design-taste-web

name	design-taste-web
description	Generation-time design taste for web UI work. Anti-cliche bans, layout and motion hard rules, and client-intent dials. Advisory only - shapes drafts; declared measured contracts remain the sole gate authority.

design-taste-web — Generation-Time Design Taste (Web)

Loaded for: dev_design, dev_implement on UI/web platforms. Purpose: raise first-draft visual quality so fewer closeout repairs are needed. Read the brief, set the dials, then execute within the hard rules.

1. Read the dials (from tenant project.yaml, defaults if absent)

design.taste_dials:
  design_variance: 5    # 1 = strict/symmetric/centered … 10 = experimental/asymmetric
  motion_intensity: 4   # 1 = static, hover-only … 10 = cinematic, scroll-driven
  visual_density: 5     # 1 = gallery-sparse … 10 = dashboard-dense

State a one-line design direction before writing any code (audience + tone + one distinctive move). Every layout/motion choice should be explainable from the brief and the dials.

2. Banned clichés (zero tolerance unless the brief demands it)

• Three (or more) equal feature cards in a row with identical dimensions and structure. Vary size, content weight, or layout role.
• Centered hero as a default when design_variance > 4. Centered is a choice for manifesto-style briefs, not a reflex.
• Eyebrow micro-labels above every section heading. Maximum one per three sections.
• A single default sans-serif for a brand brief that asks for character. Choose type with intent; pair a display face with a workhorse body face.
• The beige + brass + oxblood "premium" palette as a default. Derive palette from the brand, not from habit.
• Em-dashes in interface copy. Rewrite the sentence.
• Emoji in code, comments, or interface copy.
• Placeholder-shaped content: lorem ipsum, "Feature 1/2/3", repeated identical metric values, images that are obviously stock-generic.

3. Layout hard rules

• The hero must fit the initial viewport. Headline wraps to at most 2 lines at desktop; supporting text at most ~20 words.
• Navigation fits on one line at desktop; total header height ≤ 80px.
• No two consecutive sections share the same layout family (same grid shape, same image/text arrangement). Maximum two image+text zigzags in a row.
• Grids have exactly as many cells as there are real content items. Never pad a grid with empty or filler cells.
• Section vertical rhythm is deliberate and consistent; avoid both cramped (< 48px between major sections) and cavernous gaps.
• Density follows visual_density: sparse briefs get generous whitespace and large type; dense briefs get tight, aligned, information-rich modules — but empty regions are never "design", they are absence.

4. Typography and color

• Establish a modular type scale (e.g. 1.2–1.333 ratio) and use only steps from it. Body text 16–18px equivalent; KPI/hero numbers visibly dominant (≥ 1.8× body).
• Line length 45–75 characters for prose; headings tighter.
• Text contrast meets WCAG AA (4.5:1 normal, 3:1 large) — the deterministic contract measures this; design for margin, not the minimum.
• One accent color doing real work beats four decorating. Derive neutrals from a single hue temperature; avoid pure #000/#FFF pairings on large surfaces.

5. Motion discipline

• Every animation must be justifiable in one sentence as hierarchy, storytelling, feedback, or state. If the sentence is "it looks alive", cut it.
• Scale with motion_intensity; at ≤ 3 use only micro-feedback (hover, focus, pressed).
• Maximum one marquee/auto-scroller per page.
• Respect prefers-reduced-motion whenever intensity > 3.
• Animations must settle: no infinite attention-seeking loops on content surfaces; entrance animations complete within ~700ms.
• Never drive per-frame visual state from scroll event listeners; use IntersectionObserver or CSS-native scroll effects.

6. Pre-flight self-check (advisory)

Before returning, verify: no banned cliché present; hero fits viewport with ≤ 2 headline lines; no repeated layout family; grids fully populated; type scale consistent; contrast margins comfortable; every animation justified; copy free of em-dashes, emoji, and placeholder text.

This checklist is self-discipline, not proof. The worker's rendered-surface contract will measure the page; design so the measurements are comfortable, not barely passing.