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Manage design tokens, component specifications, and automated presentation generation in a consistent system.

Install

mkdir -p .claude/skills/design-system-arareusername && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/19287" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/design-system-arareusername && rm skill.zip

Installs to .claude/skills/design-system-arareusername

Activation

This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.

Token architecture, component specifications, and slide generation. Three-layer tokens (primitive→semantic→component), CSS variables, spacing/typography scales, component specs, strategic slide creation. Use for design tokens, systematic design, brand-compliant presentations.
276 chars✓ has a “when” triggerlonger than Claude Code's old 250-char listing cap (fine on current versions)
Intermediate

Key capabilities

  • Define three-layer token architecture
  • Generate CSS variables from JSON configs
  • Validate token usage in source code
  • Generate brand-compliant slide decks
  • Apply Duarte-style pattern breaking to presentations

How it works

The system uses a three-layer token hierarchy (primitive, semantic, component) to generate CSS variables. It also employs a decision system with CSV-based logic to assemble slide decks using Chart.js and design tokens.

Inputs & outputs

You give it
JSON token configuration file
You get back
CSS variable file or HTML slide deck

When to use design-system

  • Create new design tokens
  • Define component design variants
  • Generate slides from design specs
  • Validate design system usage

About this skill

Design System

Token architecture, component specifications, systematic design, slide generation.

When to Use

  • Design token creation
  • Component state definitions
  • CSS variable systems
  • Spacing/typography scales
  • Design-to-code handoff
  • Tailwind theme configuration
  • Slide/presentation generation

Token Architecture

Load: references/token-architecture.md

Three-Layer Structure

Primitive (raw values)
       ↓
Semantic (purpose aliases)
       ↓
Component (component-specific)

Example:

/* Primitive */
--color-blue-600: #2563EB;

/* Semantic */
--color-primary: var(--color-blue-600);

/* Component */
--button-bg: var(--color-primary);

Quick Start

Generate tokens:

node scripts/generate-tokens.cjs --config tokens.json -o tokens.css

Validate usage:

node scripts/validate-tokens.cjs --dir src/

References

TopicFile
Token Architecturereferences/token-architecture.md
Primitive Tokensreferences/primitive-tokens.md
Semantic Tokensreferences/semantic-tokens.md
Component Tokensreferences/component-tokens.md
Component Specsreferences/component-specs.md
States & Variantsreferences/states-and-variants.md
Tailwind Integrationreferences/tailwind-integration.md

Component Spec Pattern

PropertyDefaultHoverActiveDisabled
Backgroundprimaryprimary-darkprimary-darkermuted
Textwhitewhitewhitemuted-fg
Bordernonenonenonemuted-border
Shadowsmmdnonenone

Scripts

ScriptPurpose
generate-tokens.cjsGenerate CSS from JSON token config
validate-tokens.cjsCheck for hardcoded values in code
search-slides.pyBM25 search + contextual recommendations
slide-token-validator.pyValidate slide HTML for token compliance
fetch-background.pyFetch images from Pexels/Unsplash

Templates

TemplatePurpose
design-tokens-starter.jsonStarter JSON with three-layer structure

Integration

With brand: Extract primitives from brand colors/typography With ui-styling: Component tokens → Tailwind config

Skill Dependencies: brand, ui-styling Primary Agents: ui-ux-designer, frontend-developer

Slide System

Brand-compliant presentations using design tokens + Chart.js + contextual decision system.

