ui-ux-pro-max

UI/UX Pro Max - Design Intelligence

Comprehensive design guide for web and mobile applications. Contains 50+ styles, 161 color palettes, 57 font pairings, 161 product types with reasoning rules, 99 UX guidelines, and 25 chart types across 10 technology stacks. Searchable database with priority-based recommendations.

When to Apply

This Skill should be used when the task involves UI structure, visual design decisions, interaction patterns, or user experience quality control.

Primary Use Cases

This Skill is most useful in the following situations:

• Designing new pages (Landing Page, Dashboard, Admin, SaaS, Mobile App)
• Creating or refactoring UI components (buttons, modals, forms, tables, charts, etc.)
• Choosing color schemes, typography systems, spacing standards, or layout systems
• Reviewing UI code for user experience, accessibility, or visual consistency
• Implementing navigation structures, animations, or responsive behavior
• Making product-level design decisions (style, information hierarchy, brand expression)
• Improving perceived quality, clarity, or usability of interfaces

Recommended

This Skill is recommended in the following situations:

• UI looks "not professional enough" but the reason is unclear
• Receiving feedback on usability or experience
• Pre-launch UI quality optimization
• Aligning cross-platform design (Web / iOS / Android)
• Building design systems or reusable component libraries

Skip

This Skill is not needed in the following situations:

• Pure backend logic development
• Only involving API or database design
• Performance optimization unrelated to the interface
• Infrastructure or DevOps work
• Non-visual scripts or automation tasks

Decision criteria: If the task will change how a feature looks, feels, moves, or is interacted with, this Skill should be used.

Rule Categories by Priority

For human/AI reference: follow priority 1→10 to decide which rule category to focus on first; use --domain <Domain> to query details when needed. Scripts do not read this table.

Quick Reference

1. Accessibility (CRITICAL)

• color-contrast - Minimum 4.5:1 ratio for normal text (large text 3:1); Material Design
• focus-states - Visible focus rings on interactive elements (2–4px; Apple HIG, MD)
• alt-text - Descriptive alt text for meaningful images
• aria-labels - aria-label for icon-only buttons; accessibilityLabel in native (Apple HIG)
• keyboard-nav - Tab order matches visual order; full keyboard support (Apple HIG)
• form-labels - Use label with for attribute
• skip-links - Skip to main content for keyboard users
• heading-hierarchy - Sequential h1→h6, no level skip
• color-not-only - Don't convey info by color alone (add icon/text)
• dynamic-type - Support system text scaling; avoid truncation as text grows (Apple Dynamic Type, MD)
• reduced-motion - Respect prefers-reduced-motion; reduce/disable animations when requested (Apple Reduced Motion API, MD)
• voiceover-sr - Meaningful accessibilityLabel/accessibilityHint; logical reading order for VoiceOver/screen readers (Apple HIG, MD)
• escape-routes - Provide cancel/back in modals and multi-step flows (Apple HIG)

2. Touch & Interaction (CRITICAL)

• touch-target-size - Min 44×44pt (Apple) / 48×48dp (Material); extend hit area beyond visual bounds if needed
• touch-spacing - Minimum 8px/8dp gap between touch targets (Apple HIG, MD)
• hover-vs-tap - Use click/tap for primary interactions; don't rely on hover alone
• loading-buttons - Disable button during async operations; show spinner or progress
• error-feedback - Clear error messages near problem
• cursor-pointer - Add cursor-pointer to clickable elements (Web)
• gesture-conflicts - Avoid horizontal swipe on main content; prefer vertical scroll
• tap-delay - Use touch-action: manipulation to reduce 300ms delay (Web)
• standard-gestures - Use platform standard gestures consistently; don't redefine (e.g. swipe-back, pinch-zoom) (Apple HIG)
• system-gestures - Don't block system gestures (Control Center, back swipe, etc.) (Apple HIG)
• press-feedback - Visual feedback on press (ripple/highlight; MD state layers)
• haptic-feedback - Use haptic for confirmations and important actions; avoid overuse (Apple HIG)

