UX Decisions Skill
A comprehensive UI design decision-making framework based on "Making UX Decisions" by Tommy Geoco (uxdecisions.com). Enables rapid, intentional interface design in competitive, high-pressure environments.
When to Use This Skill
- Making UI/UX design decisions under time pressure
- Evaluating design trade-offs with business context
- Choosing appropriate UI patterns for specific problems
- Reviewing designs for completeness and quality
- Structuring design thinking for new interfaces
Core Philosophy
Speed ≠ Recklessness. Designing quickly is not automatically reckless. Recklessly designing quickly is reckless. The difference is intentionality.
The 3 Pillars of Warp-Speed Decisioning
- Scaffolding — Rules you use to automate recurring decisions
- Decisioning — Process you use for making new decisions
- Crafting — Checklists you use for executing decisions
Quick Reference Structure
Foundational Frameworks
references/00-core-framework.md — 3 pillars, decisioning workflow, macro betsreferences/01-anchors.md — 7 foundational mindsets for design resiliencereferences/02-information-scaffold.md — Psychology, economics, accessibility, defaults
Checklists (Execution)
references/10-checklist-new-interfaces.md — 6-step process for designing new interfacesreferences/11-checklist-fidelity.md — Component states, interactions, scalability, feedbackreferences/12-checklist-visual-style.md — Spacing, color, elevation, typography, motionreferences/13-checklist-innovation.md — 5 levels of originality spectrum
Patterns (Reusable Solutions)
references/20-patterns-chunking.md — Cards, tabs, accordions, pagination, carouselsreferences/21-patterns-progressive-disclosure.md — Tooltips, popovers, drawers, modalsreferences/22-patterns-cognitive-load.md — Steppers, wizards, minimalist nav, simplified formsreferences/23-patterns-visual-hierarchy.md — Typography, color, whitespace, size, proximityreferences/24-patterns-social-proof.md — Testimonials, UGC, badges, social integrationreferences/25-patterns-feedback.md — Progress bars, notifications, validation, contextual helpreferences/26-patterns-error-handling.md — Form validation, undo/redo, dialogs, autosavereferences/27-patterns-accessibility.md — Keyboard nav, ARIA, alt text, contrast, zoomreferences/28-patterns-personalization.md — Dashboards, adaptive content, preferences, l10nreferences/29-patterns-onboarding.md — Tours, contextual tips, tutorials, checklistsreferences/30-patterns-information.md — Breadcrumbs, sitemaps, tagging, faceted searchreferences/31-patterns-navigation.md — Priority nav, off-canvas, sticky, bottom nav
Usage Instructions
For Design Decisions
- Read
00-core-framework.md for the decisioning workflow
- Identify if this is a recurring decision (use scaffold) or new decision (use process)
- Apply the 3-step weighing: institutional knowledge → user familiarity → research
For New Interfaces
- Follow the 6-step checklist in
10-checklist-new-interfaces.md
- Reference relevant pattern files for specific UI components
- Use fidelity and visual style checklists to enhance quality
For Pattern Selection
- Identify the core problem (chunking, disclosure, cognitive load, etc.)
- Load the relevant pattern reference
- Evaluate benefits, use cases, psychological principles, and implementation guidelines
Decision Workflow Summary
When facing a UI decision:
1. WEIGH INFORMATION
├─ What does institutional knowledge say? (existing patterns, brand, tech constraints)
├─ What are users familiar with? (conventions, competitor patterns)
└─ What does research say? (user testing, analytics, studies)
2. NARROW OPTIONS
├─ Eliminate what conflicts with constraints
├─ Prioritize what aligns with macro bets
└─ Choose based on JTBD support
3. EXECUTE
└─ Apply relevant checklist + patterns
Macro Bet Categories
Companies win through one or more of:
| Bet |
Description |
Design Implication |
| Velocity |
Features to market faster |
Reuse patterns, find metaphors in other markets |
| Efficiency |
Manage waste better |
Design systems, reduce WIP |
| Accuracy |
Be right more often |
Stronger research, instrumentation |
| Innovation |
Discover untapped potential |
Novel patterns, cross-domain inspiration |
Always align micro design bets with company macro bets.
Key Principle: Good Design Decisions Are Relative
A design decision is "good" when it:
- Supports the product's jobs-to-be-done
- Aligns with company macro bets
- Respects constraints (time, tech, team)
- Balances user familiarity with differentiation needs
There is no universally correct UI solution—only contextually appropriate ones.
