro-whitespace first. Use massive vertical padding between sections (e.g., `py-24` or `py-32` in Tailwind). +2. Constrain the main typography content width to `max-w-4xl` or `max-w-5xl`. +3. Apply the custom typographic hierarchy and monochromatic color variables immediately. +4. Ensure every card, divider, and border adheres strictly to the `1px solid #EAEAEA` rule. +5. Add scroll-entry animations to all major content blocks. +6. Ensure sections have visual depth through imagery, ambient gradients, or subtle textures — no empty flat backgrounds. +7. Provide code that reflects this high-end, uncluttered, editorial aesthetic natively without requiring manual adjustments. diff --git a/.agents/skills/redesign-existing-projects/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/redesign-existing-projects/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c8304f0c --- /dev/null +++ b/.agents/skills/redesign-existing-projects/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,178 @@ +--- +name: redesign-existing-projects +description: Upgrades existing websites and apps to premium quality. Audits current design, identifies generic AI patterns, and applies high-end design standards without breaking functionality. Works with any CSS framework or vanilla CSS. +--- + +# Redesign Skill + +## How This Works + +When applied to an existing project, follow this sequence: + +1. **Scan** — Read the codebase. Identify the framework, styling method (Tailwind, vanilla CSS, styled-components, etc.), and current design patterns. +2. **Diagnose** — Run through the audit below. List every generic pattern, weak point, and missing state you find. +3. **Fix** — Apply targeted upgrades working with the existing stack. Do not rewrite from scratch. Improve what's there. + +## Design Audit + +### Typography + +Check for these problems and fix them: + +- **Browser default fonts or Inter everywhere.** Replace with a font that has character. Good options: `Geist`, `Outfit`, `Cabinet Grotesk`, `Satoshi`. For editorial/creative projects, pair a serif header with a sans-serif body. +- **Headlines lack presence.** Increase size for display text, tighten letter-spacing, reduce line-height. Headlines should feel heavy and intentional. +- **Body text too wide.** Limit paragraph width to roughly 65 characters. Increase line-height for readability. +- **Only Regular (400) and Bold (700) weights used.** Introduce Medium (500) and SemiBold (600) for more subtle hierarchy. +- **Numbers in proportional font.** Use a monospace font or enable tabular figures (`font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums`) for data-heavy interfaces. +- **Missing letter-spacing adjustments.** Use negative tracking for large headers, positive tracking for small caps or labels. +- **All-caps subheaders everywhere.** Try lowercase italics, sentence case, or small-caps instead. +- **Orphaned words.** Single words sitting alone on the last line. Fix with `text-wrap: balance` or `text-wrap: pretty`. + +### Color and Surfaces + +- **Pure `#000000` background.** Replace with off-black, dark charcoal, or tinted dark (`#0a0a0a`, `#121212`, or a dark navy). +- **Oversaturated accent colors.** Keep saturation below 80%. Desaturate accents so they blend with neutrals instead of screaming. +- **More than one accent color.** Pick one. Remove the rest. Consistency beats variety. +- **Mixing warm and cool grays.** Stick to one gray family. Tint all grays with a consistent hue (warm or cool, not both). +- **Purple/blue "AI gradient" aesthetic.** This is the most common AI design fingerprint. Replace with neutral bases and a single, considered accent. +- **Generic `box-shadow`.** Tint shadows to match the background hue. Use colored shadows (e.g., dark blue shadow on a blue background) instead of pure black at low opacity. +- **Flat design with zero texture.** Add subtle noise, grain, or micro-patterns to backgrounds. Pure flat vectors feel sterile. +- **Perfectly even gradients.** Break the uniformity with radial gradients, noise overlays, or mesh gradients instead of standard linear 45-degree fades. +- **Inconsistent lighting direction.** Audit all shadows to ensure they suggest a single, consistent light source. +- **Random dark sections in a light mode page (or vice versa).** A single dark-background section breaking an otherwise light page looks like a copy-paste accident. Either commit to a full dark mode or keep a consistent background tone throughout. If contrast is needed, use a slightly darker shade of the same palette — not a sudden jump to `#111` in the middle of a cream page. +- **Empty, flat sections with no visual depth.** Sections that are just text on a plain background feel unfinished. Add high-quality background imagery (blurred, overlaid, or masked), subtle patterns, or ambient gradients. Use reliable placeholder sources like `https://picsum.photos/seed/{name}/1920/1080` when real assets are not available. Experiment with background images behind hero sections, feature blocks, or CTAs — even a subtle full-width photo at low opacity adds presence. + +### Layout + +- **Everything centered and symmetrical.** Break symmetry with offset margins, mixed aspect ratios, or left-aligned headers over centered content. +- **Three equal card columns as feature row.** This is the most generic AI layout. Replace with a 2-column zig-zag, asymmetric grid, horizontal scroll, or masonry layout. +- **Using `height: 100vh` for full-screen sections.** Replace with `min-height: 100dvh` to prevent layout jumping on mobile browsers (iOS Safari viewport bug). +- **Complex flexbox percentage math.** Replace with CSS Grid for reliable multi-column structures. +- **No max-width container.** Add a container constraint (around 1200-1440px) with auto margins so content doesn't stretch edge-to-edge on wide screens. +- **Cards of equal height forced by flexbox.