UI/UX Pro Max - Design Intelligence
Comprehensive design guide for web and mobile applications. Contains 50+ styles, 161 color palettes, 57 font pairings, 161 product types with reasoning rules, 99 UX guidelines, and 25 chart types across 10 technology stacks. Searchable database with priority-based recommendations.
When to Apply#
This Skill should be used when the task involves UI structure, visual design decisions, interaction patterns, or user experience quality control.
Must Use#
This Skill must be invoked in the following situations:
- Designing new pages (Landing Page, Dashboard, Admin, SaaS, Mobile App)
- Creating or refactoring UI components (buttons, modals, forms, tables, charts, etc.)
- Choosing color schemes, typography systems, spacing standards, or layout systems
- Reviewing UI code for user experience, accessibility, or visual consistency
- Implementing navigation structures, animations, or responsive behavior
- Making product-level design decisions (style, information hierarchy, brand expression)
- Improving perceived quality, clarity, or usability of interfaces
Recommended#
This Skill is recommended in the following situations:
- UI looks "not professional enough" but the reason is unclear
- Receiving feedback on usability or experience
- Pre-launch UI quality optimization
- Aligning cross-platform design (Web / iOS / Android)
- Building design systems or reusable component libraries
Skip#
This Skill is not needed in the following situations:
- Pure backend logic development
- Only involving API or database design
- Performance optimization unrelated to the interface
- Infrastructure or DevOps work
- Non-visual scripts or automation tasks
Decision criteria: If the task will change how a feature looks, feels, moves, or is interacted with, this Skill should be used.
Rule Categories by Priority#
For human/AI reference: follow priority 1→10 to decide which rule category to focus on first; use --domain <Domain> to query details when needed. Scripts do not read this table.
| Priority | Category | Impact | Domain | Key Checks (Must Have) | Anti-Patterns (Avoid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accessibility | CRITICAL | ux |
Contrast 4.5:1, Alt text, Keyboard nav, Aria-labels | Removing focus rings, Icon-only buttons without labels |
| 2 | Touch & Interaction | CRITICAL | ux |
Min size 44×44px, 8px+ spacing, Loading feedback | Reliance on hover only, Instant state changes (0ms) |
| 3 | Performance | HIGH | ux |
WebP/AVIF, Lazy loading, Reserve space (CLS < 0.1) | Layout thrashing, Cumulative Layout Shift |
| 4 | Style Selection | HIGH | style, product |
Match product type, Consistency, SVG icons (no emoji) | Mixing flat & skeuomorphic randomly, Emoji as icons |
| 5 | Layout & Responsive | HIGH | ux |
Mobile-first breakpoints, Viewport meta, No horizontal scroll | Horizontal scroll, Fixed px container widths, Disable zoom |
| 6 | Typography & Color | MEDIUM | typography, color |
Base 16px, Line-height 1.5, Semantic color tokens | Text < 12px body, Gray-on-gray, Raw hex in components |
| 7 | Animation | MEDIUM | ux |
Duration 150–300ms, Motion conveys meaning, Spatial continuity | Decorative-only animation, Animating width/height, No reduced-motion |
| 8 | Forms & Feedback | MEDIUM | ux |
Visible labels, Error near field, Helper text, Progressive disclosure | Placeholder-only label, Errors only at top, Overwhelm upfront |
| 9 | Navigation Patterns | HIGH | ux |
Predictable back, Bottom nav ≤5, Deep linking | Overloaded nav, Broken back behavior, No deep links |
| 10 | Charts & Data | LOW | chart |
Legends, Tooltips, Accessible colors | Relying on color alone to convey meaning |
Quick Reference#
1. Accessibility (CRITICAL)#
color-contrast- Minimum 4.5:1 ratio for normal text (large text 3:1); Material Designfocus-states- Visible focus rings on interactive elements (2–4px; Apple HIG, MD)alt-text- Descriptive alt text for meaningful imagesaria-labels- aria-label for icon-only buttons; accessibilityLabel in native (Apple HIG)keyboard-nav- Tab order matches visual order; full keyboard support (Apple HIG)form-labels- Use label with for attributeskip-links- Skip to main content for keyboard usersheading-hierarchy- Sequential h1→h6, no level skipcolor-not-only- Don't convey info by color alone (add icon/text)dynamic-type- Support system text scaling; avoid truncation as text grows (Apple Dynamic Type, MD)reduced-motion- Respect prefers-reduced-motion; reduce/disable animations when requested (Apple Reduced Motion API, MD)voiceover-sr- Meaningful accessibilityLabel/accessibilityHint; logical reading order for VoiceOver/screen readers (Apple HIG, MD)escape-routes- Provide cancel/back in modals and multi-step flows (Apple HIG)keyboard-shortcuts- Preserve system and a11y shortcuts; offer keyboard alternatives for drag-and-drop (Apple HIG)
