This skill activates the designer mindset: analyze context, commit to a bold aesthetic direction, then execute with precision. The output should be memorable and feel genuinely designed for the specific context.
- Purpose: What problem does this interface solve? Who uses it?
- Tone: Pick an extreme direction:
- Brutally minimal, maximalist chaos, retro-futuristic
- Organic/natural, luxury/refined, playful/toy-like
- Editorial/magazine, brutalist/raw, art deco/geometric
- Soft/pastel, industrial/utilitarian
- Constraints: Framework, performance requirements, accessibility needs
- Differentiation: What makes this UNFORGETTABLE? The one thing someone will remember?
CRITICAL: Choose a clear conceptual direction and execute it with precision. Bold maximalism and refined minimalism both work—the key is intentionality, not intensity.
Typography (always avoid):
- Inter, Roboto, Arial, system-ui, sans-serif defaults
- Any font that "just works" without character
Color (always avoid):
- Purple/violet gradients on white backgrounds
- Evenly-distributed, timid palettes without hierarchy
- Generic blue (#0066CC) as primary without justification
Layout (always avoid):
- Predictable card grids with equal spacing
- Cookie-cutter hero sections
- Standard sidebar + content patterns without variation
Ask yourself: Would a designer cringe at this? If yes, rethink it.
1. Search for relevant components:
mcp__shadcn__search_items_in_registries(registries: ["@shadcn"], query: "button")
2. View component details:
mcp__shadcn__view_items_in_registries(items: ["@shadcn/button"])
3. Get usage examples:
mcp__shadcn__get_item_examples_from_registries(registries: ["@shadcn"], query: "button-demo")
4. Get install command:
mcp__shadcn__get_add_command_for_items(items: ["@shadcn/button"])
Use shadcn components as a foundation, then STYLE them distinctively. The component logic is reusable; the aesthetics must be unique.
- Maximalist designs: Elaborate code, extensive animations, layered effects, custom cursors, grain overlays
- Minimalist designs: Restraint and precision—careful spacing, refined typography, subtle transitions
- The rule: Elegance comes from executing the vision well, not from complexity alone
- Analyze the request—what's the purpose and audience?
- Commit to a bold aesthetic direction (don't hedge)
- Check shadcn for reusable components
- Load references for the chosen aesthetic
- Implement with distinctive typography, color, motion, and composition
- Verify against the anti-slop checklist
For aesthetic inspiration and code samples:
Read references/aesthetics-gallery.md
For typography choices:
Read references/typography-guide.md
For color, motion, and composition:
Read references/design-system.md
| Task |
References to Load |
| Building any UI |
aesthetics-gallery.md + design-system.md |
| Font selection questions |
typography-guide.md |
| Animation/motion work |
design-system.md (motion section) |
| Color palette creation |
design-system.md (color section) |
| React/Svelte/RN/Tailwind |
framework-patterns.md |
| Full page/app build |
All four references |
After reading references, implement with the aesthetic direction committed.
Aesthetic Examples: aesthetics-gallery.md (extensive code samples for each direction)
Typography: typography-guide.md (font pairings, anti-patterns)
Design System: design-system.md (color, motion, composition, visual details, UX guidelines)
Framework Patterns: framework-patterns.md (React, Svelte, React Native, Tailwind best practices)
CRITICAL: No two outputs should look the same. Vary themes, fonts, and aesthetics across generations.
1---2name: create-frontend-ui3description: Build distinctive, production-grade frontend interfaces with high design quality. Use when building web components, pages, dashboards, React components, HTML/CSS layouts, or styling/beautifying any web UI. Avoids generic AI aesthetics. Uses shadcn UI MCP for components.4---5
6<objective>
7Guide creation of distinctive, production-grade frontend interfaces that avoid generic "AI slop" aesthetics. Implement real working code with exceptional attention to aesthetic details and creative choices.
8
9This skill activates the designer mindset: analyze context, commit to a bold aesthetic direction, then execute with precision. The output should be memorable and feel genuinely designed for the specific context.
10</objective>
11
12<essential_principles>
13
14<design_thinking>
15**Before coding, analyze and commit:**
16
171. **Purpose**: What problem does this interface solve? Who uses it?
182. **Tone**: Pick an extreme direction:
19 - Brutally minimal, maximalist chaos, retro-futuristic
20 - Organic/natural, luxury/refined, playful/toy-like
21 - Editorial/magazine, brutalist/raw, art deco/geometric
22 - Soft/pastel, industrial/utilitarian
233. **Constraints**: Framework, performance requirements, accessibility needs
244. **Differentiation**: What makes this UNFORGETTABLE? The one thing someone will remember?