3. Performance (HIGH)

• image-optimization - Use WebP/AVIF, responsive images (srcset/sizes), lazy load non-critical assets
• image-dimension - Declare width/height or use aspect-ratio to prevent layout shift (Core Web Vitals: CLS)
• font-loading - Use font-display: swap/optional to avoid invisible text (FOIT); reserve space to reduce layout shift (MD)
• font-preload - Preload only critical fonts; avoid overusing preload on every variant
• critical-css - Prioritize above-the-fold CSS (inline critical CSS or early-loaded stylesheet)
• lazy-loading - Lazy load non-hero components via dynamic import / route-level splitting
• bundle-splitting - Split code by route/feature (React Suspense / Next.js dynamic) to reduce initial load and TTI
• third-party-scripts - Load third-party scripts async/defer; audit and remove unnecessary ones (MD)
• reduce-reflows - Avoid frequent layout reads/writes; batch DOM reads then writes
• content-jumping - Reserve space for async content to avoid layout jumps (Core Web Vitals: CLS)
• lazy-load-below-fold - Use loading="lazy" for below-the-fold images and heavy media
• virtualize-lists - Virtualize lists with 50+ items to improve memory efficiency and scroll performance

4. Style Selection (HIGH)

• style-match - Match style to product type (use --design-system for recommendations)
• consistency - Use same style across all pages
• no-emoji-icons - Use SVG icons (Heroicons, Lucide), not emojis
• color-palette-from-product - Choose palette from product/industry (search --domain color)
• effects-match-style - Shadows, blur, radius aligned with chosen style (glass / flat / clay etc.)
• platform-adaptive - Respect platform idioms (iOS HIG vs Material): navigation, controls, typography, motion
• state-clarity - Make hover/pressed/disabled states visually distinct while staying on-style (Material state layers)
• elevation-consistent - Use a consistent elevation/shadow scale for cards, sheets, modals; avoid random shadow values
• dark-mode-pairing - Design light/dark variants together to keep brand, contrast, and style consistent
• icon-style-consistent - Use one icon set/visual language (stroke width, corner radius) across the product
• system-controls - Prefer native/system controls over fully custom ones; only customize when branding requires it (Apple HIG)

5. Layout & Responsive (HIGH)

• viewport-meta - width=device-width initial-scale=1 (never disable zoom)
• mobile-first - Design mobile-first, then scale up to tablet and desktop
• breakpoint-consistency - Use systematic breakpoints (e.g. 375 / 768 / 1024 / 1440)
• readable-font-size - Minimum 16px body text on mobile (avoids iOS auto-zoom)
• line-length-control - Mobile 35–60 chars per line; desktop 60–75 chars
• horizontal-scroll - No horizontal scroll on mobile; ensure content fits viewport width
• spacing-scale - Use 4pt/8dp incremental spacing system (Material Design)
• touch-density - Keep component spacing comfortable for touch: not cramped, not causing mis-taps
• container-width - Consistent max-width on desktop (max-w-6xl / 7xl)
• z-index-management - Define layered z-index scale (e.g. 0 / 10 / 20 / 40 / 100 / 1000)
• fixed-element-offset - Fixed navbar/bottom bar must reserve safe padding for underlying content
• scroll-behavior - Avoid nested scroll regions that interfere with the main scroll experience
• - Prefer min-h-dvh over 100vh on mobile

6. Typography & Color (MEDIUM)

• line-height - Use 1.5-1.75 for body text
• line-length - Limit to 65-75 characters per line
• font-pairing - Match heading/body font personalities
• font-scale - Consistent type scale (e.g. 12 14 16 18 24 32)
• contrast-readability - Darker text on light backgrounds (e.g. slate-900 on white)
• text-styles-system - Use platform type system: iOS 11 Dynamic Type styles / Material 5 type roles (display, headline, title, body, label) (HIG, MD)
• weight-hierarchy - Use font-weight to reinforce hierarchy: Bold headings (600–700), Regular body (400), Medium labels (500) (MD)
• color-semantic - Define semantic color tokens (primary, secondary, error, surface, on-surface) not raw hex in components (Material color system)
• color-dark-mode - Dark mode uses desaturated / lighter tonal variants, not inverted colors; test contrast separately (HIG, MD)
• color-accessible-pairs - Foreground/background pairs must meet 4.5:1 (AA) or 7:1 (AAA); use tools to verify (WCAG, MD)
• color-not-decorative-only - Functional color (error red, success green) must include icon/text; avoid color-only meaning (HIG, MD)
• truncation-strategy - Prefer wrapping over truncation; when truncating use ellipsis and provide full text via tooltip/expand (Apple HIG)