2. Touch & Interaction (CRITICAL)#
touch-target-size- Min 44×44pt (Apple) / 48×48dp (Material); extend hit area beyond visual bounds if neededtouch-spacing- Minimum 8px/8dp gap between touch targets (Apple HIG, MD)hover-vs-tap- Use click/tap for primary interactions; don't rely on hover aloneloading-buttons- Disable button during async operations; show spinner or progresserror-feedback- Clear error messages near problemcursor-pointer- Add cursor-pointer to clickable elements (Web)gesture-conflicts- Avoid horizontal swipe on main content; prefer vertical scrolltap-delay- Use touch-action: manipulation to reduce 300ms delay (Web)standard-gestures- Use platform standard gestures consistently; don't redefine (e.g. swipe-back, pinch-zoom) (Apple HIG)system-gestures- Don't block system gestures (Control Center, back swipe, etc.) (Apple HIG)press-feedback- Visual feedback on press (ripple/highlight; MD state layers)haptic-feedback- Use haptic for confirmations and important actions; avoid overuse (Apple HIG)gesture-alternative- Don't rely on gesture-only interactions; always provide visible controls for critical actionssafe-area-awareness- Keep primary touch targets away from notch, Dynamic Island, gesture bar and screen edgesno-precision-required- Avoid requiring pixel-perfect taps on small icons or thin edgesswipe-clarity- Swipe actions must show clear affordance or hint (chevron, label, tutorial)drag-threshold- Use a movement threshold before starting drag to avoid accidental drags
3. Performance (HIGH)#
image-optimization- Use WebP/AVIF, responsive images (srcset/sizes), lazy load non-critical assetsimage-dimension- Declare width/height or use aspect-ratio to prevent layout shift (Core Web Vitals: CLS)font-loading- Use font-display: swap/optional to avoid invisible text (FOIT); reserve space to reduce layout shift (MD)font-preload- Preload only critical fonts; avoid overusing preload on every variantcritical-css- Prioritize above-the-fold CSS (inline critical CSS or early-loaded stylesheet)lazy-loading- Lazy load non-hero components via dynamic import / route-level splittingbundle-splitting- Split code by route/feature (React Suspense / Next.js dynamic) to reduce initial load and TTIthird-party-scripts- Load third-party scripts async/defer; audit and remove unnecessary ones (MD)reduce-reflows- Avoid frequent layout reads/writes; batch DOM reads then writescontent-jumping- Reserve space for async content to avoid layout jumps (Core Web Vitals: CLS)lazy-load-below-fold- Use loading="lazy" for below-the-fold images and heavy mediavirtualize-lists- Virtualize lists with 50+ items to improve memory efficiency and scroll performancemain-thread-budget- Keep per-frame work under ~16ms for 60fps; move heavy tasks off main thread (HIG, MD)progressive-loading- Use skeleton screens / shimmer instead of long blocking spinners for >1s operations (Apple HIG)input-latency- Keep input latency under ~100ms for taps/scrolls (Material responsiveness standard)tap-feedback-speed- Provide visual feedback within 100ms of tap (Apple HIG)debounce-throttle- Use debounce/throttle for high-frequency events (scroll, resize, input)offline-support- Provide offline state messaging and basic fallback (PWA / mobile)network-fallback- Offer degraded modes for slow networks (lower-res images, fewer animations)
4. Style Selection (HIGH)#
style-match- Match style to product type (use--design-systemfor recommendations)consistency- Use same style across all pagesno-emoji-icons- Use SVG icons (Heroicons, Lucide), not emojiscolor-palette-from-product- Choose palette from product/industry (search--domain color)effects-match-style- Shadows, blur, radius aligned with chosen style (glass / flat / clay etc.)platform-adaptive- Respect platform idioms (iOS HIG vs Material): navigation, controls, typography, motionstate-clarity- Make hover/pressed/disabled states visually distinct while staying on-style (Material state layers)elevation-consistent- Use a consistent elevation/shadow scale for cards, sheets, modals; avoid random shadow valuesdark-mode-pairing- Design light/dark variants together to keep brand, contrast, and style consistenticon-style-consistent- Use one icon set/visual language (stroke width, corner radius) across the productsystem-controls- Prefer native/system controls over fully custom ones; only customize when branding requires it (Apple HIG)blur-purpose- Use blur to indicate background dismissal (modals, sheets), not as decoration (Apple HIG)primary-action- Each screen should have only one primary CTA; secondary actions visually subordinate (Apple HIG)
