Visual Communication Director
The department head for visual communication within the design domain. Routes questions to the right specialist, defines the learning order, and resolves conflicts.
Routing Logic
When a question arrives in this subdomain, classify it and route accordingly:
| Question Pattern |
Route To |
Why |
| Color palettes, harmony, contrast ratios, hue/saturation |
color-theory |
Color-specific methodology |
| Layout, alignment, whitespace, visual hierarchy, grid |
design-principles |
Structural composition |
| Eye tracking, readability, attention flow, visual weight |
visual-perception |
Perceptual science |
| Accessibility, WCAG compliance |
visual-perception first, then color-theory |
Perception defines the problem, color solves it |
| "Make this look better" (vague) |
All three, in curriculum order |
Needs holistic assessment |
Multi-Skill Questions
Some questions need more than one skill. Load them in this priority:
visual-perception — understand how the human eye will process itdesign-principles — apply structural rulescolor-theory — refine the color decisions
This order ensures perception constrains principles, and principles constrain color — not the reverse.
Curriculum Order
For learning or progressive loading:
- Visual Perception (foundation) — How humans see. Without this, design principles are arbitrary rules.
- Design Principles (application) — How to structure visual information. Builds on perception science.
- Color Theory (specialization) — How to work with color. Most effective when you understand why colors work perceptually.
Level Progression
- Foundational: All three current skills are foundational level
- Intermediate: (not yet built) Typography, responsive design, motion design
- Advanced: (not yet built) Brand systems, design systems, generative design
Conflict Resolution
When child skills give contradictory guidance:
| Conflict |
Resolution |
Reason |
| Color theory says "use high saturation" but perception says "causes eye strain" |
Perception wins |
Human limits override aesthetic preference |
| Design principles say "minimize elements" but color theory says "use 5-color palette" |
Design principles wins |
Simplicity is structural; color serves structure |
| Perception says "readers scan F-pattern" but design principles say "center-align" |
Perception wins |
Empirical science overrides convention |
General rule: When in doubt, perception > principles > color. The human eye is the final arbiter.
Scope Boundaries
This director handles: All visual design questions within the static/2D domain — layout, color, typography fundamentals, readability, accessibility.
Escalate to the orchestrator when:
- The question involves animation or motion (interaction design subdomain)
- The question involves brand strategy, not just brand visuals
- The question spans multiple subdomains (e.g., "design a complete app")
- The user needs a specialist agent launched (only orchestrators launch agents)
Cross-Domain Connections
- Writing/rhetoric: Visual communication is rhetoric made visible. Design principles (contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity) are the visual equivalents of rhetorical devices (antithesis, anaphora, parallelism, juxtaposition). Both domains persuade — one through words, the other through layout and imagery.
1---2name: visual-communication3description: Direct the visual communication subdomain — route design questions to the right specialist skill, define the learning curriculum, and resolve conflicts between visual design principles. Use when the user has a visual design question and you need to determine which knowledge skill (color theory, design principles, or visual perception) to consult.4---56# Visual Communication Director78The department head for visual communication within the design domain. Routes questions to the right specialist, defines the learning order, and resolves conflicts.910## Routing Logic1112When a question arrives in this subdomain, classify it and route accordingly:1314| Question Pattern | Route To | Why |15|-----------------|----------|-----|16| Color palettes, harmony, contrast ratios, hue/saturation | `color-theory` | Color-specific methodology |17| Layout, alignment, whitespace, visual hierarchy, grid | `design-principles` | Structural composition |18| Eye tracking, readability, attention flow, visual weight | `visual-perception` | Perceptual science |19| Accessibility, WCAG compliance | `visual-perception` first, then `color-theory` | Perception defines the problem, color solves it |20| "Make this look better" (vague) | All three, in curriculum order | Needs holistic assessment |2122### Multi-Skill Questions2324Some questions need more than one skill. Load them in this priority:251. `visual-perception` — understand how the human eye will process it262. `design-principles` — apply structural rules273. `color-theory` — refine the color decisions2829This order ensures perception constrains principles, and principles constrain color — not the reverse.3031## Curriculum Order3233For learning or progressive loading:34351. **Visual Perception** (foundation) — How humans see. Without this, design principles are arbitrary rules.362. **Design Principles** (application) — How to structure visual information. Builds on perception science.373. **Color Theory** (specialization) — How to work with color. Most effective when you understand why colors work perceptually.3839### Level Progression40- **Foundational**: All three current skills are foundational level41- **Intermediate**: (not yet built) Typography, responsive design, motion design42- **Advanced**: (not yet built) Brand systems, design systems, generative design4344## Conflict Resolution4546When child skills give contradictory guidance:4748| Conflict | Resolution | Reason |49|----------|-----------|--------|50| Color theory says "use high saturation" but perception says "causes eye strain" | Perception wins | Human limits override aesthetic preference |51| Design principles say "minimize elements" but color theory says "use 5-color palette" | Design principles wins | Simplicity is structural; color serves structure |52| Perception says "readers scan F-pattern" but design principles say "center-align" | Perception wins | Empirical science overrides convention |5354**General rule**: When in doubt, perception > principles > color. The human eye is the final arbiter.5556## Scope Boundaries5758**This director handles**: All visual design questions within the static/2D domain — layout, color, typography fundamentals, readability, accessibility.5960**Escalate to the orchestrator when**:61- The question involves animation or motion (interaction design subdomain)62- The question involves brand strategy, not just brand visuals63- The question spans multiple subdomains (e.g., "design a complete app")64- The user needs a specialist agent launched (only orchestrators launch agents)6566## Cross-Domain Connections6768- **Writing/rhetoric**: Visual communication is rhetoric made visible. Design principles (contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity) are the visual equivalents of rhetorical devices (antithesis, anaphora, parallelism, juxtaposition). Both domains persuade — one through words, the other through layout and imagery.
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