7. Animation (MEDIUM)

• duration-timing - Use 150–300ms for micro-interactions; complex transitions ≤400ms; avoid >500ms (MD)
• transform-performance - Use transform/opacity only; avoid animating width/height/top/left
• loading-states - Show skeleton or progress indicator when loading exceeds 300ms
• excessive-motion - Animate 1-2 key elements per view max
• easing - Use ease-out for entering, ease-in for exiting; avoid linear for UI transitions
• motion-meaning - Every animation must express a cause-effect relationship, not just be decorative (Apple HIG)
• state-transition - State changes (hover / active / expanded / collapsed / modal) should animate smoothly, not snap
• continuity - Page/screen transitions should maintain spatial continuity (shared element, directional slide) (Apple HIG)
• parallax-subtle - Use parallax sparingly; must respect reduced-motion and not cause disorientation (Apple HIG)
• spring-physics - Prefer spring/physics-based curves over linear or cubic-bezier for natural feel (Apple HIG fluid animations)
• exit-faster-than-enter - Exit animations shorter than enter (~60–70% of enter duration) to feel responsive (MD motion)
• stagger-sequence - Stagger list/grid item entrance by 30–50ms per item; avoid all-at-once or too-slow reveals (MD)

8. Forms & Feedback (MEDIUM)

• input-labels - Visible label per input (not placeholder-only)
• error-placement - Show error below the related field
• submit-feedback - Loading then success/error state on submit
• required-indicators - Mark required fields (e.g. asterisk)
• empty-states - Helpful message and action when no content
• toast-dismiss - Auto-dismiss toasts in 3-5s
• confirmation-dialogs - Confirm before destructive actions
• input-helper-text - Provide persistent helper text below complex inputs, not just placeholder (Material Design)
• disabled-states - Disabled elements use reduced opacity (0.38–0.5) + cursor change + semantic attribute (MD)
• progressive-disclosure - Reveal complex options progressively; don't overwhelm users upfront (Apple HIG)
• inline-validation - Validate on blur (not keystroke); show error only after user finishes input (MD)
• input-type-keyboard - Use semantic input types (email, tel, number) to trigger the correct mobile keyboard (HIG, MD)
• password-toggle - Provide show/hide toggle for password fields (MD)

9. Navigation Patterns (HIGH)

• bottom-nav-limit - Bottom navigation max 5 items; use labels with icons (Material Design)
• drawer-usage - Use drawer/sidebar for secondary navigation, not primary actions (Material Design)
• back-behavior - Back navigation must be predictable and consistent; preserve scroll/state (Apple HIG, MD)
• deep-linking - All key screens must be reachable via deep link / URL for sharing and notifications (Apple HIG, MD)
• tab-bar-ios - iOS: use bottom Tab Bar for top-level navigation (Apple HIG)
• top-app-bar-android - Android: use Top App Bar with navigation icon for primary structure (Material Design)
• nav-label-icon - Navigation items must have both icon and text label; icon-only nav harms discoverability (MD)
• nav-state-active - Current location must be visually highlighted (color, weight, indicator) in navigation (HIG, MD)
• nav-hierarchy - Primary nav (tabs/bottom bar) vs secondary nav (drawer/settings) must be clearly separated (MD)
• modal-escape - Modals and sheets must offer a clear close/dismiss affordance; swipe-down to dismiss on mobile (Apple HIG)
• search-accessible - Search must be easily reachable (top bar or tab); provide recent/suggested queries (MD)
• - Web: use breadcrumbs for 3+ level deep hierarchies to aid orientation (MD)

10. Charts & Data (LOW)

• chart-type - Match chart type to data type (trend → line, comparison → bar, proportion → pie/donut)
• color-guidance - Use accessible color palettes; avoid red/green only pairs for colorblind users (WCAG, MD)
• data-table - Provide table alternative for accessibility; charts alone are not screen-reader friendly (WCAG)
• pattern-texture - Supplement color with patterns, textures, or shapes so data is distinguishable without color (WCAG, MD)
• legend-visible - Always show legend; position near the chart, not detached below a scroll fold (MD)
• tooltip-on-interact - Provide tooltips/data labels on hover (Web) or tap (mobile) showing exact values (HIG, MD)
• axis-labels - Label axes with units and readable scale; avoid truncated or rotated labels on mobile
• responsive-chart - Charts must reflow or simplify on small screens (e.g. horizontal bar instead of vertical, fewer ticks)
• empty-data-state - Show meaningful empty state when no data exists ("No data yet" + guidance), not a blank chart (MD)
• loading-chart - Use skeleton or shimmer placeholder while chart data loads; don't show an empty axis frame
• animation-optional - Chart entrance animations must respect prefers-reduced-motion; data should be readable immediately (HIG)

How to Use

Search specific domains using the CLI tool below.

