Designbrief

designbrief

A library of rich design direction files — one per UI style — that provide guardrails for building tasteful, consistent interfaces without prescribing exact values.

How It Works

Each style is a standalone markdown file in styles/ that defines the design DNA of a visual direction: typography families, color theory, spacing philosophy, border/shadow characteristics, layout principles, component behavior, and implementation guidance.

These are guardrails, not templates. They define what kind of font, color, spacing — not the exact values. The developer (or AI) makes specific choices within the style's constraints.

When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user:

• Asks to build any UI, page, component, or app
• Mentions a specific design style by name
• Asks for style recommendations or comparisons
• Wants to change the visual direction of an existing project

Workflow

1. Determine the Style

If the user specifies a style (e.g., "use Bauhaus", "make it glassmorphic"):

• Read the corresponding file from styles/{style-name}.md
• Apply its guardrails to all UI decisions

If the user does NOT specify a style:

• Read styles/_index.md for the full catalog with mood/industry tags
• Ask the user what mood, audience, and industry they're targeting
• Recommend 2-3 styles with brief reasoning
• Let them choose, then load the full style file

2. Apply the Style

When generating UI code, use the style file as your design system:

• Typography: Choose specific fonts from within the style's recommended families/characteristics
• Colors: Build a palette that follows the style's color theory and contrast rules
• Spacing: Apply the style's spacing philosophy (generous vs. tight, rhythmic vs. uniform)
• Components: Shape buttons, cards, inputs, navbars according to the style's component guidance
• Layout: Follow the style's grid and composition principles
• Effects: Apply borders, shadows, blur, gradients per the style's visual depth rules
• Dark/Light Mode: Check the style's Dark Mode & Light Mode section. If the user hasn't specified, use the style's recommended primary mode. If they ask for both, implement the style's palette adaptation for each.
• Responsive: Apply the style's Responsive & Mobile guidance. Ensure touch targets (44px minimum), compress spacing and typography for mobile, and handle any performance concerns (e.g., heavy blur on mobile devices).
• Content & Voice: Match headline tone, body copy style, CTA language, and microcopy personality to the style's Content & Voice section.
• Icons & Illustrations: Choose icon sets and illustration approaches that match the style's guidance.
• Accessibility: Verify contrast ratios per the style's Accessibility section. Implement style-appropriate focus states. Add prefers-reduced-motion fallbacks for animations.

3. Teach Along the Way

When making a design decision, briefly explain why (one sentence) to help the user build taste over time. For example: "Using a warm off-white (#FAF8F5) instead of pure white because Japandi draws from natural materials — pure white feels clinical, not crafted." This is optional but encouraged, especially when the user is learning.

4. Stay Consistent

Once a style is selected for a project:

• Reference the style file for every new component or page
• Do not mix styles unless explicitly asked to create a hybrid
• When in doubt about a design decision, re-read the relevant section of the style file
• The style's "Don'ts" section is as important as its "Do's"
• Ensure dark mode, responsive behavior, content tone, and accessibility remain consistent across all pages

File Structure

styles/
├── _index.md              # Catalog of all styles with tags, mood, best-for
├── bauhaus.md             # Each style is a rich guardrail document
├── glassmorphism.md
├── neubrutalism.md
├── flat-design.md
├── ... (21 styles total)

Style File Anatomy

Every style file follows this structure:

0. Non-Negotiables — The 3 defining characteristics that MUST be present for the style to be recognizable
1. Identity — Name, origin, mood keywords, best-for industries
2. Typography — Font families/characteristics, scale philosophy, weight usage
3. Color — Palette theory, contrast approach, accent strategy
4. Spacing & Layout — Grid system, whitespace philosophy, rhythm, composition
5. Borders & Shadows — Radius, depth, elevation, visual effects
6. Components — How buttons, cards, inputs, navbars, modals should look and feel
7. Motion — Animation philosophy, transition characteristics
8. Dark Mode & Light Mode — Palette adaptation, mode preference, implementation
9. Responsive & Mobile — Typography scaling, spacing compression, layout collapse, touch targets, performance
10. Content & Voice — Headline tone, body copy style, CTA language, microcopy personality
11. Icons & Illustrations — Icon style, illustration approach, photography direction
12. Accessibility — Contrast verification, focus states, motion sensitivity, screen reader considerations
13. Do's and Don'ts — Critical guardrails to maintain style integrity
14. Implementation Hints — Tailwind classes, CSS custom properties, token ranges

Important Notes

• These files define direction, not specification. Two projects using the same style should look related but not identical.
• Always prioritize readability and accessibility over style purity. If a style's aesthetic conflicts with usability, usability wins. Check the style's Accessibility section for known risks and remediation.
• The user can override any guardrail — the style file is a starting point, not a cage.
• When building for mobile, follow the style's Responsive & Mobile section — adapt the principles to touch targets and smaller viewports rather than abandoning them.
• Match the content tone to the visual style. A Neubrutalism site with corporate copy feels wrong; a Corporate Modern site with slang feels unprofessional. The Content & Voice section guides this.
• When teaching: good design is not arbitrary. Every rule exists for a reason — the "why" matters more than the "what." Help users understand the reasoning behind choices so they build taste over time.