# Using Document Designer > Use when creating professional documents, PDF reports, Typst templates, Pandoc conversions, or any task where document visual design quality matters - Skill: `tachyon-beep/using-document-designer` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 7 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tachyon-beep/using-document-designer` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tachyon-beep/using-document-designer/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Docs & Writing - Author: tachyon-beep (https://skillmd.com/u/tachyon-beep) - Updated: 2026-09-10 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tachyon-beep/using-document-designer --- # Using Document Designer ## Overview This skill routes you to professional document design capabilities using Pandoc and Typst. Use it when the task requires more than content — when the document needs to **look** professional, with intentional typography, layout, and visual hierarchy. **Core Principle**: Documents are communication artifacts. Content determines what you say; design determines whether anyone reads it. ## When to Use Load this skill when: - Creating PDF reports, proposals, whitepapers, or specifications - Designing Typst templates for repeatable document production - Converting Markdown/DOCX to professionally formatted PDF - Building branded document systems (letterheads, report templates, slide decks) - User mentions: "PDF", "Typst", "Pandoc", "template", "format", "layout", "typography" - Any task where default formatting isn't good enough **Don't use for**: Plain text content writing (use `muna-technical-writer`), web page design (use `lyra-ux-designer`), or data visualization. ## How This Pack Works This pack provides a **document-designer agent** — a specialist subagent that combines graphic design sensibility with typesetting engineering. The agent handles: | Capability | Details | |------------|---------| | **Typst templates** | Page layout, fonts, colors, headers/footers, cover pages, callouts | | **Pandoc pipelines** | Format conversion, custom templates, Lua filters, citation processing | | **Document types** | Reports, proposals, specs, resumes, brochures, slide decks | | **Design patterns** | Accent bars, sidebars, pull quotes, data cards, section dividers | | **Quality assurance** | Typography, table verification, font checks, accessibility | ## Toolchain Versions This pack targets: - **Typst >= 0.14.0** (tagged-PDF-by-default, PDF/UA-1, `image(alt:)`, `pdf.artifact`, fixed CMYK image export). Several reference sheets and the agent assume 0.14+ semantics. Older 0.11–0.13 docs work for most examples but lose accessibility features and need manual `context` syntax checks. - **Pandoc >= 3.2** for the `--pdf-engine=typst` pipeline. Earlier versions have rougher Typst output and inconsistent admonition handling. Pin these at the top of any new template, e.g. `// Requires Typst >= 0.14.0` in a comment, so future readers know what they're compiling against. ## Typst Universe Packages The Typst package registry at is the modern way to add non-trivial functionality. Use `#import "@preview/:"` with a pinned version — naked names break when packages drift. Verify the latest version on Universe before pinning. Canonical packages by use case: | Package | Use case | Notes | |---------|----------|-------| | `@preview/cetz` | Drawing, plots, charts, geometry | TikZ-inspired API; the workhorse for diagrams in Typst | | `@preview/fletcher` | Node-and-arrow diagrams, commutative diagrams, flowcharts | Built on cetz | | `@preview/touying` | Modern presentation slides — themes, animations, speaker notes, PDF export | Active and recommended for slides | | `@preview/polylux` | Slides — older, still maintained, simpler model | Use touying for new decks | | `@preview/valkyrie` | Type-safe argument validation for template authors | Useful when shipping a parameterised template | | `@preview/glossarium` | Glossaries and acronym lists | | | `@preview/physica` / `@preview/mitex` | Physics math notation; LaTeX-math passthrough | | **Discovery pattern**: when the user asks for a capability that isn't a built-in (graph diagrams, citation styles, CV templates, slide themes), search Universe first. `typst init @preview/` scaffolds a full project from a template package. **Note on `tablex`**: Typst 0.11+ absorbed most tablex functionality into native `table()`. Prefer the built-in unless you specifically need tablex's `fit-spans` or arbitrary line extension. ## Reference Sheets Reference sheets are located in the **same directory** as this SKILL.md file. Load them when the user's task matches: | Reference | When to Load | |-----------|-------------| | [academic-papers.md](academic-papers.md) | Journal papers, conference submissions, theses — citations, author blocks, two-column layouts, theorem environments | | [accessible-documents.md](accessible-documents.md) | Any public-facing document — tagged PDF, screen readers, contrast, alt text, PDF/UA compliance | | [data-heavy-documents.md](data-heavy-documents.md) | Documents dominated by tables, charts, metrics — dashboard layouts, landscape pages, large table handling | | [multilingual-documents.md](multilingual-documents.md) | RTL scripts, CJK typography, bilingual layouts, mixed-script font fallback chains | | [print-production.md](print-production.md) | Documents for commercial printing — bleed, crop marks, binding margins, CMYK, image DPI | | [standards-and-specifications.md](standards-and-specifications.md) | ISO/NIST/RFC-style specs, compliance docs, classification markings, conformance clauses | To load: Read the reference sheet from this skill's directory and include its guidance when dispatching the document-designer agent. Multiple sheets can be combined (e.g., accessible + print-production for a printed public document). ## Quick Start ### Creating a New Document Ask for what you need — the document-designer agent will be dispatched: ``` "Create a professional PDF report template for our quarterly reviews" "I need a Typst template with our brand colors (#1a365d, #e53e3e) and Inter font" "Convert this markdown spec to a polished PDF with table of contents" ``` ### Scaffolding from a Template Package ```bash # List candidate templates on https://typst.app/universe and pick one typst init @preview/charged-ieee # IEEE conference template typst init @preview/modern-cv # CV/resume template # Then customise — most template packages expose a #show: .with(...) entrypoint ``` ### Common Workflows **From scratch (Pure Typst):** Best when you need fine control over every layout element. The agent designs the template, populates content, and compiles to PDF. **From existing content (Pandoc → Typst):** Best when you have Markdown/DOCX content that needs professional formatting. The agent creates a custom Pandoc template and conversion pipeline. **Reusable template design:** Best when you need a template for repeated use. The agent designs a parameterized Typst template with metadata-driven customization. ## Relationship to Other Muna Skills | Need | Use | |------|-----| | Writing content (ADRs, runbooks, READMs) | `muna-technical-writer` | | Document set governance and consistency | `muna-wiki-management` | | Audience-testing a document suite | `muna-panel-review` | | **Making documents look professional** | **`muna-document-designer`** (this pack) | The typical flow: write content with `muna-technical-writer`, then format it with `muna-document-designer`.