On-brand visual marketing content using Paper MCP and parallel agent teams. Reads the project's brand/ directory to build a design system, then spawns designer agents in parallel — each creating a unique artboard with a different on-brand layout interpretation. Intelligently adapts agent count and approach based on user goals via AskUserQuestion interrogation. Produces Instagram carousels, TikTok slideshows, social posts, story slides, and visual assets. When used with content spec YAMLs from /slideshow-script, each agent gets a unique script AND unique design direction. Make sure to use this skill whenever the user wants visual marketing content designed in Paper — carousels, slideshows, social posts, story slides, or any visual asset. Even if they just say "design something" or "make slides" or "create visual content", this is the skill. Also triggers on "paper marketing", "instagram design", "TikTok design", "slideshow design", "create carousel", or "social graphics".
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On-brand visual marketing content using Paper MCP and parallel agent teams. Reads the project's brand/ directory to build a design system, then spawns designer agents in parallel — each creating a unique artboard with a different on-brand layout interpretation. Intelligently adapts agent count and approach based on user goals via AskUserQuestion interrogation. Produces Instagram carousels, TikTok slideshows, social posts, story slides, and visual assets. When used with content spec YAMLs from /slideshow-script, each agent gets a unique script AND unique design direction. Make sure to use this skill whenever the user wants visual marketing content designed in Paper — carousels, slideshows, social posts, story slides, or any visual asset. Even if they just say "design something" or "make slides" or "create visual content", this is the skill. Also triggers on "paper marketing", "instagram design", "TikTok design", "slideshow design", "create carousel", or "social graphics".
/paper-marketing — On-Brand Visual Content in Paper MCP
Spawn parallel designer agents in Paper, each creating a unique on-brand interpretation of marketing content. Same brand system, different creative executions. Agent count and approach intelligently adapt to the user's actual goal.
Quick Reference
Phase
What Happens
Key Tool
1. Load Brand
Read brand/ files, discover Paper file, confirm with user
Voice rules: signature phrases, copy rules, words to use/avoid
Positioning angles: available angles and their headline directions
If creative-kit.md is missing, use AskUserQuestion to gather basics (bg color light/dark, accent color, font preference), then write the result to brand/creative-kit.md so it persists.
Step 1c: Discover the Paper workspace. Call mcp__paper__get_basic_info() and record:
File name — this is the workspace all agents will use
Existing artboards — names and IDs, so agents know what's already there
Loaded fonts — so agents can use them without guessing
Step 1d: Confirm with AskUserQuestion:
"I see Paper file '{fileName}' is open with artboards: {list}. I'll create new artboards here for the marketing designs. Right file?"
Options:
1. "Yes, use this file" — proceed
2. "Different file" — user specifies which file to open
Do NOT proceed until the user confirms.
Phase 2: Intelligent Goal Discovery
This is the most important phase. Use AskUserQuestion to understand what the user actually needs before deciding how many agents to spawn.
2a. Check for Content Specs
First, check if content spec YAMLs already exist (written by /slideshow-script or /tiktok-slideshow):
ls marketing/content-specs/*.yaml 2>/dev/null
If content specs exist: Read them. Each spec has content_type, visual_direction, slides[], and scripting_framework. Skip to Phase 2d — the scripts are already written.
If no content specs: Proceed to interrogation (2b).
2b. Interrogate the User
Use AskUserQuestion to understand the goal. Don't assume 5 agents or any specific format:
"What visual content do you need? Help me understand so I can design the right approach."
Options:
1. "TikTok slideshow (1080×1920, 5-9 slides)" — vertical storytelling
2. "Instagram carousel (1080×1350, 5-9 slides)" — educational/positioning
3. "Instagram single post (1080×1080 or 1080×1350)" — one powerful image
4. "Instagram story / Reel cover (1080×1920)" — single claim
5. "Social graphics batch" — multiple formats for one message
6. "Ad creative" — single high-impact visual for ads
7. "Custom" — user describes what they need
Then follow up based on answer:
"How many variations do you want to explore?"
Options:
1. "Just 1 great one" — single agent, iterate until perfect
2. "2-3 options" — focused exploration
3. "5 full variations" — maximum creative exploration
4. "Match my content specs" — 1 per content spec YAML
Then:
"What's the priority?"