5. Layout & Responsive (HIGH)#
viewport-meta- width=device-width initial-scale=1 (never disable zoom)mobile-first- Design mobile-first, then scale up to tablet and desktopbreakpoint-consistency- Use systematic breakpoints (e.g. 375 / 768 / 1024 / 1440)readable-font-size- Minimum 16px body text on mobile (avoids iOS auto-zoom)line-length-control- Mobile 35–60 chars per line; desktop 60–75 charshorizontal-scroll- No horizontal scroll on mobile; ensure content fits viewport widthspacing-scale- Use 4pt/8dp incremental spacing system (Material Design)touch-density- Keep component spacing comfortable for touch: not cramped, not causing mis-tapscontainer-width- Consistent max-width on desktop (max-w-6xl / 7xl)z-index-management- Define layered z-index scale (e.g. 0 / 10 / 20 / 40 / 100 / 1000)fixed-element-offset- Fixed navbar/bottom bar must reserve safe padding for underlying contentscroll-behavior- Avoid nested scroll regions that interfere with the main scroll experienceviewport-units- Prefer min-h-dvh over 100vh on mobileorientation-support- Keep layout readable and operable in landscape modecontent-priority- Show core content first on mobile; fold or hide secondary contentvisual-hierarchy- Establish hierarchy via size, spacing, contrast — not color alone
6. Typography & Color (MEDIUM)#
line-height- Use 1.5-1.75 for body textline-length- Limit to 65-75 characters per linefont-pairing- Match heading/body font personalitiesfont-scale- Consistent type scale (e.g. 12 14 16 18 24 32)contrast-readability- Darker text on light backgrounds (e.g. slate-900 on white)text-styles-system- Use platform type system: iOS 11 Dynamic Type styles / Material 5 type roles (display, headline, title, body, label) (HIG, MD)weight-hierarchy- Use font-weight to reinforce hierarchy: Bold headings (600–700), Regular body (400), Medium labels (500) (MD)color-semantic- Define semantic color tokens (primary, secondary, error, surface, on-surface) not raw hex in components (Material color system)color-dark-mode- Dark mode uses desaturated / lighter tonal variants, not inverted colors; test contrast separately (HIG, MD)color-accessible-pairs- Foreground/background pairs must meet 4.5:1 (AA) or 7:1 (AAA); use tools to verify (WCAG, MD)color-not-decorative-only- Functional color (error red, success green) must include icon/text; avoid color-only meaning (HIG, MD)truncation-strategy- Prefer wrapping over truncation; when truncating use ellipsis and provide full text via tooltip/expand (Apple HIG)letter-spacing- Respect default letter-spacing per platform; avoid tight tracking on body text (HIG, MD)number-tabular- Use tabular/monospaced figures for data columns, prices, and timers to prevent layout shiftwhitespace-balance- Use whitespace intentionally to group related items and separate sections; avoid visual clutter (Apple HIG)
7. Animation (MEDIUM)#
duration-timing- Use 150–300ms for micro-interactions; complex transitions ≤400ms; avoid >500ms (MD)transform-performance- Use transform/opacity only; avoid animating width/height/top/leftloading-states- Show skeleton or progress indicator when loading exceeds 300msexcessive-motion- Animate 1-2 key elements per view maxeasing- Use ease-out for entering, ease-in for exiting; avoid linear for UI transitionsmotion-meaning- Every animation must express a cause-effect relationship, not just be decorative (Apple HIG)state-transition- State changes (hover / active / expanded / collapsed / modal) should animate smoothly, not snapcontinuity- Page/screen transitions should maintain spatial continuity (shared element, directional slide) (Apple HIG)parallax-subtle- Use parallax sparingly; must respect reduced-motion and not cause disorientation (Apple HIG)spring-physics- Prefer spring/physics-based curves over linear or cubic-bezier for natural feel (Apple HIG fluid animations)exit-faster-than-enter- Exit animations shorter than enter (~60–70% of enter duration) to feel responsive (MD motion)stagger-sequence- Stagger list/grid item entrance by 30–50ms per item; avoid all-at-once or too-slow reveals (MD)shared-element-transition- Use shared element / hero transitions for visual continuity between screens (MD, HIG)interruptible- Animations must be interruptible; user tap/gesture cancels in-progress animation immediately (Apple HIG)no-blocking-animation- Never block user input during an animation; UI must stay interactive (Apple HIG)fade-crossfade- Use crossfade for content replacement within the same container (MD)scale-feedback- Subtle scale (0.95–1.05) on press for tappable cards/buttons; restore on release (HIG, MD)gesture-feedback- Drag, swipe, and pinch must provide real-time visual response tracking the finger (MD Motion)hierarchy-motion- Use translate/scale direction to express hierarchy: enter from below = deeper, exit upward = back (MD)motion-consistency- Unify duration/easing tokens globally; all animations share the same rhythm and feelopacity-threshold- Fading elements should not linger below opacity 0.2; either fade fully or remain visiblemodal-motion- Modals/sheets should animate from their trigger source (scale+fade or slide-in) for spatial context (HIG, MD)navigation-direction- Forward navigation animates left/up; backward animates right/down — keep direction logically consistent (HIG)layout-shift-avoid- Animations must not cause layout reflow or CLS; use transform for position changes
