ui-design-concepts

UI Design Concepts

Overview

UI Design Concepts IS the definition of Application Structure, User Flow, and Functional Capabilities.

This skill is for describing WHAT the app does and HOW it works, not just how it looks. It focuses on Navigation structure, Module breakdown, User Interactions, and Business Logic flows.

Core Principle: Functionality First. Describe the sidebar modules, dashboard widgets, and modal interactions before mentioning colors.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Defining Application Architecture and Module Breakdown
• Describing User Journeys, Business Logic, and Conditional Flows
• Specifying Navigational Structures (Sidebar vs Topbar, Breadcrumbs)
• Defining Interaction Models (Modals, Drawers, Toasts, Empty States)
• The user asks for "How it works" or "What features it has"

Don't use when:

• The user needs specific Tailwind classes or CSS variables (use ui-prompt-generation)
• You are writing the code yourself
• Exact pixel perfection is required

Core Pattern

Before (Vague):

"Make it look cool and modern."

After (Standardized):

[Agent quietly generates generated/results/concept.txt] "Design Concept: Modern SaaS Dashboard

• Aesthetic: Minimalist & Professional (Ref: design-references.md).
• Layout: Bento Grid (Ref: visual-patterns.md).
• Key Flow: Optimistic UI updates with toast notifications (Ref: ux-patterns.md).
• Inspiration: Linear's dark mode, high contrast, subtle borders."

Implementation

CRITICAL RULE: OUTPUT MUST BE A PLAIN TEXT .txt FILE IN generated/results/. NEVER use Markdown syntax (no #, no **, no [ ], no code blocks) inside the .txt file. ALWAYS use clean Plain Text formatting:

• Use UPPERCASE for section headers.
• Use indentation for hierarchy.
• Use simple text labels.

Phase 1: Inspiration & Reference

1. Analyze Request: What is the feeling? (Professional, Playful, Luxury?).
2. Load Assets (MANDATORY): You MUST use view_file on these files:
   • assets/design-references.md (Find the aesthetic archetypes)
   • assets/visual-patterns.md (Select layout compositions)
   • assets/ux-patterns.md (Define interaction behaviors)
   • assets/section-library.md (Assemble page structure)

Phase 2: Synthesis

Combine the selected elements into a cohesive narrative.

• Visual Style: Define the mood (e.g., "Glassmorphism with heavy blur").
• Composition: Describe how elements "sit" on the page (e.g., "Masonry grid").
• Motion: Describe how things move (e.g., "Staggered fade-ins").

Phase 3: Delivery

1. Write File: Save the narrative to generated/results/<descriptive-name>.txt.
2. Notify: Tell the user "Concept generated: generated/results/<filename>.txt".

Common Mistakes

❌ Being Technical

Bad: "Use border-radius: 8px." Good: "The modal must strictly close when clicking the backdrop to allow quick exit." Fix: If you are writing numbers or describing "vibes", swtich skills. Describe BEHAVIOR.

❌ Name-Dropping Without Context

Bad: "Make it like Apple." Good: "Apple-style aesthetic: heavy use of white space, large typography, and premium product photography." Fix: Explain why the reference works using design-references.md.

❌ Chat Dump

Bad: Outputting the concept narrative in the chat window. Good: Silent file generation. Fix: Ensure generated/results/ is the target.

Quick Reference

Asset	Purpose
design-references.md	REQUIRED. Styles, vibes, and real-world inspirations.
visual-patterns.md	REQUIRED. Layouts, grids, and component styles.
ux-patterns.md	REQUIRED. Interactions, flows, and behaviors.
section-library.md	Ready-made sections to build pages fast.