25
26**CRITICAL**: Choose a clear conceptual direction and execute it with precision. Bold maximalism and refined minimalism both work—the key is intentionality, not intensity.
27</design_thinking>
28
29<anti_slop_checklist>
30**NEVER use these generic AI aesthetics:**
31
32**Typography (always avoid):**
33- Inter, Roboto, Arial, system-ui, sans-serif defaults
34- Any font that "just works" without character
35
36**Color (always avoid):**
37- Purple/violet gradients on white backgrounds
38- Evenly-distributed, timid palettes without hierarchy
39- Generic blue (#0066CC) as primary without justification
40
41**Layout (always avoid):**
42- Predictable card grids with equal spacing
43- Cookie-cutter hero sections
44- Standard sidebar + content patterns without variation
45
46**Ask yourself**: Would a designer cringe at this? If yes, rethink it.
47</anti_slop_checklist>
48
49<shadcn_integration>
50**Before building custom components, check shadcn UI MCP:**
51
52```
531. Search for relevant components:
54 mcp__shadcn__search_items_in_registries(registries: ["@shadcn"], query: "button")
55
562. View component details:
57 mcp__shadcn__view_items_in_registries(items: ["@shadcn/button"])
58
593. Get usage examples:
60 mcp__shadcn__get_item_examples_from_registries(registries: ["@shadcn"], query: "button-demo")
61
624. Get install command:
63 mcp__shadcn__get_add_command_for_items(items: ["@shadcn/button"])
64```
65
66Use shadcn components as a foundation, then STYLE them distinctively. The component logic is reusable; the aesthetics must be unique.
67</shadcn_integration>
68
69<implementation_complexity>
70**Match code complexity to aesthetic vision:**
71
72- **Maximalist designs**: Elaborate code, extensive animations, layered effects, custom cursors, grain overlays
73- **Minimalist designs**: Restraint and precision—careful spacing, refined typography, subtle transitions
74- **The rule**: Elegance comes from executing the vision well, not from complexity alone
75</implementation_complexity>
76
77</essential_principles>
78
79<quick_start>
80**Immediate workflow for any frontend build:**
81
821. **Analyze** the request—what's the purpose and audience?
832. **Commit** to a bold aesthetic direction (don't hedge)
843. **Check shadcn** for reusable components
854. **Load references** for the chosen aesthetic
865. **Implement** with distinctive typography, color, motion, and composition
876. **Verify** against the anti-slop checklist
88
89**For aesthetic inspiration and code samples:**
90Read [references/aesthetics-gallery.md](references/aesthetics-gallery.md)
91
92**For typography choices:**
93Read [references/typography-guide.md](references/typography-guide.md)
94
95**For color, motion, and composition:**
96Read [references/design-system.md](references/design-system.md)
97</quick_start>
98
99<routing>
100**Load references based on task:**
101
102| Task | References to Load |
103|------|-------------------|
104| Building any UI | aesthetics-gallery.md + design-system.md |
105| Font selection questions | typography-guide.md |
106| Animation/motion work | design-system.md (motion section) |
107| Color palette creation | design-system.md (color section) |
108| React/Svelte/RN/Tailwind | framework-patterns.md |
109| Full page/app build | All four references |
110
111**After reading references, implement with the aesthetic direction committed.**
112</routing>
113
114<reference_index>
115All domain knowledge in `references/`:
116
117**Aesthetic Examples:** aesthetics-gallery.md (extensive code samples for each direction)
118**Typography:** typography-guide.md (font pairings, anti-patterns)
119**Design System:** design-system.md (color, motion, composition, visual details, UX guidelines)
120**Framework Patterns:** framework-patterns.md (React, Svelte, React Native, Tailwind best practices)
121</reference_index>
122
123<success_criteria>
124A successful frontend implementation:
125
126- [ ] Has a clear, committed aesthetic direction (not hedged or safe)
127- [ ] Uses distinctive typography (NOT Inter, Roboto, Arial, or system fonts)
128- [ ] Has intentional color hierarchy (dominant + sharp accents)
129- [ ] Includes purposeful motion (staggered reveals, hover states that surprise)
130- [ ] Passes the anti-slop checklist (no generic patterns)
131- [ ] Is production-grade and functional
132- [ ] Would make a designer say "this was designed, not generated"
133
134**CRITICAL**: No two outputs should look the same. Vary themes, fonts, and aesthetics across generations.
135</success_criteria>