design-preferences
Gather user design preferences before building UI.Use when: starting a project with visual interface (Web App, Mobile, Browser Extension).Triggers: "design preferences", "visual style", "choose theme", "design step".
When & Why to Use This Skill
This Claude skill streamlines the initial UI design phase by systematically gathering user preferences for visual style, themes, typography, and motion. It eliminates ambiguity in frontend development by generating a comprehensive `docs/DESIGN.md` specification, ensuring the final product aligns with the user's aesthetic vision and project priorities. By establishing a 'design source of truth' early, it prevents costly visual reworks and ensures brand consistency across web apps, mobile platforms, and browser extensions.
Use Cases
- Scenario 1: Starting a new SaaS or Web App project and needing to define a professional visual identity (e.g., 'Dark & Professional' or 'Modern Minimalist') before writing any frontend code.
- Scenario 2: Rapidly prototyping an MVP where a 'Functional' design priority is needed to ensure a clean, usable interface without over-investing in custom aesthetics.
- Scenario 3: Developing a brand-consistent mobile application or browser extension by documenting specific color hex codes, font pairings, and animation levels in a structured format.
- Scenario 4: Integrating design requirements into an automated development workflow (like /ship), providing the AI agent with clear visual constraints to follow during the build phase.
| name | design-preferences |
|---|---|
| description | | |
| Use when | starting a project with visual interface (Web App, Mobile, Browser Extension). |
| Triggers | "design preferences", "visual style", "choose theme", "design step". |
Design Preferences
Gather user preferences for visual design before building. Creates docs/DESIGN.md with selected choices.
When to Use
Applies to project types with UI:
- Web App (SaaS)
- Mobile App
- Browser Extension
- Telegram Bot (if inline keyboards / web app)
Skip for:
- REST API (no UI)
- GraphQL API (no UI)
- CLI Tool (terminal only)
- Data Pipeline
- Library/SDK
Question Flow
Step 1: Design Priority
question: "Насколько важен дизайн для этого проекта?"
header: "Design"
options:
- label: "Профессиональный"
description: "Уникальный стиль, впечатляет пользователей"
- label: "Функциональный"
description: "Чистый и понятный, без лишнего"
- label: "Минимальный MVP"
description: "Работает -> достаточно, стиль потом"
If "Минимальный MVP" -> Skip remaining questions, use defaults.
Step 2: Aesthetic Direction
question: "Какой визуальный стиль ближе?"
header: "Style"
options:
- label: "Minimalist"
description: "Много пространства, чистые линии"
- label: "Bold & Modern"
description: "Яркие акценты, современный"
- label: "Soft & Friendly"
description: "Округлые формы, мягкие тона"
- label: "Dark & Professional"
description: "Тёмная тема, серьёзный"
- label: "Colorful & Playful"
description: "Яркие цвета, игривый"
Step 3: Theme Selection
Based on aesthetic direction, offer matching themes from theme-factory:
| Direction | Matching Themes |
|---|---|
| Minimalist | Modern Minimalist, Arctic Frost |
| Bold & Modern | Tech Innovation, Sunset Boulevard |
| Soft & Friendly | Desert Rose, Botanical Garden |
| Dark & Professional | Ocean Depths, Midnight Galaxy |
| Colorful & Playful | Golden Hour, Sunset Boulevard |
question: "Какая цветовая схема?"
header: "Theme"
options:
- label: "{Theme 1}"
description: "{Primary colors}"
- label: "{Theme 2}"
description: "{Primary colors}"
- label: "Custom"
description: "Опишу свои цвета"
If "Custom" -> Ask follow-up: "Опиши желаемые цвета или бренд"
Step 4: Typography Style
question: "Какой стиль текста?"
header: "Fonts"
options:
- label: "Sans-Serif (современный)"
description: "Чистый, технологичный"
- label: "Serif (классический)"
description: "Традиционный, солидный"
- label: "Mixed (заголовки/текст)"
description: "Display + body fonts"
Step 5: Animation Level
question: "Сколько анимации?"
