# Plasmic Designer

> Build and modify Plasmic Studio designs using copilot tools via Chrome DevTools MCP. First argument should be a project ID, followed by the design request. Use this skill whenever the user mentions Plasmic, Plasmic Studio, visual web builder, or asks to design, build, edit, or modify UI components, pages, sections, or layouts inside a Plasmic project. Also trigger when the user references a Plasmic project ID, wants to add/remove/restyle elements in a visual editor, or asks about Plasmic component props, variants, slots, or tokens — even if they don't say "Plasmic" explicitly but describe visual design work that implies it.

- Skill: `plasmicapp/plasmic-designer` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add plasmicapp/plasmic-designer`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/plasmicapp/plasmic-designer/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: plasmicapp (https://skillmd.com/u/plasmicapp)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/plasmicapp/plasmic-designer

---


# Plasmic Designer

Skill Version: 1.3.1

Control Plasmic Studio through Chrome DevTools MCP to build and modify production-ready interfaces.

## Arguments

`$ARGUMENTS` should contain a **project ID** as the first word, followed by the design request.

Example: `/plasmic-designer j2Bm3mrbGNKsXVW3Wf5KpP Add a hero section to the Homepage`

If no project ID is provided, or if the conversation references multiple projects and it's unclear which one to use, ask the user to confirm the project ID before proceeding.

## Setup

The studio base URL is `https://studio.plasmic.app` by default. Only use `http://localhost:3003` if the user explicitly mentions localhost, a local dev server, or a local environment.

1. **Navigate to the project** using `navigate_page` to open `{baseUrl}/projects/{projectId}/`

2. **Wait for studio to load and identify the session** — the studio takes a few seconds to initialize. Poll until `window.PLASMIC_AI_TOOLS` is available, then call `identify()` once, before any other tool.

   ```javascript
   async () => {
     for (let i = 0; i < 30; i++) {
       if (window.PLASMIC_AI_TOOLS) {
         return await window.PLASMIC_AI_TOOLS.identify({
           model: "<model>",
           client: "<client>",
           skill: "<skill>",
           outputFormat: "<json|xml>",
         });
       }
       await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 1000));
     }
     return {
       success: false,
       error: { message: "Studio failed to load." },
     };
   };
   ```

   Fields (all required):

   - `model` — Model name as known to the agent (e.g. `claude-opus-4-7`, `anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6`, `gpt-5.3-codex`).
   - `client` — AI client/CLI invoking the tool (e.g. `claude-code`, `claude-code@1.x`, `opencode`, `cursor`, `cline`).
   - `skill` — Skill name and version being used (e.g. `plasmic-designer@1.3.1`, `unknown`).
   - `outputFormat` — Preferred format for tool output, `"json"` or `"xml"`.

   Pass `"unknown"` for any required string field you cannot reliably identify.

   If `success` is false, inform the user and stop.

## Workflow

Follow an explore-first pattern for every request:

1. **Understand** — `read` the current state before changing anything; prefer reusing existing components over new HTML.
2. **Plan** — For complex requests, break the work into steps before acting.
3. **Execute** — Make changes with the appropriate tools.
4. **Verify** — `read` to confirm structural changes; Optionally, `take_screenshot` to confirm the result visually

## Using the tools

The toolset is exposed at runtime and is the source of truth — **introspect it, don't rely on a hardcoded list.** `_meta` is a `Record<string, CopilotToolMeta>` keyed by tool name:

```ts
interface CopilotToolMeta {
  toolName: string;
  title: string;
  description: string;
  inputSchema: JSONSchema7; // JSON Schema (draft-07)
  outputSchema: JSONSchema7; // shape of a successful `output`
}
```

Read a compact tool catalog once with `evaluate_script`. Omit schemas from this initial result because they are much larger:

```javascript
() =>
  Object.fromEntries(
    Object.entries(window.PLASMIC_AI_TOOLS._meta).map(
      ([name, { title, description }]) => [name, { title, description }]
    )
  );
```

Before using a tool, inspect its `inputSchema` and treat it as authoritative for field names, required fields, enums, and nesting, for example `() => window.PLASMIC_AI_TOOLS._meta.read.inputSchema`. Inspect only the relevant `outputSchema` when its result shape matters.

Call a tool with an async arrow function (tools return Promises), passing one input object that conforms to its schema:

```javascript
async () => await window.PLASMIC_AI_TOOLS.<toolName>({
  /* fields per window.PLASMIC_AI_TOOLS._meta.<toolName>.inputSchema */
});
```

Every call resolves to a `CopilotToolCallResult`:

```ts
type CopilotToolCallResult =
  | { success: true; output: string }
  | {
      success: false;
      error: { message: string; type: "TOOL_NOT_FOUND" | "EXECUTION_FAILED" };
    };
```

Check `success` each time; on a UUID error, re-read for fresh UUIDs and retry.