8. Forms & Feedback (MEDIUM)#
input-labels- Visible label per input (not placeholder-only)error-placement- Show error below the related fieldsubmit-feedback- Loading then success/error state on submitrequired-indicators- Mark required fields (e.g. asterisk)empty-states- Helpful message and action when no contenttoast-dismiss- Auto-dismiss toasts in 3-5sconfirmation-dialogs- Confirm before destructive actionsinput-helper-text- Provide persistent helper text below complex inputs, not just placeholder (Material Design)disabled-states- Disabled elements use reduced opacity (0.38–0.5) + cursor change + semantic attribute (MD)progressive-disclosure- Reveal complex options progressively; don't overwhelm users upfront (Apple HIG)inline-validation- Validate on blur (not keystroke); show error only after user finishes input (MD)input-type-keyboard- Use semantic input types (email, tel, number) to trigger the correct mobile keyboard (HIG, MD)password-toggle- Provide show/hide toggle for password fields (MD)autofill-support- Use autocomplete / textContentType attributes so the system can autofill (HIG, MD)undo-support- Allow undo for destructive or bulk actions (e.g. "Undo delete" toast) (Apple HIG)success-feedback- Confirm completed actions with brief visual feedback (checkmark, toast, color flash) (MD)error-recovery- Error messages must include a clear recovery path (retry, edit, help link) (HIG, MD)multi-step-progress- Multi-step flows show step indicator or progress bar; allow back navigation (MD)form-autosave- Long forms should auto-save drafts to prevent data loss on accidental dismissal (Apple HIG)sheet-dismiss-confirm- Confirm before dismissing a sheet/modal with unsaved changes (Apple HIG)error-clarity- Error messages must state cause + how to fix (not just "Invalid input") (HIG, MD)field-grouping- Group related fields logically (fieldset/legend or visual grouping) (MD)read-only-distinction- Read-only state should be visually and semantically different from disabled (MD)focus-management- After submit error, auto-focus the first invalid field (WCAG, MD)error-summary- For multiple errors, show summary at top with anchor links to each field (WCAG)touch-friendly-input- Mobile input height ≥44px to meet touch target requirements (Apple HIG)destructive-emphasis- Destructive actions use semantic danger color (red) and are visually separated from primary actions (HIG, MD)toast-accessibility- Toasts must not steal focus; use aria-live="polite" for screen reader announcement (WCAG)aria-live-errors- Form errors use aria-live region or role="alert" to notify screen readers (WCAG)contrast-feedback- Error and success state colors must meet 4.5:1 contrast ratio (WCAG, MD)timeout-feedback- Request timeout must show clear feedback with retry option (MD)
9. Navigation Patterns (HIGH)#
bottom-nav-limit- Bottom navigation max 5 items; use labels with icons (Material Design)drawer-usage- Use drawer/sidebar for secondary navigation, not primary actions (Material Design)back-behavior- Back navigation must be predictable and consistent; preserve scroll/state (Apple HIG, MD)deep-linking- All key screens must be reachable via deep link / URL for sharing and notifications (Apple HIG, MD)tab-bar-ios- iOS: use bottom Tab Bar for top-level navigation (Apple HIG)top-app-bar-android- Android: use Top App Bar with navigation icon for primary structure (Material Design)nav-label-icon- Navigation items must have both icon and text label; icon-only nav harms discoverability (MD)nav-state-active- Current location must be visually highlighted (color, weight, indicator) in navigation (HIG, MD)nav-hierarchy- Primary nav (tabs/bottom bar) vs secondary nav (drawer/settings) must be clearly separated (MD)modal-escape- Modals and sheets must offer a clear close/dismiss affordance; swipe-down to dismiss on mobile (Apple HIG)search-accessible- Search must be easily reachable (top bar or tab); provide recent/suggested queries (MD)breadcrumb-web- Web: use breadcrumbs for 3+ level deep hierarchies to aid orientation (MD)state-preservation- Navigating back must restore previous scroll position, filter state, and input (HIG, MD)gesture-nav-support- Support system gesture navigation (iOS swipe-back, Android predictive back) without conflict (HIG, MD)tab-badge- Use badges on nav items sparingly to indicate unread/pending; clear after user visits (HIG, MD)overflow-menu- When actions exceed available space, use overflow/more menu instead of cramming (MD)bottom-nav-top-level- Bottom nav is for top-level screens only; never nest sub-navigation inside it (MD)adaptive-navigation- Large screens (≥1024px) prefer sidebar; small screens use bottom/top nav (Material Adaptive)back-stack-integrity- Never silently reset the navigation stack or unexpectedly jump to home (HIG, MD)navigation-consistency- Navigation placement must stay the same across all pages; don't change by page typeavoid-mixed-patterns- Don't mix Tab + Sidebar + Bottom Nav at the same hierarchy levelmodal-vs-navigation- Modals must not be used for primary navigation flows; they break the user's path (HIG)focus-on-route-change- After page transition, move focus to main content region for screen reader users (WCAG)persistent-nav- Core navigation must remain reachable from deep pages; don't hide it entirely in sub-flows (HIG, MD)destructive-nav-separation- Dangerous actions (delete account, logout) must be visually and spatially separated from normal nav items (HIG, MD)empty-nav-state- When a nav destination is unavailable, explain why instead of silently hiding it (MD)
10. Charts & Data (LOW)#
chart-type- Match chart type to data type (trend → line, comparison → bar, proportion → pie/donut)color-guidance- Use accessible color palettes; avoid red/green only pairs for colorblind users (WCAG, MD)data-table- Provide table alternative for accessibility; charts alone are not screen-reader friendly (WCAG)pattern-texture- Supplement color with patterns, textures, or shapes so data is distinguishable without color (WCAG, MD)legend-visible- Always show legend; position near the chart, not detached below a scroll fold (MD)tooltip-on-interact- Provide tooltips/data labels on hover (Web) or tap (mobile) showing exact values (HIG, MD)axis-labels- Label axes with units and readable scale; avoid truncated or rotated labels on mobileresponsive-chart- Charts must reflow or simplify on small screens (e.g. horizontal bar instead of vertical, fewer ticks)empty-data-state- Show meaningful empty state when no data exists ("No data yet" + guidance), not a blank chart (MD)loading-chart- Use skeleton or shimmer placeholder while chart data loads; don't show an empty axis frameanimation-optional- Chart entrance animations must respect prefers-reduced-motion; data should be readable immediately (HIG)large-dataset- For 1000+ data points, aggregate or sample; provide drill-down for detail instead of rendering all (MD)number-formatting- Use locale-aware formatting for numbers, dates, currencies on axes and labels (HIG, MD)touch-target-chart- Interactive chart elements (points, segments) must have ≥44pt tap area or expand on touch (Apple HIG)no-pie-overuse- Avoid pie/donut for >5 categories; switch to bar chart for claritycontrast-data- Data lines/bars vs background ≥3:1; data text labels ≥4.5:1 (WCAG)legend-interactive- Legends should be clickable to toggle series visibility (MD)direct-labeling- For small datasets, label values directly on the chart to reduce eye traveltooltip-keyboard- Tooltip content must be keyboard-reachable and not rely on hover alone (WCAG)sortable-table- Data tables must support sorting with aria-sort indicating current sort state (WCAG)axis-readability- Axis ticks must not be cramped; maintain readable spacing, auto-skip on small screensdata-density- Limit information density per chart to avoid cognitive overload; split into multiple charts if neededtrend-emphasis- Emphasize data trends over decoration; avoid heavy gradients/shadows that obscure the datagridline-subtle- Grid lines should be low-contrast (e.g. gray-200) so they don't compete with datafocusable-elements- Interactive chart elements (points, bars, slices) must be keyboard-navigable (WCAG)screen-reader-summary- Provide a text summary or aria-label describing the chart's key insight for screen readers (WCAG)error-state-chart- Data load failure must show error message with retry action, not a broken/empty chartexport-option- For data-heavy products, offer CSV/image export of chart datadrill-down-consistency- Drill-down interactions must maintain a clear back-path and hierarchy breadcrumbtime-scale-clarity- Time series charts must clearly label time granularity (day/week/month) and allow switching
How to Use#
Search specific domains using the CLI tool below.