** Allow variable heights or use masonry when content varies in length. +- **Uniform border-radius on everything.** Vary the radius: tighter on inner elements, softer on containers. +- **No overlap or depth.** Elements sit flat next to each other. Use negative margins to create layering and visual depth. +- **Symmetrical vertical padding.** Top and bottom padding are always identical. Adjust optically — bottom padding often needs to be slightly larger. +- **Dashboard always has a left sidebar.** Try top navigation, a floating command menu, or a collapsible panel instead. +- **Missing whitespace.** Double the spacing. Let the design breathe. Dense layouts work for data dashboards, not for marketing pages. +- **Buttons not bottom-aligned in card groups.** When cards have different content lengths, CTAs end up at random heights. Pin buttons to the bottom of each card so they form a clean horizontal line regardless of content above. +- **Feature lists starting at different vertical positions.** In pricing tables or comparison cards, the list of features should start at the same Y position across all columns. Use consistent spacing above the list or fixed-height title/price blocks. +- **Inconsistent vertical rhythm in side-by-side elements.** When placing cards, columns, or panels next to each other, align shared elements (titles, descriptions, prices, buttons) across all items. Misaligned baselines make the layout look broken. +- **Mathematical alignment that looks optically wrong.** Centering by the math doesn't always look centered to the eye. Icons next to text, play buttons in circles, or text in buttons often need 1-2px optical adjustments to feel right. + +### Interactivity and States + +- **No hover states on buttons.** Add background shift, slight scale, or translate on hover. +- **No active/pressed feedback.** Add a subtle `scale(0.98)` or `translateY(1px)` on press to simulate a physical click. +- **Instant transitions with zero duration.** Add smooth transitions (200-300ms) to all interactive elements. +- **Missing focus ring.** Ensure visible focus indicators for keyboard navigation. This is an accessibility requirement, not optional. +- **No loading states.** Replace generic circular spinners with skeleton loaders that match the layout shape. +- **No empty states.** An empty dashboard showing nothing is a missed opportunity. Design a composed "getting started" view. +- **No error states.** Add clear, inline error messages for forms. Do not use `window.alert()`. +- **Dead links.** Buttons that link to `#`. Either link to real destinations or visually disable them. +- **No indication of current page in navigation.** Style the active nav link differently so users know where they are. +- **Scroll jumping.** Anchor clicks jump instantly. Add `scroll-behavior: smooth`. +- **Animations using `top`, `left`, `width`, `height`.** Switch to `transform` and `opacity` for GPU-accelerated, smooth animation. + +### Content + +- **Generic names like "John Doe" or "Jane Smith".** Use diverse, realistic-sounding names. +- **Fake round numbers like `99.99%`, `50%`, `$100.00`.** Use organic, messy data: `47.2%`, `$99.00`, `+1 (312) 847-1928`. +- **Placeholder company names like "Acme Corp", "Nexus", "SmartFlow".** Invent contextual, believable brand names. +- **AI copywriting cliches.** Never use "Elevate", "Seamless", "Unleash", "Next-Gen", "Game-changer", "Delve", "Tapestry", or "In the world of...". Write plain, specific language. +- **Exclamation marks in success messages.** Remove them. Be confident, not loud. +- **"Oops!" error messages.** Be direct: "Connection failed. Please try again." +- **Passive voice.** Use active voice: "We couldn't save your changes" instead of "Mistakes were made." +- **All blog post dates identical.** Randomize dates to appear real. +- **Same avatar image for multiple users.** Use unique assets for every distinct person. +- **Lorem Ipsum.** Never use placeholder latin text. Write real draft copy. +- **Title Case On Every Header.** Use sentence case instead. + +### Component Patterns + +- **Generic card look (border + shadow + white background).** Remove the border, or use only background color, or use only spacing. Cards should exist only when elevation communicates hierarchy. +- **Always one filled button + one ghost button.** Add text links or tertiary styles to reduce visual noise. +- **Pill-shaped "New" and "Beta" badges.** Try square badges, flags, or plain text labels. +- **Accordion FAQ sections.** Use a side-by-side list, searchable help, or inline progressive disclosure. +- **3-card carousel testimonials with dots.** Replace with a masonry wall, embedded social posts, or a single rotating quote. +- **Pricing table with 3 towers.** Highlight the recommended tier with color and emphasis, not just extra height. +- **Modals for everything.** Use inline editing, slide-over panels, or expandable sections instead of popups for simple actions. +- **Avatar circles exclusively.** Try squircles or rounded squares for a less generic look. +- **Light/dark toggle always a sun/moon switch.** Use a dropdown, system preference detection, or integrate it into settings. +- **Footer link farm with 4 columns.** Simplify. Focus on main navigational paths and legally required links. + +### Iconography + +- **Lucide or Feather icons exclusively.** These are the "default" AI icon choice. Use Phosphor, Heroicons, or a custom set for differentiation. +- **Rocketship for "Launch", shield for "Security".** Replace cliche metaphors with less obvious icons (bolt, fingerprint, spark, vault). +- **Inconsistent stroke widths across icons.** Audit all icons and standardize to one stroke weight. +- **Missing favicon.** Always include a branded favicon. +- **Stock "diverse team" photos.** Use real team photos, candid shots, or a consistent illustration style instead of uncanny stock imagery. + +### Code Quality + +- **Div soup.** Use semantic HTML: `