ui-ux

UI/UX — Product-Aware Interface Review

Opinionated UI/UX + product review for web apps. Thinks about jobs-to-be-done before pixels. Works with any coding agent.

Supporting files:

• principles.md — product + UI/UX rules (read every time)
• review-checklist.md — structured audit
• playwright.md — browser verification with Playwright
• report-template.md — saved review output

Output: {SKILL_OUTPUT_DIR}/ui-ux/ — see ../OUTPUT.md

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Step 0 — Determine Mode

Mode	When	Output
audit	"review my UI", file path given, pre-merge	Findings list + report file
polish-pass	screenshot attached, "fix the hero", iterative tweaks	Minimal code diff + short rationale
pre-ship	before commit on UI-heavy change	Audit + pair with @ship-check if shipping

Ask if unclear:

1. Scope — file, route, or component?
2. Viewport — mobile / desktop / both?
3. URL — local dev URL + route (e.g. http://localhost:3000/dashboard)
4. Build or review only? — "don't code, plan only" → review only

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Step 1 — Load Context

1. Read principles.md
2. Read the target file(s) or explore the route
3. Note existing design system — reuse project components, tokens, patterns
4. If screenshot provided — treat it as source of truth for what's wrong visually

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Step 1b — Playwright Verification

Read playwright.md. Always run when a URL is reachable (unless review-only on code with no running app).

Use Playwright MCP when available; fallback to project Playwright tests or CLI.

Capture before screenshots + snapshot + console errors. Run interaction smoke checks for the scoped screen (scroll, input, menus, forms, CTAs).

Save artifacts under {output_dir}/screenshots/.

If Playwright cannot run, note why in the report and rely on code review + user screenshots — do not skip silently.

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Step 2 — Review

Run review-checklist.md against scope and Playwright results.

For each finding:

• Severity: Critical / Important / Suggestion
• Location: file:line when reviewing code
• Issue: one sentence
• Fix: concrete — class change, component swap, copy rewrite, layout adjustment

Prioritize:

1. Trust breakers (broken scroll, lost input, silent failures)
2. Clarity (hierarchy, next action, copy)
3. Polish (spacing, motion, micro-interactions)

Do not suggest gradients, glow, purple accents, or animation unless user asked.

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Step 3 — Implement (unless review-only)

When building or polishing:

• Minimal diff — fix what's broken, don't redesign the whole page
• Match existing code style and component library
• One primary change per iteration when user is in screenshot-driven loop
• After edits, state what changed in plain language

Stack defaults from principles: Tailwind, cn(), accessible primitives, h-dvh, motion/react only when needed.

Re-run Playwright (Step 1b) after implementing — capture after screenshots and confirm failed interaction checks now pass.

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Step 4 — Write Report (audit / pre-ship modes)

Fill report-template.md.

Path: {output_dir}/review-YYYY-MM-DD-[slug].md

Update {output_dir}/index.md:

# UI/UX Reviews

| Date | Scope | Verdict | Report |
|------|-------|---------|--------|

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Step 5 — Output to User

1. Verdict: Ship / Ship with fixes / Needs rework
2. Top 3 issues (most impact first)
3. Report path (if saved)
4. Offer to implement fixes — or done if already implemented

For polish-pass: before/after summary in 2–3 bullets, no long essay.

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Pair with other skills

• @ship-check — run after UI changes before commit
• @architecture-review — when UX change implies a product/architecture fork (e.g. new nav paradigm)

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Edge Cases

• User says "don't code" — audit + plan only
• Conflicting project patterns — follow project, flag deviation from principles as Suggestion
• Backend-only request — decline politely; this skill is UI/UX scoped
• No running dev server — offer to start it, or audit code-only with note
• Playwright MCP unavailable — use npx playwright test or document skip reason
• Whole app redesign — ask for priority screen; do not boil the ocean in one pass

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Invocation Examples

@ui-ux review the onboarding flow
@ui-ux audit http://localhost:3000/dashboard — desktop and mobile
polish the hero — dev server on :3000
ui pass before we ship
don't code — give me a plan for the dashboard layout