UI/UX Pro Max - Design Intelligence

Comprehensive design guide for web and mobile applications. Contains 67 styles, 96 color palettes, 57 font pairings, 99 UX guidelines, and 25 chart types across 13 technology stacks. Searchable database with priority-based recommendations.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Designing new UI components or pages
• Choosing color palettes and typography
• Reviewing code for UX issues
• Building landing pages or dashboards
• Implementing accessibility requirements

Workflow

1. Analyze requirements — extract product type, style keywords, industry, and technology stack from user request. Default to html-tailwind if no stack specified.
2. Generate design system — run python3 scripts/search.py "<query>" --design-system -p "Project Name" for comprehensive style, color, typography, and effects recommendations.
3. Supplement with domain searches — query style, typography, ux, chart, or landing domains for additional detail on specific areas.
4. Persist design system for multi-page projects — use --persist to create design-system/MASTER.md with page-specific overrides via --page.
5. Apply stack guidelines — run --stack <stack> (default: html-tailwind) for implementation-specific best practices.
6. Implement with the design system as source of truth — colors, typography, spacing, and effects all come from the persisted MASTER.md.
7. Run pre-delivery checklist — verify visual quality, interaction, light/dark mode, layout, and accessibility before delivering code.

Rule Categories by Priority

Priority	Category	Impact	Domain
1	Accessibility	CRITICAL	ux
2	Touch & Interaction	CRITICAL	ux
3	Performance	HIGH	ux
4	Layout & Responsive	HIGH	ux
5	Typography & Color	MEDIUM	typography, color
6	Animation	MEDIUM	ux
7	Style Selection	MEDIUM	style, product
8	Charts & Data	LOW	chart

Quick Reference

1. Accessibility (CRITICAL)

• color-contrast - Minimum 4.5:1 ratio for normal text
• focus-states - Visible focus rings on interactive elements
• alt-text - Descriptive alt text for meaningful images
• aria-labels - aria-label for icon-only buttons
• keyboard-nav - Tab order matches visual order
• form-labels - Use label with for attribute

2. Touch & Interaction (CRITICAL)

• touch-target-size - Minimum 44x44px touch targets
• hover-vs-tap - Use click/tap for primary interactions
• loading-buttons - Disable button during async operations
• error-feedback - Clear error messages near problem
• cursor-pointer - Add cursor-pointer to clickable elements

3. Performance (HIGH)

• image-optimization - Use WebP, srcset, lazy loading
• reduced-motion - Check prefers-reduced-motion
• content-jumping - Reserve space for async content

4. Layout & Responsive (HIGH)

• viewport-meta - width=device-width initial-scale=1
• readable-font-size - Minimum 16px body text on mobile
• horizontal-scroll - Ensure content fits viewport width
• z-index-management - Define z-index scale (10, 20, 30, 50)

5. Typography & Color (MEDIUM)

• line-height - Use 1.5-1.75 for body text
• line-length - Limit to 65-75 characters per line
• font-pairing - Match heading/body font personalities

6. Animation (MEDIUM)

• duration-timing - Use 150-300ms for micro-interactions
• transform-performance - Use transform/opacity, not width/height
• loading-states - Skeleton screens or spinners

7. Style Selection (MEDIUM)

• style-match - Match style to product type
• consistency - Use same style across all pages
• no-emoji-icons - Use SVG icons, not emojis

8. Charts & Data (LOW)

• chart-type - Match chart type to data type
• color-guidance - Use accessible color palettes
• data-table - Provide table alternative for accessibility

How to Use

Search specific domains using the CLI tool below.

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Prerequisites

Check if Python is installed:

python3 --version || python --version

If Python is not installed, install it based on user's OS:

macOS:

brew install python3

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3

Windows:

winget install Python.Python.3.12

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How to Use This Skill

When user requests UI/UX work (design, build, create, implement, review, fix, improve), follow this workflow:

Step 1: Analyze User Requirements

Extract key information from user request:

• Product type: SaaS, e-commerce, portfolio, dashboard, landing page, etc.
• Style keywords: minimal, playful, professional, elegant, dark mode, etc.
• Industry: healthcare, fintech, gaming, education, etc.
• Stack: React, Vue, Next.js, or default to html-tailwind

Step 2: Generate Design System (REQUIRED)

Always start with --design-system to get comprehensive recommendations with reasoning:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<product_type> <industry> <keywords>" --design-system [-p "Project Name"]

This command:

1. Searches 5 domains in parallel (product, style, color, landing, typography)
2. Applies reasoning rules from ui-reasoning.csv to select best matches
3. Returns complete design system: pattern, style, colors, typography, effects
4. Includes anti-patterns to avoid

Example:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "beauty spa wellness service" --design-system -p "Serenity Spa"

Step 2b: Persist Design System (Master + Overrides Pattern)

To save the design system for hierarchical retrieval across sessions, add --persist:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<query>" --design-system --persist -p "Project Name"

This creates:

