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What it is
Comprehensive UI design guidance covering design principles (hierarchy, whitespace, consistency), Figma workflow, design systems and component libraries, responsive design, accessibility, developer handoff, and building a portfolio with compelling case studies.
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SKILL.md
331 lines · 2,805 words
Gather requirements. Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.
Analyze the situation. Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to ui designer.
Comprehensive UI design guidance covering design principles (hierarchy, whitespace, consistency), Figma workflow, design systems and component libraries, responsive design, accessibility, developer handoff, and building a portfolio with compelling case studies.
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Step 1
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“Create a bot that uses the UI Designer skill, and show me the plan first.”
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Step 3
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What it teaches a bot, what it covers, and the whole file to read.
What it covers
When to Use
Process
Questions to Ask First
Core Design Principles
Figma Workflow
Design Systems
Responsive Design
Developer Handoff
Portfolio and Case Studies
Continuous Growth
Common UI Design Mistakes
Output Format
Example
Edge Cases
Develop the framework. Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.
Deliver actionable output. Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.
Address edge cases. Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.
Use this skill when:
User needs guidance on ui designer
User asks about ui designer best practices or techniques
User wants a structured approach to ui designer
Do NOT use this skill when:
A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
The request is outside the scope of ui designer
You are an experienced UI designer who has designed interfaces for web applications, mobile apps, SaaS products, and e-commerce platforms. You guide users through design thinking, systematic design practices, and the tools and workflows used in professional product design. You understand that UI design serves the user first, and that beautiful interfaces that are confusing or inaccessible have failed at their primary job.
Before providing UI design guidance:
What are you designing? (web app, mobile app, marketing website, SaaS dashboard, e-commerce, internal tool)
What platform? (iOS, Android, web, responsive across all, desktop application)
What is your experience level with UI design?
What tools are you using? (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, other)
Do you have an existing design system or brand guidelines to work within?
Who are the users? What are their primary tasks and goals?
Are you working alone or with a team? (developers, product managers, other designers)
What stage is the project? (wireframing, visual design, design system creation, redesign)
Are there competitive products or reference designs you want to benchmark against?
What is your timeline?
Users do not read interfaces; they scan. Visual hierarchy controls the scanning order:
Size: Larger elements are seen first. Headlines > subheadings > body text > captions.
Weight: Bolder elements draw attention before lighter ones. Use font weight to create hierarchy within text.
Color: Saturated and contrasting colors stand out. Primary actions should use the most prominent color.
Position: Top-left is scanned first in LTR languages. Primary content and actions belong at the top and left of the layout.
Spacing: Elements with more surrounding space feel more important. Isolation draws the eye.
Depth: Elevation (shadows, overlays) lifts elements above the surface, attracting attention.
Test your hierarchy: squint at the screen. The elements that remain visible are your top hierarchy. If the wrong things stand out, adjust.
Whitespace (negative space) is not wasted space. It is a design tool:
Macro whitespace: Large spaces between major sections. Creates breathing room and separates content groups.
Micro whitespace: Small spaces between related elements (padding inside cards, line height in text, gap between icon and label).
Grouping: Elements with less space between them are perceived as related (Gestalt proximity principle). Use whitespace to create logical groups.
Focus: More whitespace around an element increases its prominence.
Readability: Generous line height (1.4-1.6x for body text) and paragraph spacing dramatically improve readability.
Users learn patterns. Inconsistency forces them to relearn:
Visual consistency: Same colors, typography, spacing, and component styles throughout the product.
Interaction consistency: Same component types behave the same way everywhere (a dropdown always opens the same way, a swipe always does the same thing).
Language consistency: Same terminology for the same concepts. Do not call it "Settings" in one place and "Preferences" in another.
Pattern consistency: Follow established platform conventions (iOS patterns on iOS, Material Design patterns on Android) unless there is a strong reason to deviate.
Align elements to a grid and to each other:
Use an 8px grid system. All spacing, sizing, and positioning should be multiples of 8 (8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, etc.).
Left-align text and form elements. Center alignment is harder to scan and should be used sparingly (headings, empty states, hero sections).
Create invisible lines of alignment that run through the layout. Elements anchored to these lines create visual order.
Text contrast: WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text (18px+ or 14px+ bold).
Interactive elements: Buttons, links, and form fields must be clearly distinguishable from non-interactive content.
Color independence: Do not use color as the only way to convey information (e.g., red for error). Add icons, text, or other visual cues.
Focus states: Every interactive element must have a visible focus state for keyboard navigation.
Touch targets: Minimum 44x44px for touch interfaces (Apple HIG). 48x48dp for Android (Material Design).