Source of Truth

FilePurpose
docs/brand-guidelines.mdBrand identity, voice, colors
assets/design-tokens.jsonToken definitions (primitive→semantic→component)
assets/design-tokens.cssCSS variables (import in slides)
assets/css/slide-animations.cssCSS animation library

Slide Search (BM25)

# Basic search (auto-detect domain)
python scripts/search-slides.py "investor pitch"

# Domain-specific search
python scripts/search-slides.py "problem agitation" -d copy
python scripts/search-slides.py "revenue growth" -d chart

# Contextual search (Premium System)
python scripts/search-slides.py "problem slide" --context --position 2 --total 9
python scripts/search-slides.py "cta" --context --position 9 --prev-emotion frustration

Decision System CSVs

FilePurpose
data/slide-strategies.csv15 deck structures + emotion arcs + sparkline beats
data/slide-layouts.csv25 layouts + component variants + animations
data/slide-layout-logic.csvGoal → Layout + break_pattern flag
data/slide-typography.csvContent type → Typography scale
data/slide-color-logic.csvEmotion → Color treatment
data/slide-backgrounds.csvSlide type → Image category (Pexels/Unsplash)
data/slide-copy.csv25 copywriting formulas (PAS, AIDA, FAB)
data/slide-charts.csv25 chart types with Chart.js config

Contextual Decision Flow

1. Parse goal/context
        ↓
2. Search slide-strategies.csv → Get strategy + emotion beats
        ↓
3. For each slide:
   a. Query slide-layout-logic.csv → layout + break_pattern
   b. Query slide-typography.csv → type scale
   c. Query slide-color-logic.csv → color treatment
   d. Query slide-backgrounds.csv → image if needed
   e. Apply animation class from slide-animations.css
        ↓
4. Generate HTML with design tokens
        ↓
5. Validate with slide-token-validator.py

Pattern Breaking (Duarte Sparkline)

Premium decks alternate between emotions for engagement:

"What Is" (frustration) ↔ "What Could Be" (hope)

System calculates pattern breaks at 1/3 and 2/3 positions.

Slide Requirements

ALL slides MUST:

  1. Import assets/design-tokens.css - single source of truth
  2. Use CSS variables: var(--color-primary), var(--slide-bg), etc.
  3. Use Chart.js for charts (NOT CSS-only bars)
  4. Include navigation (keyboard arrows, click, progress bar)
  5. Center align content
  6. Focus on persuasion/conversion

Chart.js Integration

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/dist/chart.umd.min.js"></script>

<canvas id="revenueChart"></canvas>
<script>
new Chart(document.getElementById('revenueChart'), {
    type: 'line',
    data: {
        labels: ['Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec'],
        datasets: [{
            data: [5, 12, 28, 45],
            borderColor: '#FF6B6B',  // Use brand coral
            backgroundColor: 'rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.1)',
            fill: true,
            tension: 0.4
        }]
    }
});
</script>

Token Compliance

/* CORRECT - uses token */
background: var(--slide-bg);
color: var(--color-primary);
font-family: var(--typography-font-heading);

/* WRONG - hardcoded */
background: #0D0D0D;
color: #FF6B6B;
font-family: 'Space Grotesk';

Reference Implementation

Working example with all features:

assets/designs/slides/claudekit-pitch-251223.html

Command

/slides:create "10-slide investor pitch for ClaudeKit Marketing"

Best Practices

  1. Never use raw hex in components - always reference tokens
  2. Semantic layer enables theme switching (light/dark)
  3. Component tokens enable per-component customization
  4. Use HSL format for opacity control
  5. Document every token's purpose
  6. Slides must import design-tokens.css and use var() exclusively

When not to use it

  • Hardcoding hex values in UI components
  • Using CSS-only bars for charts
  • Projects lacking a defined token structure

Prerequisites

Node.jsPython

Limitations

  • Slides must import design-tokens.css
  • Requires Chart.js for all chart rendering

How it compares

Unlike manual styling, this system enforces a single source of truth for design tokens and automates slide layout generation based on emotional arcs.

Compared to similar skills

design-system side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.

SkillInstallsUpdatedSafetyDifficulty
design-system (this skill)015dReviewIntermediate
ui-styling128moReviewBeginner
tailwind-design-system342moNo flagsIntermediate
figma224moNo flagsIntermediate

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