ui-ux-pro-max

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 Design
• focus-states - Visible focus rings on interactive elements (2–4px; Apple HIG, MD)
• alt-text - Descriptive alt text for meaningful images
• aria-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 attribute
• skip-links - Skip to main content for keyboard users
• heading-hierarchy - Sequential h1→h6, no level skip
• color-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 needed
• touch-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 alone
• loading-buttons - Disable button during async operations; show spinner or progress
• error-feedback - Clear error messages near problem
• cursor-pointer - Add cursor-pointer to clickable elements (Web)
• gesture-conflicts - Avoid horizontal swipe on main content; prefer vertical scroll
• tap-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 actions
• safe-area-awareness - Keep primary touch targets away from notch, Dynamic Island, gesture bar and screen edges
• no-precision-required - Avoid requiring pixel-perfect taps on small icons or thin edges
• swipe-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 assets
• image-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 variant
• critical-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 splitting
• bundle-splitting - Split code by route/feature (React Suspense / Next.js dynamic) to reduce initial load and TTI
• third-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 writes
• content-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 media
• virtualize-lists - Virtualize lists with 50+ items to improve memory efficiency and scroll performance
• main-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-system for recommendations)
• consistency - Use same style across all pages
• no-emoji-icons - Use SVG icons (Heroicons, Lucide), not emojis
• color-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, motion
• state-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 values
• dark-mode-pairing - Design light/dark variants together to keep brand, contrast, and style consistent
• icon-style-consistent - Use one icon set/visual language (stroke width, corner radius) across the product
• system-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 desktop
• breakpoint-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 chars
• horizontal-scroll - No horizontal scroll on mobile; ensure content fits viewport width
• spacing-scale - Use 4pt/8dp incremental spacing system (Material Design)
• touch-density - Keep component spacing comfortable for touch: not cramped, not causing mis-taps
• container-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 content
• scroll-behavior - Avoid nested scroll regions that interfere with the main scroll experience
• viewport-units - Prefer min-h-dvh over 100vh on mobile
• orientation-support - Keep layout readable and operable in landscape mode
• content-priority - Show core content first on mobile; fold or hide secondary content
• visual-hierarchy - Establish hierarchy via size, spacing, contrast — not color alone

6. 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
• font-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 shift
• whitespace-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/left
• loading-states - Show skeleton or progress indicator when loading exceeds 300ms
• excessive-motion - Animate 1-2 key elements per view max
• easing - Use ease-out for entering, ease-in for exiting; avoid linear for UI transitions
• motion-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 snap
• continuity - 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 feel
• opacity-threshold - Fading elements should not linger below opacity 0.2; either fade fully or remain visible
• modal-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 field
• submit-feedback - Loading then success/error state on submit
• required-indicators - Mark required fields (e.g. asterisk)
• empty-states - Helpful message and action when no content
• toast-dismiss - Auto-dismiss toasts in 3-5s
• confirmation-dialogs - Confirm before destructive actions
• input-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 type
• avoid-mixed-patterns - Don't mix Tab + Sidebar + Bottom Nav at the same hierarchy level
• modal-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 mobile
• responsive-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 frame
• animation-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 clarity
• contrast-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 travel
• tooltip-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 screens
• data-density - Limit information density per chart to avoid cognitive overload; split into multiple charts if needed
• trend-emphasis - Emphasize data trends over decoration; avoid heavy gradients/shadows that obscure the data
• gridline-subtle - Grid lines should be low-contrast (e.g. gray-200) so they don't compete with data
• focusable-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 chart
• export-option - For data-heavy products, offer CSV/image export of chart data
• drill-down-consistency - Drill-down interactions must maintain a clear back-path and hierarchy breadcrumb
• time-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 --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

---

How 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 scripts/search.py "<product_type> <industry> <keywords>" --design-system [-p "Project Name"]

This command:

1. Searches 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 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 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 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

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 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 scripts/search.py "<keyword>" --stack react-native

---

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
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 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 scripts/search.py "minimalism dark mode" --domain style

# Get UX best practices for search interaction and loading
python3 scripts/search.py "search loading animation" --domain ux

Step 4: Stack Guidelines

python3 scripts/search.py "list performance navigation" --stack react-native

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 scripts/search.py "fintech crypto" --design-system

# Markdown - best for documentation
python3 scripts/search.py "fintech crypto" --design-system -f markdown

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Tips 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-system first for full recommendations, then --domain to deep-dive any dimension you're unsure about
• Always add --stack react-native for 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

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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

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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