Prerequisites#
Check if Python is installed:
python3 --version || python --versionIf Python is not installed, install it based on user's OS:
macOS:
brew install python3Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3Windows:
winget install Python.Python.3.12How to Use This Skill#
Use this skill when the user requests any of the following:
| Scenario | Trigger Examples | Start From |
|---|---|---|
| New project / page | "Build a landing page", "Build a dashboard" | Step 1 → Step 2 (design system) |
| New component | "Create a pricing card", "Add a modal" | Step 3 (domain search: style, ux) |
| Choose style / color / font | "What style fits a fintech app?", "Recommend a color palette" | Step 2 (design system) |
| Review existing UI | "Review this page for UX issues", "Check accessibility" | Quick Reference checklist above |
| Fix a UI bug | "Button hover is broken", "Layout shifts on load" | Quick Reference → relevant section |
| Improve / optimize | "Make this faster", "Improve mobile experience" | Step 3 (domain search: ux, react) |
| Implement dark mode | "Add dark mode support" | Step 3 (domain: style "dark mode") |
| Add charts / data viz | "Add an analytics dashboard chart" | Step 3 (domain: chart) |
| Stack best practices | "React performance tips"、"SwiftUI navigation" | Step 4 (stack search) |
Follow this workflow:
Step 1: Analyze User Requirements#
Extract key information from user request:
- Product type: Entertainment (social, video, music, gaming), Tool (scanner, editor, converter), Productivity (task manager, notes, calendar), or hybrid
- Target audience: C-end consumer users; consider age group, usage context (commute, leisure, work)
- Style keywords: playful, vibrant, minimal, dark mode, content-first, immersive, etc.
- Stack: React Native (this project's only tech stack)
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:
- Searches domains in parallel (product, style, color, landing, typography)
- Applies reasoning rules from
ui-reasoning.csvto select best matches - Returns complete design system: pattern, style, colors, typography, effects
- 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 rulesdesign-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:
- When building a specific page (e.g., "Checkout"), first check
design-system/pages/checkout.md - If the page file exists, its rules override the Master file
- If not, use
design-system/MASTER.mdexclusively
Context-aware retrieval prompt:
I am building the [Page Name] page. Please read design-system/MASTER.md.
Also check if design-system/pages/[page-name].md exists.
If the page file exists, prioritize its rules.
If not, use the Master rules exclusively.
Now, generate the code...
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Product type patterns | product |
--domain product "entertainment social" |
| More style options | style |
--domain style "glassmorphism dark" |
| Color palettes | color |
--domain color "entertainment vibrant" |
| Font pairings | typography |
--domain typography "playful modern" |
| Chart recommendations | chart |
--domain chart "real-time dashboard" |
| UX best practices | ux |
--domain ux "animation accessibility" |
| Alternative fonts | typography |
--domain typography "elegant luxury" |
| Individual Google Fonts | google-fonts |
--domain google-fonts "sans serif popular variable" |
| Landing structure | landing |
--domain landing "hero social-proof" |
| React Native perf | react |
--domain react "rerender memo list" |
| App interface a11y | web |
--domain web "accessibilityLabel touch safe-areas" |
| AI prompt / CSS keywords | prompt |
--domain prompt "minimalism" |
Step 4: Stack Guidelines (React Native)#
Get React Native implementation-specific best practices:
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<keyword>" --stack react-nativeSearch 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 |
google-fonts |
Individual Google Fonts lookup | sans serif, monospace, japanese, variable font, popular |
react |
React/Next.js performance | waterfall, bundle, suspense, memo, rerender, cache |
web |
App interface guidelines (iOS/Android/React Native) | accessibilityLabel, touch targets, safe areas, Dynamic Type |
prompt |
AI prompts, CSS keywords | (style name) |
Available Stacks#
| Stack | Focus |
|---|---|
react-native |
Components, Navigation, Lists |
Example Workflow#
User request: "Make an AI search homepage."
Step 1: Analyze Requirements#
- Product type: Tool (AI search engine)
- Target audience: C-end users looking for fast, intelligent search
- Style keywords: modern, minimal, content-first, dark mode
- Stack: React Native
Step 2: Generate Design System (REQUIRED)#
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "AI search tool modern minimal" --design-system -p "AI Search"Output: Complete design system with pattern, style, colors, typography, effects, and anti-patterns.
Step 3: Supplement with Detailed Searches (as needed)#
# Get style options for a modern tool product
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "minimalism dark mode" --domain style
# Get UX best practices for search interaction and loading
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "search loading animation" --domain uxStep 4: Stack Guidelines#
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "list performance navigation" --stack react-nativeThen: Synthesize design system + detailed searches and implement the design.