• design-system/MASTER.md — Global Source of Truth with all design rules
• design-system/pages/ — Folder for page-specific overrides

With page-specific override:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<query>" --design-system --persist -p "Project Name" --page "dashboard"

This also creates:

• design-system/pages/dashboard.md — Page-specific deviations from Master

How hierarchical retrieval works:

1. When building a specific page (e.g., "Checkout"), first check design-system/pages/checkout.md
2. If the page file exists, its rules override the Master file
3. If not, use design-system/MASTER.md exclusively

Step 3: Supplement with Detailed Searches (as needed)

After getting the design system, use domain searches to get additional details:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<keyword>" --domain <domain> [-n <max_results>]

When to use detailed searches:

Need	Domain	Example
More style options	style	--domain style "glassmorphism dark"
Chart recommendations	chart	--domain chart "real-time dashboard"
UX best practices	ux	--domain ux "animation accessibility"
Alternative fonts	typography	--domain typography "elegant luxury"
Landing structure	landing	--domain landing "hero social-proof"

Step 4: Stack Guidelines (Default: html-tailwind)

Get implementation-specific best practices. If user doesn't specify a stack, default to html-tailwind.

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<keyword>" --stack html-tailwind

Available stacks: html-tailwind, react, nextjs, vue, svelte, swiftui, react-native, flutter, shadcn, jetpack-compose

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Search Reference

Available Domains

Domain	Use For	Example Keywords
product	Product type recommendations	SaaS, e-commerce, portfolio, healthcare, beauty, service
style	UI styles, colors, effects	glassmorphism, minimalism, dark mode, brutalism
typography	Font pairings, Google Fonts	elegant, playful, professional, modern
color	Color palettes by product type	saas, ecommerce, healthcare, beauty, fintech, service
landing	Page structure, CTA strategies	hero, hero-centric, testimonial, pricing, social-proof
chart	Chart types, library recommendations	trend, comparison, timeline, funnel, pie
ux	Best practices, anti-patterns	animation, accessibility, z-index, loading
react	React/Next.js performance	waterfall, bundle, suspense, memo, rerender, cache
web	Web interface guidelines	aria, focus, keyboard, semantic, virtualize
prompt	AI prompts, CSS keywords	(style name)

Available Stacks

Stack	Focus
html-tailwind	Tailwind utilities, responsive, a11y (DEFAULT)
react	State, hooks, performance, patterns
nextjs	SSR, routing, images, API routes
vue	Composition API, Pinia, Vue Router
svelte	Runes, stores, SvelteKit
swiftui	Views, State, Navigation, Animation
react-native	Components, Navigation, Lists
flutter	Widgets, State, Layout, Theming
shadcn	shadcn/ui components, theming, forms, patterns
jetpack-compose	Composables, Modifiers, State Hoisting, Recomposition

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Example Workflow

User request: "Làm landing page cho dịch vụ chăm sóc da chuyên nghiệp"

Step 1: Analyze Requirements

• Product type: Beauty/Spa service
• Style keywords: elegant, professional, soft
• Industry: Beauty/Wellness
• Stack: html-tailwind (default)

Step 2: Generate Design System (REQUIRED)

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "beauty spa wellness service elegant" --design-system -p "Serenity Spa"

Output: Complete design system with pattern, style, colors, typography, effects, and anti-patterns.

Step 3: Supplement with Detailed Searches (as needed)

# Get UX guidelines for animation and accessibility
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "animation accessibility" --domain ux

# Get alternative typography options if needed
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "elegant luxury serif" --domain typography

Step 4: Stack Guidelines

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "layout responsive form" --stack html-tailwind

Then: Synthesize design system + detailed searches and implement the design.

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Output Formats

The --design-system flag supports two output formats:

# ASCII box (default) - best for terminal display
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "fintech crypto" --design-system

# Markdown - best for documentation
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "fintech crypto" --design-system -f markdown

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Tips for Better Results

1. Be specific with keywords - "healthcare SaaS dashboard" > "app"
2. Search multiple times - Different keywords reveal different insights
3. Combine domains - Style + Typography + Color = Complete design system
4. Always check UX - Search "animation", "z-index", "accessibility" for common issues
5. Use stack flag - Get implementation-specific best practices
6. Iterate - If first search doesn't match, try different keywords

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Common Rules for Professional UI

These are frequently overlooked issues that make UI look unprofessional:

Icons & Visual Elements

Rule	Do	Don't
No emoji icons	Use SVG icons (Heroicons, Lucide, Simple Icons)	Use emojis like 🎨 🚀 ⚙️ as UI icons
Stable hover states	Use color/opacity transitions on hover	Use scale transforms that shift layout
Correct brand logos	Research official SVG from Simple Icons	Guess or use incorrect logo paths
Consistent icon sizing	Use fixed viewBox (24x24) with w-6 h-6	Mix different icon sizes randomly