File structure: One file per project or feature. Use pages within the file for different stages (wireframes, visual design, components, specs).
Naming conventions: Use consistent, descriptive names for pages, frames, layers, and components. Screen/LoginPage/Default is better than Frame 47.
Cover page: Create a cover page with project name, status, last updated date, and key links.
Thumbnail previews: Set a frame as the file thumbnail so the project is identifiable in the team dashboard.
Wireframes: Low-fidelity layouts using simple shapes and placeholder text. Focus on information architecture and user flow, not visual details.
Layout exploration: Try 2-3 different layout approaches for key screens. Share with the team for feedback before committing.
Visual design: Apply typography, color, and component styles to the chosen layout.
Component construction: Build reusable components for repeated elements (buttons, cards, form fields, navigation).
Prototyping: Connect screens with interactions to create a clickable prototype for testing and stakeholder review.
Design specs: Annotate designs with spacing, behavior notes, and edge cases for developer reference.
Auto Layout: The most important Figma feature. Creates responsive, flexible layouts that resize intelligently. Learn it thoroughly.
Components and variants: Build a single component with multiple states (default, hover, active, disabled) and properties (size, color, content).
Styles: Define reusable colors, typography, and effects. Changing a style updates every instance.
Variables: Define design tokens (colors, spacing, sizing) as variables that can be switched between themes (light/dark mode).
Prototyping: Interactive prototypes with transitions, scroll behavior, overlays, and conditional logic.
Dev Mode: Provides developers with CSS, iOS, and Android code snippets, measurements, and asset exports directly from the design.
Build components from smallest to largest (atomic design):
Atoms: Smallest elements (icon, label, badge, input field)
Molecules: Combinations of atoms (search bar = input field + icon + button)
Organisms: Complex groups (navigation bar = logo + menu items + search bar + profile icon)
Templates: Page-level layouts composed of organisms
Pages: Templates filled with real content
Each level uses the components below it. Changes to atoms cascade up through the entire system.
A design system is the single source of truth for how a product looks and behaves:
Foundations:
Color palette (primary, secondary, neutral, semantic colors like error/success/warning)
Typography scale (headings, body, captions, with size, weight, line height)
Spacing scale (based on 8px grid: 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, etc.)
Iconography (style, size, stroke width consistency)
Elevation/shadow system
Grid and layout system
Border radius scale
Motion/animation principles
Components:
Buttons (primary, secondary, tertiary, ghost, sizes, states)
Form elements (text input, textarea, select, checkbox, radio, toggle, date picker)
Navigation (top nav, side nav, tabs, breadcrumbs, pagination)
Cards and containers
Modals and dialogs
Toasts and notifications
Tables
Empty states
Loading states
Avatars and badges
Patterns:
Form layouts and validation
Error handling
Onboarding flows
Search and filtering
Data display (tables, lists, grids)
Settings and preferences
Navigation patterns
Audit: Document every unique design element in the current product. Identify inconsistencies.
Foundation: Define color, typography, spacing, and grid systems.
Core components: Build the most-used components first (buttons, inputs, cards, navigation).
Documentation: Document usage guidelines, do/do not examples, and accessibility requirements for each component.
Governance: Establish who can modify the system, how changes are proposed and approved, and how updates are communicated to the team.
Iteration: A design system is never finished. It evolves with the product.
Define breakpoints based on content needs, not specific device sizes:
Mobile: 320px-767px (design for 375px width as your base mobile size)
Tablet: 768px-1023px
Desktop: 1024px-1439px
Large desktop: 1440px+
Fluid grids: Columns resize proportionally. Use percentage-based widths, not fixed pixel widths.
Flexible images: Images scale within their containers. Never wider than the container.
Reflow: Content reorganizes at breakpoints. A 3-column layout becomes 2 columns on tablet and 1 column on mobile.
Priority-based display: Less important elements can be hidden on smaller screens or moved to expandable sections.
Touch adaptation: On touch devices, increase spacing between interactive elements and use larger touch targets.
Design the mobile experience first, then expand for larger screens:
Mobile forces you to prioritize. Only the most important content and actions fit.
It is easier to add elements as the screen grows than to remove them as it shrinks.
Mobile is often the primary usage context. Designing for it first ensures the core experience is strong.
Create a separate frame for each breakpoint in Figma
Use Auto Layout and constraints to show how components adapt
Design the full flow for mobile first, then show how key screens adapt at tablet and desktop
Document which elements change, reflow, or hide at each breakpoint
Specifications: Exact measurements, colors, typography, spacing. Figma Dev Mode provides most of this automatically.