Call `read` before any mutation to get project structure and the UUIDs every other tool needs. Its output is usually XML: parse it for UUIDs, props, variants, and slots, and read selectively (specific components/elements) on large projects. After a successful mutation the canvas updates automatically.

## Legacy Data Query Migration

Only when asked, read `references/query-migration.md` before migrating. Migrate only the named query; for a component-wide request, assess every `legacyDataQueries` entry.

## Components & Variants

### Reusing Existing Components

When you read a component, review its props, variants, slots, element tree and per-variant style overrides before using it.

To use a component in insertHtml:

```html
<plasmic-component
  data-plasmic-component="ComponentName"
  data-plasmic-project="importedProjectId"
  data-plasmic-name="primaryCta"
  data-props='{"propName":"value","variantGroup":"optionName"}'
  style="margin: 16px;"
>
  <slot name="slotName">Slot content here</slot>
</plasmic-component>
```

- `data-plasmic-component` must exactly match the component name from `read()` (case-sensitive).
- `data-plasmic-project` (optional) is the id of the imported project the component comes from. Omit it for components in the current project; set it to use a component from an imported project.
- `data-plasmic-name` (optional) names this component instance in the tree. It's a semantic name picked up by Plasmic codegen to override the element in the generated code.
- `data-props` is a JSON object for both props and variant activations. Boolean variants: `"group": true`. Enum variants: `"group": "optionName"`.
- `<slot name="slotName">` children fill named slots; its children become the slot content.
- **Only layout/position styles work on instances**: width, height, min/max sizing, margin, position, top/left/bottom/right, z-index, order, align-self, flex-grow/shrink, opacity, display (only `none`), transform, and transition properties. Background, padding, color, font, border, etc. are ignored on instances — use `changeElement` on the component's root element instead. This is a Plasmic platform constraint, not a preference.

## Dynamic Data

Text, attributes, and component props can be bound to runtime data — `$props`, `$state`, `$ctx` (page params/query), `$queries` / `$q` (data query results), and repetition locals (`currentItem`, `currentIndex`).

- Write bindings as inline `{{ jsExpr }}` interpolation. Content is static by default; wrapping JS in `{{ }}` makes it dynamic (also used for non-string literals, e.g. `"{{ 10 }}"`).
- Before binding, `read({ dataContext: [{ componentUuid, elementUuid }] })` to see which paths exist, then drill in with `paths` / `maxArrayItems`. Reference only paths it returns.
- Repetition: `data-repeat="{{ $q.myQuery.data }}"` in `insertHtml`, or `repeat: { collection: "..." }` in `changeElement`; bind the subtree with `{{ currentItem.* }}`.
- Visibility: `data-visible-if="{{ ... }}"` / `data-visibility="displayNone"`, or `visibility: { showIf: "..." }` in `changeElement`.
- A prop wired to the enclosing component's prop reads back as `{{ $props.<name> }}`, and a link-to-page destination as its URL with dynamic parts inlined (e.g. `/products/{{ $state.slug }}`).

## HTML Code Guidelines

Before generating HTML, read `references/html-constraints.md` for the full set of rules. The key points:

- Use `<style>` blocks with BEM-style class names instead of inline styles.
- Use flex layout exclusively (Plasmic does not support CSS Grid).
- Include `@media` queries for responsive breakpoints — `read` the project's breakpoints (with `screenBreakpoints`) first.
- Use Google Fonts (single name, no fallback lists).
- Use inline SVG for icons, `https://placehold.co` for placeholder images.
- `<slot-target name="slotName">default content</slot-target>` defines a named slot when building a reusable component; slots cannot be nested.
- No JavaScript, no vendor prefixes, no `data:image/svg+xml`, no `currentColor`, no `:root`.

## Design Quality

Before generating designs, read `references/design-guidelines.md` for aesthetic principles and design thinking guidance.

## Design Tokens

Read the project's tokens before generating designs, then:

- Prefer existing tokens over hardcoded values for consistency. Reference them as `var(--token-<uuid>)`.
- If a token's value doesn't match the design intent, use a hardcoded value instead — design accuracy matters more than token reuse.
- Not every value needs a token. Use them for deliberate design decisions (brand colors, type scale), not incidental one-off values.

## Modifying Existing Components

- **Small changes** (color, spacing) — apply directly with `changeElement` or `insertHtml`.
- **Significant changes** to widely-used components — describe the proposed changes and ask the user before proceeding, since edits can cascade across the project.
- **Variant-scoped changes** — when possible, scope changes to a specific variant to avoid breaking other usages.

## Response Format

- Be brief and action-oriented. Lead with what you did.
- Summarize changes in 1-2 sentences.
- Don't repeat the user's request or give lengthy explanations unless asked.