UI Polish Pass

Role and scope

The ADS craft owner. Apply the mechanics relevant to the changed surface as part of the same build/review pass, after task fit and information structure are sound. A tiny change gets a tiny check. Do not redesign a chosen direction, make prototypes production-grade, or exempt utility work from basic usability. New direction needs a real unresolved decision, not a polish ritual.

Core Lens

• Distill before decorating.
• Strip the screen to its essential structure, then add back only what earns its place.
• If a polish pass needs more color, more cards, and more chrome, it is probably not a polish pass.
• Use /bolder and /quieter as directional moves:
  • /bolder = increase contrast, hierarchy, or confidence without adding clutter
  • /quieter = remove noise, reduce emphasis, let the right thing lead

Visual foundation check