design-first-ui-prompting
Use when you need design-first, spec-driven, skimmable prompts for UI generation. Covers prompt structure, constraints, variations, typography/spacing rules, and iteration workflow for consistent UI outputs.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/mengto/skills --skill design-first-ui-prompting- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads design-first-ui-prompting automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Design-First UI Prompting Skill
This skill is for design-first prompting: turn fuzzy ideas into a tight spec that produces consistent UI.
Core principle
Prompt like a design system, not a wish.
Prompt Structure (copy/paste)
Use this skeleton, then fill the blanks.
GOAL
- What are we making? (e.g., landing page hero / onboarding / dashboard / carousel slide)
- Who is it for? (persona)
- What’s the success criteria? (clarity, conversion, vibe)
FORMAT
- Size/aspect: (e.g., 1080x1350)
- Safe margins: (e.g., 90px)
LAYOUT (wireframe in words)
- Grid: (e.g., Swiss 6-col)
- Placement: (e.g., type-left / image-right)
- Hierarchy: H1 → subhead → body → CTA
TYPE SYSTEM
- Font vibe: (e.g., Söhne / Neue Haas / SF Pro)
- Weights: (H1 700, body 400)
- Leading: (tight for H1, readable for body)
- Tracking: (micro labels wider)
COLOR + MATERIAL
- Background: (hex or description)
- Text: (white/ivory/charcoal)
- One accent only: (cyan/lime/purple)
- Texture: (subtle grain, no plastic HDR)
IMAGERY / UI STYLE
- UI style: (minimal / glass / editorial / playful 3D)
- If photo: lighting + crop + texture rules
- If 3D: materials + lighting + softness
COPY (render EXACTLY)
- Line 1:
- Line 2:
- ...
CONSTRAINTS (change 1–2 things only)
- FONT: ___
- STYLE: ___
- MODE: ___
NEGATIVE PROMPT
- No logos, no watermarks
- No extra text beyond provided lines
- No gibberish typography
Rules that improve consistency
1) Lock one “system”, then iterate with variants
- First output: nail layout + hierarchy + copy.
- Variants: change ONE variable at a time:
- angle / crop
- accent color
- card arrangement
- background tone
2) Treat typography as fragile
If the model keeps misspelling:
- Use 2-pass workflow:
- Generate without text (reserve a clean text-safe area)
- Typeset in Figma
3) Use “constraints cards”
When you want the model to obey a style:
- Add a small “Constraints” panel with explicit values.
- It anchors the output like a mini style guide.
Example:
Constraints
FONT CANELA
STYLE MINIMAL
MODE DARK
4) Keep a local reference pack
Don’t ask the model to “remember” taste.
- Save references into a gitignored local reference folder, such as
refs/... - Point prompts to the reference style
Fast iteration checklist (what to tweak)
- Spacing: margins, leading, baseline rhythm
- Contrast: background vs text
- Hierarchy: one hero line, one support line
- One accent only (don’t rainbow)
- Texture: add grain, remove smoothing
Questions to ask (when user is vague)
- What’s the single message of this screen?
- What’s the hierarchy (H1 / sub / CTA)?
- Which style lane: minimal editorial vs playful 3D vs glass UI?
- Any must-keep constraints (font vibe, color, spacing, grid)?
FAQ
What does the design-first-ui-prompting skill do?
Use when you need design-first, spec-driven, skimmable prompts for UI generation. Covers prompt structure, constraints, variations, typography/spacing rules, and iteration workflow for consistent UI outputs.
How do I install design-first-ui-prompting?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/mengto/skills --skill design-first-ui-prompting in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/design-first-ui-prompting/ (personal) or .claude/skills/design-first-ui-prompting/ (project).
Which AI agents can use design-first-ui-prompting?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is design-first-ui-prompting safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains design-first-ui-prompting?
It is published by mengto in mengto/skills. It has 1,785 recorded installs.
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