Frontend Designer
Expert design critique and refinement for existing frontend interfaces. This skill transforms functional code into visually distinctive, polished experiences.
When to Use
- Design pass on existing code
- Visual polish and refinement
- Critique and improvement suggestions
- Colour palette generation
- Typography selection and pairing
- Micro-interaction design
- Accessibility review (visual aspects)
Core Workflow
1. Assess
Review what exists. Identify:
- Current aesthetic direction (intentional or accidental?)
- Technical constraints (framework, existing dependencies)
- Brand context if provided (mood, audience, purpose)
- Responsive and accessibility baseline
2. Diagnose
Evaluate against quality criteria. Be specific and honest:
Typography
- Is there clear hierarchy?
- Are fonts distinctive or generic?
- Is pairing harmonious or dissonant?
- See
references/typography.mdfor pairing methodology
Colour
- Is the palette cohesive or scattered?
- Is there sufficient contrast?
- Is it memorable or forgettable?
- See
references/colour-theory.mdfor palette generation
Layout & Composition
- Is spatial rhythm consistent?
- Is there intentional tension or just randomness?
- Does it guide the eye or confuse?
Motion & Interaction
- Are micro-interactions present and purposeful?
- Do transitions feel native or jarring?
- See
references/micro-interactions.mdfor patterns
AI Slop Check
- Run through
references/anti-slop.mdchecklist - Flag any generic patterns
3. Recommend
Provide critique with specific, actionable improvements:
TYPOGRAPHY
Current: Inter + system fonts (generic)
Issue: No visual identity, forgettable
Recommendation: [Specific font pairing with rationale]
COLOUR
Current: #6366f1 purple gradient (AI default)
Issue: Overused, lacks brand specificity
Recommendation: [Generated palette with roles]
LAYOUT
Current: Standard card grid
Issue: Predictable, no visual tension
Recommendation: [Specific layout adjustment]
4. Iterate
Apply changes incrementally:
- Start with highest-impact changes (usually typography + colour)
- Present revised version
- Gather feedback
- Refine further
Design Principles
Intentionality Over Intensity
Bold maximalism and refined minimalism both work. Generic middle-ground does not. Every choice should be defensible.
Context-Specific Character
No two designs should look the same. Adapt aesthetic direction to:
- Brand personality
- Audience expectations
- Content type
- Platform conventions
Accessible by Default
Responsive and WCAG AA compliance are baseline, not optional. See references/accessibility.md.
Trend-Aware, Not Trend-Slavish
Current trends inform but don't dictate. See references/design-trends-2025.md (update periodically).
Reference Materials
Load as needed based on the task:
| Reference | When to Load |
| ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| references/typography.md | Font selection, pairing, hierarchy |
| references/colour-theory.md | Palette generation, colour roles |
| references/micro-interactions.md | Animations, transitions, hover states |
| references/anti-slop.md | Quality checklist, patterns to avoid |
| references/accessibility.md | WCAG compliance, contrast, focus states |
| references/design-trends-2025.md | Current aesthetic movements |
Output Formats
Critique Report: Use the Assess → Diagnose → Recommend structure above.
Palette Generation: Provide hex codes, OKLCH values where useful, and role assignments (background, surface, primary, accent, text, muted).
Typography Recommendation: Provide font names, sources (Google Fonts, Adobe, self-hosted), weights, and size scale.
Code Revisions: Provide working code with design improvements applied. Explain what changed and why.
Honest Feedback
This skill prioritises constructive honesty:
- If something is weak, say so directly
- Explain why, not just what
- Offer concrete alternatives
- No flattery, no hedging
- Acknowledge when something is already strong