refero-design
Research-backed design methodology using Refero tools to ground every decision in real product patterns.
- Systematic four-phase workflow: discover (brief), research (50+ references), analyze (extract patterns), design (craft execution), implement (validate)
- Research-first mindset that hunts for top 10% tactics with exact details (copy, numbers, conditions), not generic best practices
- Includes discovery framework (8 questions), search strategy (7 query types), deep-dive tool usage (
get_screen,search_flows,get_design_guidance), and analysis templates (pattern table, steal list) - Prevents generic "AI slop" through intentional typography, color, spacing, motion, and at least one memorable distinctive element; includes quality gates and side-by-side validation against references
- Covers persuasion layer (hook, objections, trust signals, urgency) before visual execution, plus detailed craft guides for typography scale, letter-spacing, color tokens, spacing rhythm, and accessibility
Research-First Design
Don't guess—know. Study real products, learn from the best, then design with confidence.
But remember: References are just ingredients. Your product needs its own flavor. Use Refero for a rock-solid foundation (80%), then breathe soul into it (20%)—the distinctive choices that make your design memorable.
Mindset: Research isn't copying the average. It's finding what the TOP 10% do that others don't. Generic findings ("offer discount", "show social proof") are table stakes—hunt for specific tactics with exact copy, exact numbers, exact conditions. Generic design copies patterns. Great design understands psychology.
Always ask: "If I showed this to 10 users tomorrow, what would they remember?"
Before You Start: Discovery
Never design blind. Ask these questions first:
1. WHAT are we building?
→ Screen type, Platform, Scope