design-system-architecture-review

skill_id	design-system-architecture-review
name	design-system-architecture-review
description	Source-backed child skill for reviewing design-system hierarchy, tokens, governance, releases, intake, adoption, migration, and product outcomes.
path	docs/research/youtube-library/skill-drafts/design-system-architecture-review/SKILL.md
status	registered
promoted_to	apps/web/src/lib/services/agentic-chat/tools/skills/definitions/design_system_architecture_review/SKILL.md
last_promoted	2026-06-10

Design System Architecture Review

Use this draft when turning source material into the runtime design_system_architecture_review child skill.

When to Use

• Reviewing or creating a design system, component library, token architecture, release process, contribution model, or design-system roadmap.
• A product has repeated UI inconsistency that should be solved at the system level.
• The team is migrating from templates, Material/Bootstrap, one-off components, or a legacy UI into an owned system.

Workflow

1. Map system layers: foundations, tokens, components, patterns, templates, pages, docs, and adoption channels.
2. Tie system work to product outcomes, not just consistency.
3. Classify stage and migration path: keep template, customize, parity rebuild, flow-by-flow migration, or rebuild.
4. Audit tokens and components for role-based naming, semantic scope, variants, states, ownership, and promotion rules.
5. Audit operations: feature definition, planning, specs, DRI map, library matrix, VQA, accessibility, release cadence, comms, roadmap, and intake.
6. Return findings with product value, owner, migration shape, and next operating change.

Source Backbone

• Brad Frost, "Beyond Consistency: From Design Systems to Product Outcomes" - docs/research/youtube-library/analyses/2026-05-15_brad-frost_design-systems-product-outcomes_analysis.md
• Nathan Curtis, "Managing Design Systems: Features & Releases to Roadmaps & Backlogs" - docs/research/youtube-library/analyses/2026-05-15_nathan-curtis_design-systems-operations_analysis.md
• Earlier consolidated canon - docs/research/youtube-library/analyses/2026-04-30_design-systems-canon_frost-curtis-kravets_analysis.md

Runtime Notes

This draft is promoted into apps/web/src/lib/services/agentic-chat/tools/skills/definitions/design_system_architecture_review/SKILL.md.