header: "Motion"
options:
- label: "Subtle"
description: "Только hover эффекты"
- label: "Moderate"
description: "Переходы, hover, scroll"
- label: "Rich"
description: "Page transitions, stagger, parallax"
- label: "None"
description: "Без анимации"
Output: docs/DESIGN.md
# Design Specification
## Priority
{Professional / Functional / MVP}
## Aesthetic Direction
{Selected style}
## Theme
**Name:** {theme name}
**Colors:**
- Primary: {hex}
- Secondary: {hex}
- Accent: {hex}
- Background: {hex}
- Text: {hex}
**Fonts:**
- Headers: {font name}
- Body: {font name}
## Motion
**Level:** {Subtle / Moderate / Rich / None}
**Patterns:**
- Hover: {yes/no}
- Page transitions: {yes/no}
- Scroll animations: {yes/no}
- Loading states: {yes/no}
## Implementation Notes
- Use CSS variables for theme colors
- Follow frontend-design skill principles
- Avoid generic fonts (Inter, Roboto, Arial)
- {Additional notes based on choices}
Default Values (MVP mode)
If user chooses "Минимальный MVP":
- Theme: Modern Minimalist
- Fonts: System sans-serif
- Motion: None
- Priority: Ship fast, style later
Integration with /ship
Place this step between Phase 1 (Idea Validation) and Phase 2 (Project Setup):
Phase 1: Idea Validation
-> Step 1.6: Create PRD
Phase 1.5: Design Preferences <-- NEW
-> Ask design questions
-> Create DESIGN.md
Phase 2: Project Setup
-> Read PRD.md + DESIGN.md
-> Apply theme to templates
Theme Details Reference
Ocean Depths
- Primary: #1a2332 (Deep Navy)
- Secondary: #2d8b8b (Teal)
- Accent: #a8dadc (Seafoam)
- Background: #f1faee (Cream)
- Use: Corporate, finance, trust
Sunset Boulevard
- Primary: #e76f51 (Burnt Orange)
- Secondary: #f4a261 (Coral)
- Accent: #e9c46a (Warm Sand)
- Background: #264653 (Deep Purple)
- Use: Creative, marketing, lifestyle
Forest Canopy
- Primary: #2d4a2b (Forest Green)
- Secondary: #7d8471 (Sage)
- Accent: #a4ac86 (Olive)
- Background: #faf9f6 (Ivory)
- Use: Eco, wellness, organic
Modern Minimalist
- Primary: #36454f (Charcoal)
- Secondary: #708090 (Slate Gray)
- Accent: #d3d3d3 (Light Gray)
- Background: #ffffff (White)
- Use: Tech, architecture, data
Golden Hour
- Primary: #f4a900 (Mustard)
- Secondary: #c1666b (Terracotta)
- Accent: #d4b896 (Warm Beige)
- Background: #4a403a (Chocolate)
- Use: Food, hospitality, artisan
Arctic Frost
- Primary: #d4e4f7 (Ice Blue)
- Secondary: #4a6fa5 (Steel Blue)
- Accent: #c0c0c0 (Silver)
- Background: #fafafa (Crisp White)
- Use: Healthcare, tech, clean
Desert Rose
- Primary: #d4a5a5 (Dusty Rose)
- Secondary: #b87d6d (Clay)
- Accent: #e8d5c4 (Sand)
- Background: #5d2e46 (Burgundy)
- Use: Fashion, beauty, boutique
Tech Innovation
- Primary: #0066ff (Electric Blue)
- Secondary: #00ffff (Neon Cyan)
- Accent: #ffffff (White)
- Background: #1e1e1e (Dark Gray)
- Use: Startups, AI/ML, digital
Botanical Garden
- Primary: #4a7c59 (Fern Green)
- Secondary: #f9a620 (Marigold)
- Accent: #b7472a (Terracotta)
- Background: #f5f3ed (Cream)
- Use: Garden, food, natural
Midnight Galaxy
- Primary: #2b1e3e (Deep Purple)
- Secondary: #4a4e8f (Cosmic Blue)
- Accent: #a490c2 (Lavender)
- Background: #e6e6fa (Silver)
- Use: Entertainment, gaming, creative