Options:
1. "Speed — get something designed fast" → fewer agents, simpler approach
2. "Quality — make it exceptional" → load /frontend-design, thorough review
3. "Exploration — see many different directions" → max agents, varied styles
Use these answers to determine:
How many agents to spawn (1-5)
Whether to load /frontend-design for design quality
Which variation directions to use
How much review/iteration to do
2c. Select Variations (Intelligent)
Based on interrogation, select the RIGHT number of variations with the RIGHT directions:
Vertical rhythm, everything centered, one element per visual beat
Stories, reels covers
Split
Two-column or two-zone layout, tension between halves
Before/after, problem/solution
Rules for selection:
Each must be tangibly different (different layout structure, emphasis, visual rhythm)
Match directions to the content type and user's priority
If user chose "Just 1 great one" — pick the best direction for their content and go
If content specs exist, use their visual_direction field
Present the plan via AskUserQuestion:
"Here's my design plan: {N} variation(s), {content_type}:"
1. **{Direction}** — {one-line description of this approach}
[... more if multiple]
Options:
1. "Looks great, go" — proceed
2. "Change direction(s)" — user adjusts
3. "Add more variations" — increase agent count
4. "Fewer variations" — reduce agent count
2d. Define Content Spec
If content specs exist from /slideshow-script: Read them. Each agent gets its own spec's content.
If no content specs: Write out the exact content each agent will design with:
Every text string (headings, body copy, labels, CTAs)
Which positioning angle is being used
Every slide/section and its purpose
Information hierarchy (what's most important)
Signature phrases from brand/voice-profile.md
Show to user via AskUserQuestion:
"Here's the content for the designs. Anything to add or change?"
[slide-by-slide or section-by-section copy]
Options:
1. "Looks complete, go" — proceed
2. "Missing something" — user adds content
3. "Change the copy" — user edits specific text
Write approved content to marketing/content-specs/{name}.yaml so it persists for downstream skills (/video-content). If content specs already exist from /slideshow-script, do NOT overwrite them — they are the source of truth. Only write new specs when running standalone (no prior scripting phase).
Do NOT proceed to Phase 3 until user approves variations AND content.
Phase 3: Create Team and Tasks
TeamCreate: name="paper-mktg", description="{N} on-brand marketing designers in Paper"
Create N tasks (all parallel, no dependencies) + 1 review task (blocked by all N).
Each task description MUST include all of this (the agent picking it up has zero prior context):
Paper Workspace: File name (from get_basic_info), existing artboards to avoid, loaded fonts available
Context: What is being designed, which project, what the product does (1-2 sentences)
Brand System: Full palette (every hex with role), typography (every font/weight/size with role), layout tokens. Copied verbatim.
Voice Rules: Key do's/don'ts from voice-profile.md. Signature phrases. Words to avoid.
Design Brief: This variation's specific layout approach, emphasis, vibe. What makes it different.
Content Spec: Every piece of text, every slide/section — from content spec YAML or Phase 2d
Paper MCP Workflow: The exact tool sequence (see Phase 4)
You are a senior marketing designer creating on-brand visual content.
Your layout approach: {variation_style}. {one-sentence vibe}
## Design Quality
Read the /frontend-design skill at ~/.claude/skills/frontend-design/SKILL.md for design principles.
Apply Swiss editorial typography: maximize contrast between display (700, 200px+) and label (300, 14px).
Spacing: tighter to group, generous to breathe. Color: one accent moment per slide.
Layout: favor asymmetry. Scale: dramatic differences (hero 3x larger than secondary).
## Your Task
Design {content_type} for {project_name} in Paper design tool. Create ONE artboard ({width}x{height}).
Read your full task description by calling TaskGet with taskId "{id}",
then mark it in_progress with TaskUpdate. When done, mark it completed.
## Paper Workspace
You are working in Paper file "{fileName}".
Existing artboards: {list}.
Loaded fonts: {list from get_basic_info}.
Do NOT modify existing artboards.
## Paper MCP Workflow
1. mcp__paper__get_basic_info() — confirm file state
2. mcp__paper__get_font_family_info({brand fonts}) — VERIFY every font before use
3. mcp__paper__create_artboard() — name: "Marketing: {variation_name}", width/height
4. mcp__paper__write_html() — build slide 1 in detail (2-3 calls for first slide)
5. mcp__paper__duplicate_nodes() — clone slide 1 structure for remaining slides
6. mcp__paper__set_text_content() — swap text per cloned slide
7. mcp__paper__update_styles() — adjust colors, sizes, emphasis per slide
8. mcp__paper__get_screenshot() — every 2-3 modifications, critique against quality rubric
9. mcp__paper__finish_working_on_nodes() — ALWAYS call when done
## Brand System
{full palette, typography, layout tokens from task description}
## Voice Rules
{key do's/don'ts, signature phrases, words to avoid}
## Design Brief
{this variation's layout approach, emphasis, vibe, tradeoffs}
## Content
{verbatim content spec — unique script per agent if from /slideshow-script}
## Quality Rubric
After each screenshot, check: (1) text readability at 50% zoom, (2) brand fidelity,
(3) archetype match, (4) platform safe zones, (5) visual rhythm, (6) hierarchy.