1---2name: ux-decisions3description: AI skill for the Making UX Decisions framework (uxdecisions.com) by Tommy Geoco. Use for UI/UX design decisions, design audits, pattern selection, visual hierarchy analysis, and reviewing designs for completeness. Enables rapid, intentional interface design with checklists for visual style, accessibility, social proof, navigation, and more.4---56# UX Decisions Skill78A comprehensive UI design decision-making framework based on "Making UX Decisions" by Tommy Geoco (uxdecisions.com). Enables rapid, intentional interface design in competitive, high-pressure environments.910## When to Use This Skill1112- Making UI/UX design decisions under time pressure13- Evaluating design trade-offs with business context14- Choosing appropriate UI patterns for specific problems15- Reviewing designs for completeness and quality16- Structuring design thinking for new interfaces1718## Core Philosophy1920**Speed ≠ Recklessness.** Designing quickly is not automatically reckless. Recklessly designing quickly is reckless. The difference is intentionality.2122## The 3 Pillars of Warp-Speed Decisioning23241. **Scaffolding** — Rules you use to automate recurring decisions252. **Decisioning** — Process you use for making new decisions 263. **Crafting** — Checklists you use for executing decisions2728## Quick Reference Structure2930### Foundational Frameworks31- `references/00-core-framework.md` — 3 pillars, decisioning workflow, macro bets32- `references/01-anchors.md` — 7 foundational mindsets for design resilience33- `references/02-information-scaffold.md` — Psychology, economics, accessibility, defaults3435### Checklists (Execution)36- `references/10-checklist-new-interfaces.md` — 6-step process for designing new interfaces37- `references/11-checklist-fidelity.md` — Component states, interactions, scalability, feedback38- `references/12-checklist-visual-style.md` — Spacing, color, elevation, typography, motion39- `references/13-checklist-innovation.md` — 5 levels of originality spectrum4041### Patterns (Reusable Solutions)42- `references/20-patterns-chunking.md` — Cards, tabs, accordions, pagination, carousels43- `references/21-patterns-progressive-disclosure.md` — Tooltips, popovers, drawers, modals44- `references/22-patterns-cognitive-load.md` — Steppers, wizards, minimalist nav, simplified forms45- `references/23-patterns-visual-hierarchy.md` — Typography, color, whitespace, size, proximity46- `references/24-patterns-social-proof.md` — Testimonials, UGC, badges, social integration47- `references/25-patterns-feedback.md` — Progress bars, notifications, validation, contextual help48- `references/26-patterns-error-handling.md` — Form validation, undo/redo, dialogs, autosave49- `references/27-patterns-accessibility.md` — Keyboard nav, ARIA, alt text, contrast, zoom50- `references/28-patterns-personalization.md` — Dashboards, adaptive content, preferences, l10n51- `references/29-patterns-onboarding.md` — Tours, contextual tips, tutorials, checklists52- `references/30-patterns-information.md` — Breadcrumbs, sitemaps, tagging, faceted search53- `references/31-patterns-navigation.md` — Priority nav, off-canvas, sticky, bottom nav5455## Usage Instructions5657### For Design Decisions581. Read `00-core-framework.md` for the decisioning workflow592. Identify if this is a recurring decision (use scaffold) or new decision (use process)603. Apply the 3-step weighing: institutional knowledge → user familiarity → research6162### For New Interfaces631. Follow the 6-step checklist in `10-checklist-new-interfaces.md`642. Reference relevant pattern files for specific UI components653. Use fidelity and visual style checklists to enhance quality6667### For Pattern Selection681. Identify the core problem (chunking, disclosure, cognitive load, etc.)692. Load the relevant pattern reference703. Evaluate benefits, use cases, psychological principles, and implementation guidelines7172## Decision Workflow Summary7374When facing a UI decision:7576```771. WEIGH INFORMATION78 ├─ What does institutional knowledge say? (existing patterns, brand, tech constraints)79 ├─ What are users familiar with? (conventions, competitor patterns)80 └─ What does research say? (user testing, analytics, studies)81822. NARROW OPTIONS83 ├─ Eliminate what conflicts with constraints84 ├─ Prioritize what aligns with macro bets85 └─ Choose based on JTBD support86873. EXECUTE88 └─ Apply relevant checklist + patterns89```9091## Macro Bet Categories9293Companies win through one or more of:9495| Bet | Description | Design Implication |96|-----|-------------|-------------------|97| **Velocity** | Features to market faster | Reuse patterns, find metaphors in other markets |98| **Efficiency** | Manage waste better | Design systems, reduce WIP |99| **Accuracy** | Be right more often | Stronger research, instrumentation |100| **Innovation** | Discover untapped potential | Novel patterns, cross-domain inspiration |101102Always align micro design bets with company macro bets.103104## Key Principle: Good Design Decisions Are Relative105106A design decision is "good" when it:107- Supports the product's jobs-to-be-done108- Aligns with company macro bets109- Respects constraints (time, tech, team)110- Balances user familiarity with differentiation needs111112There is no universally correct UI solution—only contextually appropriate ones.
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