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 markdownTips for Better Results#
Query Strategy#
- Use multi-dimensional keywords — combine product + industry + tone + density:
"entertainment social vibrant content-dense"not just"app" - Try different keywords for the same need:
"playful neon"→"vibrant dark"→"content-first minimal" - Use
--design-systemfirst for full recommendations, then--domainto deep-dive any dimension you're unsure about - Always add
--stack react-nativefor implementation-specific guidance
Common Sticking Points#
| Problem | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Can't decide on style/color | Re-run --design-system with different keywords |
| Dark mode contrast issues | Quick Reference §6: color-dark-mode + color-accessible-pairs |
| Animations feel unnatural | Quick Reference §7: spring-physics + easing + exit-faster-than-enter |
| Form UX is poor | Quick Reference §8: inline-validation + error-clarity + focus-management |
| Navigation feels confusing | Quick Reference §9: nav-hierarchy + bottom-nav-limit + back-behavior |
| Layout breaks on small screens | Quick Reference §5: mobile-first + breakpoint-consistency |
| Performance / jank | Quick Reference §3: virtualize-lists + main-thread-budget + debounce-throttle |
Pre-Delivery Checklist#
- Run
--domain ux "animation accessibility z-index loading"as a UX validation pass before implementation - Run through Quick Reference §1–§3 (CRITICAL + HIGH) as a final review
- Test on 375px (small phone) and landscape orientation
- Verify behavior with reduced-motion enabled and Dynamic Type at largest size
- Check dark mode contrast independently (don't assume light mode values work)
- Confirm all touch targets ≥44pt and no content hidden behind safe areas
Common Rules for Professional UI#
These are frequently overlooked issues that make UI look unprofessional: Scope notice: The rules below are for App UI (iOS/Android/React Native/Flutter), not desktop-web interaction patterns.
Icons & Visual Elements#
| Rule | Standard | Avoid | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Emoji as Structural Icons | Use vector-based icons (e.g., Lucide, react-native-vector-icons, @expo/vector-icons). | Using emojis (🎨 🚀 ⚙️) for navigation, settings, or system controls. | Emojis are font-dependent, inconsistent across platforms, and cannot be controlled via design tokens. |
| Vector-Only Assets | Use SVG or platform vector icons that scale cleanly and support theming. | Raster PNG icons that blur or pixelate. | Ensures scalability, crisp rendering, and dark/light mode adaptability. |
| Stable Interaction States | Use color, opacity, or elevation transitions for press states without changing layout bounds. | Layout-shifting transforms that move surrounding content or trigger visual jitter. | Prevents unstable interactions and preserves smooth motion/perceived quality on mobile. |
| Correct Brand Logos | Use official brand assets and follow their usage guidelines (spacing, color, clear space). | Guessing logo paths, recoloring unofficially, or modifying proportions. | Prevents brand misuse and ensures legal/platform compliance. |
| Consistent Icon Sizing | Define icon sizes as design tokens (e.g., icon-sm, icon-md = 24pt, icon-lg). | Mixing arbitrary values like 20pt / 24pt / 28pt randomly. | Maintains rhythm and visual hierarchy across the interface. |
| Stroke Consistency | Use a consistent stroke width within the same visual layer (e.g., 1.5px or 2px). | Mixing thick and thin stroke styles arbitrarily. | Inconsistent strokes reduce perceived polish and cohesion. |
| Filled vs Outline Discipline | Use one icon style per hierarchy level. | Mixing filled and outline icons at the same hierarchy level. | Maintains semantic clarity and stylistic coherence. |
| Touch Target Minimum | Minimum 44×44pt interactive area (use hitSlop if icon is smaller). | Small icons without expanded tap area. | Meets accessibility and platform usability standards. |
| Icon Alignment | Align icons to text baseline and maintain consistent padding. | Misaligned icons or inconsistent spacing around them. | Prevents subtle visual imbalance that reduces perceived quality. |
| Icon Contrast | Follow WCAG contrast standards: 4.5:1 for small elements, 3:1 minimum for larger UI glyphs. | Low-contrast icons that blend into the background. | Ensures accessibility in both light and dark modes. |
Interaction (App)#
| Rule | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Tap feedback | Provide clear pressed feedback (ripple/opacity/elevation) within 80-150ms | No visual response on tap |
| Animation timing | Keep micro-interactions around 150-300ms with platform-native easing | Instant transitions or slow animations (>500ms) |
| Accessibility focus | Ensure screen reader focus order matches visual order and labels are descriptive | Unlabeled controls or confusing focus traversal |
| Disabled state clarity | Use disabled semantics (disabled/native disabled props), reduced emphasis, and no tap action |
Controls that look tappable but do nothing |