Prerequisites

The bundled scripts require Python 3 (standard library only — no third-party packages, no network access). Check if it is available:

python3 --version || python --version

If Python is not installed, do not install it yourself. Stop and ask the user to install Python 3 using their preferred method (e.g. from python.org or their OS package manager), then continue once it is available. Never run package-manager or system-modifying commands (sudo, brew, apt, winget, etc.) on the user's machine for this skill.

If the user prefers not to install Python, skip the CLI searches and rely on the Quick Reference sections above.

Note: On Windows, use python instead of python3 to run scripts (e.g., python scripts/search.py instead of python3 scripts/search.py).

How to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user requests any of the following:

Follow this workflow:

Step 1: Analyze User Requirements

Extract key information from user request:

• Product type: Entertainment (social, video, music, gaming), Tool (scanner, editor, converter), Productivity (task manager, notes, calendar), or hybrid
• Target audience: C-end consumer users; consider age group, usage context (commute, leisure, work)
• Style keywords: playful, vibrant, minimal, dark mode, content-first, immersive, etc.
• Stack: Match the project's framework. The engine ships guidance for many stacks (see Available Stacks below) — pass the matching --stack (e.g. nextjs, react, shadcn, vue, svelte, astro, swiftui, flutter, react-native).

Step 2: Generate Design System (REQUIRED)

Always start with --design-system to get comprehensive recommendations with reasoning:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<product_type> <industry> <keywords>" --design-system [-p "Project Name"]

This command:

1. Searches domains in parallel (product, style, color, landing, typography)
2. Applies reasoning rules from ui-reasoning.csv to select best matches
3. Returns complete design system: pattern, style, colors, typography, effects
4. Includes anti-patterns to avoid

Example:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "beauty spa wellness service" --design-system -p "Serenity Spa"

Step 2b: Persist Design System (Master + Overrides Pattern)

To save the design system for hierarchical retrieval across sessions, add --persist:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<query>" --design-system --persist -p "Project Name"

This creates:

• design-system/MASTER.md — Global Source of Truth with all design rules
• design-system/pages/ — Folder for page-specific overrides

With page-specific override:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<query>" --design-system --persist -p "Project Name" --page "dashboard"

This also creates:

• design-system/pages/dashboard.md — Page-specific deviations from Master

How hierarchical retrieval works:

1. When building a specific page (e.g., "Checkout"), first check design-system/pages/checkout.md
2. If the page file exists, its rules override the Master file
3. If not, use design-system/MASTER.md exclusively

Context-aware retrieval prompt:

I am building the [Page Name] page. Please read design-system/MASTER.md.
Also check if design-system/pages/[page-name].md exists.
If the page file exists, prioritize its rules.
If not, use the Master rules exclusively.
Now, generate the code...

Step 2c: Design Dials (optional)

Three optional 1-10 sliders that tune --design-system output without changing your query. Add any combination of them to the same command:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<query>" --design-system --variance <1-10> --motion <1-10> --density <1-10>

• --motion attaches a ready-to-use GSAP snippet (with framework notes, Do/Don't, and performance notes) pulled from --domain gsap, matched to the resolved tier (Subtle/Standard/Complex).
• --density overrides the --space-* CSS variable table in the ASCII/markdown/MASTER.md output — use it for dashboards (high) vs. marketing pages (low) without hand-editing tokens.
• Leaving a dial unset keeps that part of the output exactly as it was before (no behavior change).

Example:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "internal analytics dashboard" --design-system --variance 8 --motion 7 --density 8 -p "Ops Console"

Step 3: Supplement with Detailed Searches (as needed)

After getting the design system, use domain searches to get additional details:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<keyword>" --domain <domain> [-n <max_results>]

When to use detailed searches:

Step 4: Stack Guidelines (match your framework)

Get implementation-specific best practices for the stack you're building in. Pass the --stack that matches the project's framework:

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "<keyword>" --stack <your-stack>
# e.g. --stack nextjs | react | shadcn | vue | svelte | astro | swiftui | flutter | react-native

Search Reference

Available Domains

Available Stacks

Run ls <skill>/data/stacks/ to see the live set. Shipped stacks:

Example Workflow

User request: "Make an AI search homepage."