Interaction & Cursor

Rule	Do	Don't
Cursor pointer	Add cursor-pointer to all clickable/hoverable cards	Leave default cursor on interactive elements
Hover feedback	Provide visual feedback (color, shadow, border)	No indication element is interactive
Smooth transitions	Use transition-colors duration-200	Instant state changes or too slow (>500ms)

Light/Dark Mode Contrast

Rule	Do	Don't
Glass card light mode	Use bg-white/80 or higher opacity	Use bg-white/10 (too transparent)
Text contrast light	Use #0F172A (slate-900) for text	Use #94A3B8 (slate-400) for body text
Muted text light	Use #475569 (slate-600) minimum	Use gray-400 or lighter
Border visibility	Use border-gray-200 in light mode	Use border-white/10 (invisible)

Layout & Spacing

Rule	Do	Don't
Floating navbar	Add top-4 left-4 right-4 spacing	Stick navbar to top-0 left-0 right-0
Content padding	Account for fixed navbar height	Let content hide behind fixed elements
Consistent max-width	Use same max-w-6xl or max-w-7xl	Mix different container widths

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Pre-Delivery Checklist

Before delivering UI code, verify these items:

Visual Quality

• No emojis used as icons (use SVG instead)
• All icons from consistent icon set (Heroicons/Lucide)
• Brand logos are correct (verified from Simple Icons)
• Hover states don't cause layout shift
• Use theme colors directly (bg-primary) not var() wrapper

Interaction

• All clickable elements have cursor-pointer
• Hover states provide clear visual feedback
• Transitions are smooth (150-300ms)
• Focus states visible for keyboard navigation

Light/Dark Mode

• Light mode text has sufficient contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
• Glass/transparent elements visible in light mode
• Borders visible in both modes
• Test both modes before delivery

Layout

• Floating elements have proper spacing from edges
• No content hidden behind fixed navbars
• Responsive at 375px, 768px, 1024px, 1440px
• No horizontal scroll on mobile

Accessibility

• All images have alt text
• Form inputs have labels
• Color is not the only indicator
• prefers-reduced-motion respected

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Error Handling

Cause	Fix
Python not installed, search script fails	Run python3 --version first. Install per OS instructions in Prerequisites section.
--design-system returns no matching style	Re-run with different keywords. Try broader terms or synonyms.
--persist fails due to permissions	Verify write access to project root. Run from a directory with write permissions.
--stack flag returns no results for chosen stack	Verify the stack name matches exactly (use html-tailwind not "tailwind"). Check available stacks list.
--domain search returns empty results	Broaden keywords. Check domain name matches the available domains table.
Merged output has conflicting design rules	Review MASTER.md for contradictions. Default to the first matching rule in hierarchy.
Page-specific override file not found	Use --page "pagename" flag to regenerate. File is created at design-system/pages/.
Gradient/text color contrast fails WCAG 2.1	Check color-contrast ratio. Minimum 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text.

Anti-Patterns

Pattern	Problem	Fix
Emojis used as UI icons	Looks unprofessional, inconsistent sizing	Use SVG icons from Lucide, Heroicons, or Phosphor exclusively
Scale transforms on hover without cursor-pointer	No indication element is interactive	Add cursor-pointer to all clickable/hoverable elements
h-screen on mobile layouts	iOS Safari viewport bugs cause layout shift	Always use min-h-[100dvh] instead
Transparent glass cards in light mode (bg-white/10)	Invisible, illegible on white backgrounds	Use bg-white/80 or higher opacity in light mode
Missing prefers-reduced-motion media query	Animations cause discomfort for users with motion sensitivity	Gate every animation behind @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)
Floating navbar flush to viewport edges (top-0 left-0)	Content hides behind navigation	Add top-4 left-4 right-4 spacing on floating navbars
Mixing different icon libraries on one page	Inconsistent stroke width, sizing, and visual weight	Pick one icon set for the entire project
Tailing gray-400-level text for body copy in light mode	Fails WCAG contrast minimums	Use slate-600 (#475569) minimum for body text in light mode

Sources

• WCAG 2.1/2.2 — Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (w3.org/WAI)
• Nielsen Norman Group — "UX Guidelines for Ecommerce" (nngroup.com)
• shadcn/ui — Component library and theming (ui.shadcn.com)
• Tailwind CSS — Utility-first framework (tailwindcss.com)
• Google Fonts — Typography pairs and metrics (fonts.google.com)
• Refactoring UI — Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger (refactoringui.com)
• Practical UI — Adham Dannaway (practical-ui.com)
• Erik Kennedy — "7 Rules for Creating Gorgeous UI" (learnui.design)
• OKLCH Color Picker — oklch.com
• Adam Argyle — "Building a Color Scheme" (web.dev)

Checklist

• Skill loads without errors in the AI agent
• YAML frontmatter is valid (description, compatibility, audience)
• Workflow section provides clear step-by-step instructions
• Error handling section covers common failure modes
• All referenced files (references/, scripts/, assets/) exist
• Skill triggers correctly for intended use cases
• No broken links or missing resources