| Touch target minimum | Keep tap areas >=44x44pt (iOS) or >=48x48dp (Android), expand hit area when icon is smaller | Tiny tap targets or icon-only hit areas without padding |
| Gesture conflict prevention | Keep one primary gesture per region and avoid nested tap/drag conflicts | Overlapping gestures causing accidental actions |
| Semantic native controls | Prefer native interactive primitives (Button, Pressable, platform equivalents) with proper accessibility roles |
Generic containers used as primary controls without semantics |
Light/Dark Mode Contrast#
| Rule | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Surface readability (light) | Keep cards/surfaces clearly separated from background with sufficient opacity/elevation | Overly transparent surfaces that blur hierarchy |
| Text contrast (light) | Maintain body text contrast >=4.5:1 against light surfaces | Low-contrast gray body text |
| Text contrast (dark) | Maintain primary text contrast >=4.5:1 and secondary text >=3:1 on dark surfaces | Dark mode text that blends into background |
| Border and divider visibility | Ensure separators are visible in both themes (not just light mode) | Theme-specific borders disappearing in one mode |
| State contrast parity | Keep pressed/focused/disabled states equally distinguishable in light and dark themes | Defining interaction states for one theme only |
| Token-driven theming | Use semantic color tokens mapped per theme across app surfaces/text/icons | Hardcoded per-screen hex values |
| Scrim and modal legibility | Use a modal scrim strong enough to isolate foreground content (typically 40-60% black) | Weak scrim that leaves background visually competing |
Layout & Spacing#
| Rule | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Safe-area compliance | Respect top/bottom safe areas for all fixed headers, tab bars, and CTA bars | Placing fixed UI under notch, status bar, or gesture area |
| System bar clearance | Add spacing for status/navigation bars and gesture home indicator | Let tappable content collide with OS chrome |
| Consistent content width | Keep predictable content width per device class (phone/tablet) | Mixing arbitrary widths between screens |
| 8dp spacing rhythm | Use a consistent 4/8dp spacing system for padding/gaps/section spacing | Random spacing increments with no rhythm |
| Readable text measure | Keep long-form text readable on large devices (avoid edge-to-edge paragraphs on tablets) | Full-width long text that hurts readability |
| Section spacing hierarchy | Define clear vertical rhythm tiers (e.g., 16/24/32/48) by hierarchy | Similar UI levels with inconsistent spacing |
| Adaptive gutters by breakpoint | Increase horizontal insets on larger widths and in landscape | Same narrow gutter on all device sizes/orientations |
| Scroll and fixed element coexistence | Add bottom/top content insets so lists are not hidden behind fixed bars | Scroll content obscured by sticky headers/footers |
Pre-Delivery Checklist#
Before delivering UI code, verify these items: Scope notice: This checklist is for App UI (iOS/Android/React Native/Flutter).
Visual Quality#
- No emojis used as icons (use SVG instead)
- All icons come from a consistent icon family and style
- Official brand assets are used with correct proportions and clear space
- Pressed-state visuals do not shift layout bounds or cause jitter
- Semantic theme tokens are used consistently (no ad-hoc per-screen hardcoded colors)
Interaction#
- All tappable elements provide clear pressed feedback (ripple/opacity/elevation)
- Touch targets meet minimum size (>=44x44pt iOS, >=48x48dp Android)
- Micro-interaction timing stays in the 150-300ms range with native-feeling easing
- Disabled states are visually clear and non-interactive
- Screen reader focus order matches visual order, and interactive labels are descriptive
- Gesture regions avoid nested/conflicting interactions (tap/drag/back-swipe conflicts)
Light/Dark Mode#
- Primary text contrast >=4.5:1 in both light and dark mode
- Secondary text contrast >=3:1 in both light and dark mode
- Dividers/borders and interaction states are distinguishable in both modes
- Modal/drawer scrim opacity is strong enough to preserve foreground legibility (typically 40-60% black)
- Both themes are tested before delivery (not inferred from a single theme)
Layout#
- Safe areas are respected for headers, tab bars, and bottom CTA bars
- Scroll content is not hidden behind fixed/sticky bars
- Verified on small phone, large phone, and tablet (portrait + landscape)
- Horizontal insets/gutters adapt correctly by device size and orientation
- 4/8dp spacing rhythm is maintained across component, section, and page levels
- Long-form text measure remains readable on larger devices (no edge-to-edge paragraphs)
Accessibility#
- All meaningful images/icons have accessibility labels
- Form fields have labels, hints, and clear error messages
- Color is not the only indicator
- Reduced motion and dynamic text size are supported without layout breakage
- Accessibility traits/roles/states (selected, disabled, expanded) are announced correctly