Fix any failures BEFORE moving to next slide.
## Paper HTML Rules
- Inline styles ONLY (style="...")
- display: flex for ALL containers (no grid, no margins, no tables)
- Google Fonts via font-family name (verify with get_font_family_info first)
- NO emojis — use SVG icons or text
- Arabic text: direction: rtl; font-family: "Noto Naskh Arabic"
- Build incrementally. Screenshot every 2-3 writes.
- Set layer-name attribute for semantic names.
Phase 5: Monitor and Review
Shut down agents as they complete (SendMessage type: "shutdown_request")
When all done, screenshot each artboard via mcp__paper__get_screenshot()
Present all with critique for each:
Best element: The standout design/layout decision
Brand fidelity: Does it feel on-brand? Colors, fonts, voice correct?
Risk: What could go wrong if this is the chosen direction
"Here are the variations. What would you like to do?"
Options:
1. "Use #{n}" — pick one as the final
2. "Mix elements" — combine best parts of multiple
3. "Refine #{n}" — iterate on a favorite
4. "Create more slides in #{n}'s style" — extend the chosen direction
5. "Start over with different content" — new round
Clean up: TeamDelete
Phase 6: Export and Handoff
After user selects a variation:
Extract JSX from selected artboard via mcp__paper__get_jsx():
"Select the '{variation_name}' artboard in Paper and export as PNG @ 2x.
Save to ~/Desktop/ or your preferred location.
Then tell me the file path so /video-content can process it."
Phase 7: Log and Register (if workflow logging active)
If a workflow log exists at marketing/logs/, append steps for:
Which brand files were read
Which content type was created
Which variation was chosen
What the final artboard looks like
Tool calls made
Update brand/assets.md with the new asset.
Anti-Patterns
Spawning before confirming — Each agent costs tokens and time. Creating 5 agents for a user who wanted 1 is wasteful and frustrating. Always get explicit approval on both the variation plan AND the content before spawning.
Hardcoding brand values — If you put hex codes or font names directly in the skill, it breaks the moment it's used on a different project. Always read from brand/ files at runtime so the skill works universally.
Using CSS grid in Paper — Paper MCP's HTML renderer only supports display: flex. Using grid, margins, or HTML tables produces broken layouts with no error message — elements just disappear or stack incorrectly.
Modifying existing artboards — The user's existing artboards may contain in-progress work. Agents must create new artboards only. Touching existing work risks destroying hours of effort.
Identical variations — The entire value of spawning multiple agents is seeing genuinely different creative directions. If two designs look similar, the user got one option at the cost of two. Each variation must use a structurally different layout approach from the direction table.
Skipping font verification — Paper renders missing fonts as a default fallback, which silently breaks the brand look. Always call get_font_family_info() first to confirm the font is loaded.
Giant write_html calls — Paper's HTML renderer handles ~15 lines per call reliably. Larger blocks risk partial rendering or silent truncation. Build incrementally: hero first, then body, then footer.
Edge Cases
Paper MCP not connected — If get_basic_info() fails, tell the user to open Paper and connect the MCP server. Do not proceed without it.
Font not available — If get_font_family_info() returns no match, fall back to a similar Google Font that IS available. Note the substitution in the task description.
Agent task fails — If an agent can't complete (Paper errors, timeout), note which variation failed and offer to re-run just that one.
No brand files exist — Skill still works. Use AskUserQuestion to gather basics (colors, fonts, vibe) and write creative-kit.md before proceeding.
Content specs from /slideshow-script are stale — If content spec YAMLs exist but are older than the current positioning.md, flag this to the user and ask whether to use existing specs or regenerate.
Principles
Intelligent interrogation: Use AskUserQuestion to understand the goal BEFORE deciding agent count and approach. Don't assume 5 agents every time.
Rich task descriptions: An agent picking up a task cold must have everything. No assumptions.
Duplicate-first building: Build slide 1 in detail, duplicate for remaining slides, then customize. 40% faster, more consistent.
Frontend design quality: Load /frontend-design skill for Swiss editorial typography and layout principles.
Screenshot reviews with rubric: Agents screenshot every 2-3 writes and check against the 6-point quality rubric.
Font verification: Always get_font_family_info before using any font.
Distinct variations: If two designs look similar, the skill failed. Same brand, different layouts.
Brand fidelity: Every variation MUST use the project's brand palette, fonts, and voice.
Content spec persistence: Write approved content to YAML so downstream skills can read it.
JSX extraction: Always get_jsx from selected artboard for Remotion handoff.
Universal: Works for any project with brand/ files. Reads brand system at runtime, never hardcodes.
