Banner Design

Banner Design - Multi-Format Creative Banner System

Design banners across social, ads, web, and print formats. Generates multiple art direction options per request with AI-powered visual elements. This skill handles banner design only. Does NOT handle video editing, full website design, or print production.

When to Use

• User requests banner, cover, or header design
• Social media cover/header creation
• Ad banner or display ad design
• Website hero section visual design
• Event/print banner design
• Creative asset generation for campaigns

Prerequisites

Python: This skill uses Python scripts. On Windows, use python instead of python3 (e.g., python scripts/search.py instead of python3 scripts/search.py).

Workflow

Step 1: Gather Requirements (AskUserQuestion)

Collect via AskUserQuestion:

1. Purpose — social cover, ad banner, website hero, print, or creative asset?
2. Platform/size — which platform or custom dimensions?
3. Content — headline, subtext, CTA, logo placement?
4. Brand — existing brand guidelines? (check docs/brand-guidelines.md)
5. Style preference — any art direction? (show style options if unsure)
6. Quantity — how many options to generate? (default: 3)

Step 2: Research & Art Direction

1. Activate ui-ux-pro-max skill for design intelligence
2. Use Chrome browser to research Pinterest for design references:

   Navigate to pinterest.com → search "[purpose] banner design [style]"
   Screenshot 3-5 reference pins for art direction inspiration
   

3. Select 2-3 complementary art direction styles from references: references/banner-sizes-and-styles.md

Step 3: Design & Generate Options

For each art direction option:

1. Create HTML/CSS banner using frontend-design skill

   • Use exact platform dimensions from size reference
   • Apply safe zone rules (critical content in central 70-80%)
   • Max 2 typefaces, single CTA, 4.5:1 contrast ratio
   • Inject brand context via inject-brand-context.cjs

2. Generate visual elements with AI image generation

   • Use ai-multimodal or geminigen-ai skills for visuals
   • Generate backgrounds, patterns, illustrations, product shots
   • Aspect ratios: 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 3:4, 4:3, 2:3, 3:2
   • Match to platform - e.g., Twitter header = 3:1 (use 3:2 closest), Instagram story = 9:16

3. Compose final banner — overlay text, CTA, logo on generated visual in HTML/CSS

Step 4: Export Banners to Images

After designing HTML banners, export each to PNG using Chrome DevTools:

1. Serve HTML files via local server (python http.server or similar)
2. Screenshot each banner at exact platform dimensions:

   # Export banner to PNG at exact dimensions
   # Use Playwright/Puppeteer or Chrome DevTools screenshot
   

3. Auto-compress if >5MB (Sharp compression built-in)

Output path convention:

assets/banners/{campaign}/
├── minimalist-1500x500.png
├── gradient-1500x500.png
├── bold-type-1500x500.png
├── minimalist-1080x1080.png    # if multi-size requested
└── ...

• Use kebab-case for filenames: {style}-{width}x{height}.{ext}
• Date prefix for time-sensitive campaigns: {YYMMDD}-{style}-{size}.png
• Campaign folder groups all variants together

Step 5: Present Options & Iterate

Present all exported images side-by-side. For each option show:

• Art direction style name
• Exported PNG preview
• Key design rationale
• File path & dimensions

Iterate based on user feedback until approved.

Banner Size Quick Reference

Full reference: references/banner-sizes-and-styles.md

Art Direction Styles (Top 10)

Full 22 styles: references/banner-sizes-and-styles.md

Design Rules

• Safe zones: critical content in central 70-80% of canvas
• CTA: one per banner, bottom-right, min 44px height, action verb
• Typography: max 2 fonts, min 16px body, ≥32px headline
• Text ratio: under 20% for ads (Meta penalizes heavy text)
• Print: 300 DPI, CMYK, 3-5mm bleed
• Brand: always inject via inject-brand-context.cjs

Integration

• ui-ux-pro-max — Use for design intelligence and style selection
• brand — Inject brand context and validate assets
• geminigen-ai — Generate AI visuals for banners
• frontend-design — Build HTML/CSS banner layouts