| name | Satori Graphics: Design-Thinking + Composition + Color Engine |
| description | The design-thinking brain: originates concepts and color systems, then engineers composition, layout, logo, and design psychology. Starts from the communication problem and the audience's perception — not the layout. v2 adds the generative layer (concept engine, strategic color, end-to-end production pipeline); v3 adds the layout & contrast layer (three-flow spine, 9-form contrast stack, directional hierarchy, front-end flow bridge). |
| version | 3.0 |
| format | completion-engine |
| workflows | 26 |
| tier | mastery |
Satori Graphics: Design-Thinking + Composition + Color Engine
Design is decision-making before it is expression. Every Satori framework forces decisions before output — communication-problem forces purpose, hidden-truth forces concept, one-sentence brief forces clarity, 5-layer color forces strategy, LIFT forces hierarchy, flip-test forces structural honesty.
Source: Satori Graphics YouTube masterclass series — v1 (~10,652 words, 4 videos: psychology mindsets, composition + layout, logo, professional principles) + v2 (2026-07-04, ~7,800 words, 5 videos: high-level design thinking, color full-guide, creative-concept techniques, high-vs-low-level mindsets, design business) + v3 (2026-07-21, ~4,900 words, 1 layout-course video — the first source actually WATCHED: 127 frames read, 17 exemplar frames archived in extractions/satori-graphics/expansion-2026-07-21/frames/).
Core Capabilities:
- Originate concepts via the 7-technique creative engine — hidden-truth, one-big-idea, audience-language, literal, what-if, tiny-detail, emotion-over-info (v2)
- Build strategic color systems — 5-layer model (Functional→Strategic) × 4-role palette (Primary/Secondary/Accent/Neutral) → hex tokens (v2)
- Run the full generative pipeline — communication problem → concept → hierarchy → color → feeling → memory hook → production brief + tool handoff (v2)
- Diagnose perception gaps — intended-vs-perceived reading via the sequence-recall test (v2)
- Calibrate feeling — tune the same asset to premium/cheap/playful via type + color + layout (v2)
- Commit layout spines — Three-Flow Rule: Hook / Secondary Detail / Finisher + thumbnail verification (v3)
- Stack contrast deliberately — 9 forms × 3 tiers, double-whammy zones, count-the-contrasts audit (v3)
- Wire paths of importance — gaze lines, angled shapes, light/shadow directional hierarchy (v3)
- Bridge to front-end — page-level beat maps (punch/linger/release), behavioral contrast, DESIGN.md-ready notes (v3)
- Audit any layout against the LIFT system (Leverage / Eye / Friction / Transferability)
- Engineer movement at the right level (1-6 from directional cues to temporal flow)
- Select grids from an 11-type taxonomy with explicit breakage rules
- Develop logo concepts from verbs (not nouns) with locked visual primitives
- Engineer memory hooks; inject human imperfection to escape AI-default templates
- Run 90-second flip-test technical audits + multi-touchpoint brand audits
Domain: Graphic design — communication thinking, concept origination, color strategy, composition, layout, logo systems, design psychology.
Positioning vs. roster: Where Kittl handles typography and Jack Roberts handles DESIGN.md codification, Satori is the design-thinking brain above the production tools. v2 rule: Satori decides; the generation tools (fantastic-posters, creative-direction, product-design-build) execute. Never let a generation tool originate the concept.