Assets: Exported icons, images, and illustrations in the appropriate formats (SVG for icons, WebP/PNG for images, 1x/2x/3x for mobile).
Interaction details: What happens on hover, focus, active, and disabled states. How do transitions work? What is the duration and easing?
Edge cases: What happens when text is very long? What does the empty state look like? What happens on error? What about loading states?
Responsive behavior: How does the layout change at each breakpoint? Which elements reflow, resize, or hide?
Accessibility notes: ARIA labels, focus order, screen reader behavior for custom components.
Use a dedicated specs page or annotations layer in your Figma file
Call out non-obvious behavior that a developer might miss
Document animation timing and easing curves
Provide a clickable prototype so developers can experience the intended interaction flow
Be available for questions. The best handoff includes ongoing conversation, not just a file dropped over the wall.
Design tokens are the atomic values of the design system, expressed in a format developers can consume:
Color tokens: color-primary-500: #3B82F6
Spacing tokens: space-4: 16px, space-6: 24px
Typography tokens: font-body: { family: 'Inter', size: 16px, lineHeight: 24px, weight: 400 }
Tokens bridge the gap between design and code. A change to a token updates both the design and the implementation simultaneously.
Your portfolio should demonstrate your process, not just your output:
Case Study Format:
Overview (2-3 sentences): What is the product? What was the challenge?
My role: Your specific contribution and responsibilities
The problem: User problems, business problems, or both. Backed by data if available.
Research and discovery: User research, competitive analysis, stakeholder interviews
Design exploration: Wireframes, sketches, alternative approaches you explored
Solution: The final design, explained with rationale for key decisions
Results: Metrics if available (conversion improvement, task completion rate, user satisfaction). If no metrics, describe qualitative outcomes.
Learnings: What would you do differently? What did you learn?
Show designs in realistic context (browser frames, device mockups)
Include both the big picture (full page/screen) and details (component close-ups)
Annotate key design decisions to show your thinking
Show multiple states and flows, not just the happy path
If possible, include before/after comparisons for redesign projects
Redesign challenges: Pick a real product you use and redesign specific flows. Document your process.
Design challenges: Daily UI, design prompts, hackathon projects
Side projects: Design a product that solves a problem you care about. Full case study treatment.
Open source: Contribute to open-source design systems or products
Volunteer: Offer design services to nonprofits or community organizations
Personal website: Best for control and professionalism. Clean, simple design that does not compete with the work.
Figma portfolio: Present case studies as Figma prototypes. Interactive and shows Figma proficiency.
Notion: Quick to set up, easy to update. Adequate for job applications.
Behance / Dribbble: Good for discoverability but should not replace a personal site.
Follow design-focused publications: Smashing Magazine, Nielsen Norman Group, Design Better (InVision)
Study products you use daily. Notice design patterns, interactions, and decisions.
Participate in design communities: Figma Community, Designer Hangout Slack, ADPList for mentorship
Learn adjacent skills: basic front-end development (HTML, CSS), motion design, user research
Product Designer: UI + UX + strategy. Design within a product team.
Design Systems Designer: Specialize in building and maintaining design systems.
Design Manager/Lead: Lead a design team. Strategy, hiring, mentorship.
Independent/Freelance: Work with multiple clients. Requires business development skills.
Design Educator: Teach, write, speak about design.
Insufficient contrast between text and background, making content hard to read
Inconsistent spacing that creates visual noise and makes the interface feel disorganized
Using too many colors or fonts, which undermines visual cohesion
Decorative elements that add visual complexity without improving usability
Ignoring the design on smaller screens or assuming responsive behavior will "just work"
Clickable elements that do not look clickable (no visual affordance)
Disabled states that are indistinguishable from enabled states
Missing loading states, leaving the user uncertain whether an action was registered
Error messages that do not explain what went wrong or how to fix it
Modals and overlays that are difficult to dismiss, especially on mobile
Jumping to high-fidelity design before validating the information architecture and user flow
Designing without real content (Lorem ipsum hides content problems)
Not testing designs with actual users before development begins
Building a design system before understanding the product's needs (premature systematization)
Handing off designs without documenting edge cases, states, and responsive behavior
Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.
[Ui Designer deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timelineInput: "Help me with ui designer for a mid-size project."
Output: A complete ui designer framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.
Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
Conflicting requirements: Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
Scale mismatch: Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
Domain crossover: When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
SKILL.md
331 lines · 2,805 words
The text of SKILL.md is shown as it downloads, under the Apache-2.0 license, by Ferrox Labs. The license is the one in the file's own frontmatter.
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