Design

Do not proceed until all five are answered.

Source repo as reference

When the user provides a repository URL or pastes source code of an existing product to recreate or extend: the file tree is a menu, not the meal. Do not reconstruct the UI from memory or training data. Instead, read the actual source:

• Theme and token files: theme.ts, colors.ts, tokens.css, _variables.scss, or equivalent
• Global stylesheets and layout scaffolds
• The specific components the user mentioned

Lift exact values: hex codes, spacing scale entries, font stacks, border radii. A rough approximation is not pixel fidelity.

Only attach the target component folder or package. Exclude .git, node_modules, dist, and lock files. Dragging in an entire monorepo pollutes the context with irrelevant code and degrades output quality.

App shell exception (sidebar + main workspace)

When the answer to question 1 is an app shell (Slack, Linear, Notion class):

• Decorative backgrounds default to off
• Surface hierarchy uses background-color steps and shadow only
• All interactive elements get active:scale-95
• Button radius is consistent within each component type (pick one: pill, square, or one fixed value -- do not mix)
• Commit to a named radius scale before the first component (see Border radius system in references/design-reference.md)

State the chosen direction in one sentence, then load references/design-reference.md and check the tech stack conflicts table. Name the single CSS strategy before writing the first component.

Summarize the direction as three lines before writing any code:

• Visual thesis: mood, material, and energy in one sentence (e.g. "warm brutalist editorial with high-contrast ink type and rough paper texture")
• Content plan: hero -> support -> detail -> final CTA, one line each. For app/dashboard surfaces: skip the marketing structure, default to utility mode (orient, show status, enable action), no hero unless explicitly requested.
• Interaction thesis: 2-3 specific motion ideas that change how the page feels (e.g. "hero text slides in on load, section headers pin while content scrolls beneath, CTA pulses on hover")

For production or multi-page UIs, expand the thesis into the 9-section DESIGN.md scaffold in references/design-reference.md (theme, palette, typography, components, layout, depth, do/don't, responsive, prompt guide). For a single component, the three lines are sufficient.

Non-Negotiable Constraints

references/design-reference.md is already loaded during direction lock. It owns the full rules: typography, OKLCH color, motion timings, layout defaults, CSS-pattern bans, accessibility baseline, and complexity matching. Apply them. Do not restate them here.

Mid-Build Checkpoint

After every third component or one complete page section (whichever comes first), stop and check:

1. Re-read the visual thesis (mood, material, energy) stated during direction lock.
2. Ask: does what is on screen right now match that thesis, or has it drifted toward a generic default?
3. If drifted: identify the specific element that broke first (typeface, color choice, card treatment, spacing) and fix it before continuing.

Do not wait until handoff to run the AI Slop Test. Catching drift early costs one component; catching it at handoff costs the entire build.

When Asked For Options

Give at least 3 variations, spread across genuinely different dimensions:

• Dimensions to vary: visual density, typographic personality, color temperature, layout structure, motion character, amount of decoration, level of abstraction
• Mix approaches: one option that follows existing conventions closely, one that remixes the brand DNA in a new way, one that is deliberately unexpected
• Progress from basic to bold: the first option is safe and understandable; later options push further
• Three options that differ only by accent color are not three variations. Vary the layout, the typeface, the motion, the surface treatment.

Gotchas

Handoff

Run these litmus checks before writing the handoff summary:

• Is the brand or product unmistakable in the first screen?
• Is there one strong visual anchor (real imagery, not a decorative gradient)?
• Can the page be understood by scanning headlines only?
• Does each section have one job?
• Are cards actually necessary, or just default styling?
• Does motion improve hierarchy or atmosphere, or is it ornamental?
• Would the design still feel premium if all decorative shadows were removed?
• AI Slop Test: scan the first screen for default patterns that scream "AI made this." Examples (not exhaustive): reflex font (Inter, DM Sans, Outfit...), purple-to-blue gradient, centered hero with two CTAs side by side, three identical cards, top nav logo-left-links-center-action-right, decorative gradient with no real imagery. If any appear unintentionally, the direction is not committed enough. Fix typography, color, or layout until none remain.

If any check fails, fix it first. Then revisit the common traps list from references/design-reference.md (already loaded during direction lock; do not re-read the file). Then ask the user to open the result in a browser and confirm it looks right at full width. Also check at 375px width: resize the browser or use DevTools device emulation. If the layout breaks, content overflows, or text is unreadable at mobile width, fix it before handing off. Do not hand off until both checks pass.

End with:

• Aesthetic direction, named and justified in 2-3 sentences
• Non-obvious choices explained: typeface, color decisions, layout logic
• Instructions for replacing placeholder content with real content

After handoff, stop. Do not iterate unless the user requests changes.