UI Design Patterns

Before You Start: Load Design Context

1. Read .agents/design-context.md (written by the design-context skill). If it is missing, look for tokens in tailwind.config.* or :root CSS variables. If nothing exists, use the defaults (Primary #2563EB, Secondary #7C3AED, Accent #F59E0B, Tailwind gray neutrals, Inter for headings and body, Minimal style) and tell the user defaults were used — suggest running design-context.
2. Map tokens to CSS variables once, then use only the variables: --color-primary, --color-primary-light, --color-primary-dark, --color-secondary, --color-accent, --color-neutral-50…--color-neutral-900, --color-success/-warning/-error, --font-heading, --font-body, --font-mono, --radius, and the 4px-base spacing scale.
3. Tailwind: expose the same variables (v3 theme.extend, v4 @theme) as primary, primary-light, primary-dark, secondary, accent, neutral-*, font-heading, font-body. The indigo-* / gray-* classes in the examples below are placeholders for these tokens.
4. Figma: if the user gives a Figma URL, pull it with the Figma MCP (get_design_context, get_screenshot) and match it; it overrides the context file for that design.
5. Let the style archetype set radius, shadow depth, and how much of section 9 (trends) to use — Minimal and Corporate use none of it.

1. Component Design Principles (Atomic Design)

Build UI in layers. Never start with a full page — start with the smallest pieces.