Step 1: Analyze Requirements

• Product type: Tool (AI search engine)
• Target audience: C-end users looking for fast, intelligent search
• Style keywords: modern, minimal, content-first, dark mode
• Stack: Next.js (a homepage is a web surface; use a web --stack)

Step 2: Generate Design System (REQUIRED)

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "AI search tool modern minimal" --design-system -p "AI Search"

Output: Complete design system with pattern, style, colors, typography, effects, and anti-patterns.

Step 3: Supplement with Detailed Searches (as needed)

# Get style options for a modern tool product
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "minimalism dark mode" --domain style
 
# Get UX best practices for search interaction and loading
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "search loading animation" --domain ux

Step 4: Stack Guidelines

python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "list performance navigation" --stack nextjs

Then: Synthesize design system + detailed searches and implement the design.

Output Formats

The --design-system flag supports two output formats:

# ASCII box (default) - best for terminal display
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "fintech crypto" --design-system
 
# Markdown - best for documentation
python3 skills/ui-ux-pro-max/scripts/search.py "fintech crypto" --design-system -f markdown

Tips for Better Results

Query Strategy

• Use multi-dimensional keywords — combine product + industry + tone + density: "entertainment social vibrant content-dense" not just "app"
• Try different keywords for the same need: "playful neon" → "vibrant dark" → "content-first minimal"
• Use --design-system first for full recommendations, then --domain to deep-dive any dimension you're unsure about
• Add the --stack that matches the project's framework for implementation-specific guidance

Common Sticking Points

Pre-Delivery Checklist

• Run --domain ux "animation accessibility z-index loading" as a UX validation pass before implementation
• Run through Quick Reference §1–§3 (CRITICAL + HIGH) as a final review
• Test on 375px (small phone) and landscape orientation
• Verify behavior with reduced-motion enabled and Dynamic Type at largest size
• Check dark mode contrast independently (don't assume light mode values work)
• Confirm all touch targets ≥44pt and no content hidden behind safe areas

Common Rules for Professional UI

These are frequently overlooked issues that make UI look unprofessional: Scope notice: The rules below are for App UI (iOS/Android/React Native/Flutter), not desktop-web interaction patterns.

Icons & Visual Elements

Interaction (App)

Light/Dark Mode Contrast

Layout & Spacing

Pre-Delivery Checklist

Before delivering UI code, verify these items: Scope notice: This checklist is for App UI (iOS/Android/React Native/Flutter).

Visual Quality

• No emojis used as icons (use SVG instead)
• All icons come from a consistent icon family and style
• Official brand assets are used with correct proportions and clear space
• Pressed-state visuals do not shift layout bounds or cause jitter
• Semantic theme tokens are used consistently (no ad-hoc per-screen hardcoded colors)

Interaction

• All tappable elements provide clear pressed feedback (ripple/opacity/elevation)
• Touch targets meet minimum size (>=44x44pt iOS, >=48x48dp Android)
• Micro-interaction timing stays in the 150-300ms range with native-feeling easing
• Disabled states are visually clear and non-interactive
• Screen reader focus order matches visual order, and interactive labels are descriptive
• Gesture regions avoid nested/conflicting interactions (tap/drag/back-swipe conflicts)

Light/Dark Mode

• Primary text contrast >=4.5:1 in both light and dark mode
• Secondary text contrast >=3:1 in both light and dark mode
• Dividers/borders and interaction states are distinguishable in both modes
• Modal/drawer scrim opacity is strong enough to preserve foreground legibility (typically 40-60% black)
• Both themes are tested before delivery (not inferred from a single theme)

Layout

• Safe areas are respected for headers, tab bars, and bottom CTA bars
• Scroll content is not hidden behind fixed/sticky bars
• Verified on small phone, large phone, and tablet (portrait + landscape)
• Horizontal insets/gutters adapt correctly by device size and orientation
• 4/8dp spacing rhythm is maintained across component, section, and page levels
• Long-form text measure remains readable on larger devices (no edge-to-edge paragraphs)

Accessibility

• All meaningful images/icons have accessibility labels
• Form fields have labels, hints, and clear error messages
• Color is not the only indicator
• Reduced motion and dynamic text size are supported without layout breakage
• Accessibility traits/roles/states (selected, disabled, expanded) are announced correctly