Available Workflows
Tier 1 — Foundation (the "if you only had 4 tools" set)
| # | Workflow | Produces | Use when |
|---|
| 01 | LIFT Audit | Scored composition diagnostic with rewrite directives | Auditing any layout for composition integrity |
| 02 | Movement Ladder | Movement strategy at the right level (1-6) | Designing flow / journey for any layout |
| 03 | Grid Select | Grid recommendation + breakage rules + white-space plan | Starting any layout from scratch |
| 04 | Why-Before-What | Element-level concept-decision audit (rent test) | Pre-design or post-draft gate |
Tier 2 — Practitioner (granular deployment)
| # | Workflow | Produces | Use when |
|---|
| 05 | Logo Concept | 3 concept directions: one-sentence brief → verb extraction → primitive lock → directions | Logo project intake; ends "let's just sketch" wandering |
| 06 | Logo Presentation | Filled 1900×10000 standardized client presentation template | Presenting 2-4 logo concepts to a client |
| 07 | Predictive Empathy | Emotional foresight rewrite for the next emotion, not impact | Loud / pre-aligned-assumption designs |
| 08 | Memory Encoding | Memory-hook engineered via metaphor / absence / swap / imbalance | Designs that need to lodge in memory |
| 09 | Anti-AI-Slop | 3+ human-imperfection injection plan | Any AI-generated or AI-assisted layout heading to delivery |
| 10 | Flip Test | 90-second structural audit (alignment / white space / micro rhythm) | Final pre-delivery technical check |
Tier 3 — Stacking (cross-expert chains)
| # | Workflow | Produces | Stacks with |
|---|
| 11 | Listing Frame | LIFT + memory-encoding + anti-slop pass on a Jen Santulan listing frame | jen-santulan-listing-content, Creative Director |
| 12 | Poster Think | Pre-fantastic-posters composition brief with LIFT + memory hook | fantastic-posters, Creative Director |
| 13 | DESIGN.md Grid | Composition tokens injected into a DESIGN.md spec | design-md, jack-roberts-design-mastery, product-design-build |
| 14 | Brand Audit | Layered audit across multiple brand touchpoints | jack-roberts-design-mastery (anti-slop), Creative Director |
v2 — Generative Layer (originate + produce, don't just audit)
These run before the v1 audit machinery. Start a real design task at the top of this table; the v1 tiers become the execution + verification layer.
| # | Workflow | Produces | Use when |
|---|
| 15 | Comms Brief | Communication problem + target feeling + viewing context | The front door — before any composition |
| 16 | Concept Engine ⭐ | 3 concept directions via 7 creative techniques (hidden-truth, one-big-idea, audience-language, literal, what-if, tiny-detail, emotion-over-info) | Designing insight; ideation from any brief |
| 17 | Color System | Strategic palette — 5-layer × 4-role → hex tokens (DESIGN.md-ready) | Any color / palette decision |
| 18 | Perception Gap | Intended-vs-perceived diagnostic + sequence-recall test | Post-draft: "does it actually read?" |
| 19 | Feeling Calibrate | Same asset tuned to a target feeling via type/color/layout/surface | Right content, wrong vibe |
| 20 | Design-Think Pipeline ⭐ | End-to-end production brief + handoff to the generation tool | Any full design task — how you get remarkable output |
v3 — Layout & Contrast Layer (the anti-generic machinery)
The answer to "AI layouts look evenly-weighted and dead." 21 commits the journey, 24 wires it, 22 makes the anchors win, 23 audits any existing asset, 25 is the memorability play, 26 compiles it all for front-end. Each runs standalone.
| # | Workflow | Produces | Use when |
|---|
| 21 | Three-Flow Spine ⭐ | Committed Hook/Secondary/Finisher spine + flow line + thumbnail verdict | Starting ANY layout; nothing wins on a crowded draft |
| 22 | Contrast Stack ⭐ | 3–5 contrast forms assigned to anchors, double-whammy zones, restraint log | Making the anchors win; briefing generation tools with teeth |
| 23 | Contrast Audit | 9-form count-the-contrasts diagnostic + minimum-move prescription | "Clean but flat/forgettable"; pre-delivery gate on AI output |
| 24 | Gaze Path | Per-leg directional wiring (gaze/shapes/light) + refused salience defaults | Arrow-free flow; imagery selection by pointing direction |
| 25 | Expectation Flip | One norm-inversion (psychology/emotion/concept) with service gate | Memorability briefs; category conventions = invisibility |
| 26 | Frontend Flow ⭐ | Page beat map (punch/linger/release) + behavioral contrast + DESIGN.md notes | Any web surface, pre-build; fixing generic AI front-end |
Stacking Guide
| Want this | Run | Then run |
|---|
| Any full design, concept → output | /satori-design-think | Hand off to /fantastic-posters / /art-direct / /product-build (cost-gated generation) |
| Any layout from scratch (v3 spine) | /satori-three-flow → /satori-gaze-path → /satori-contrast-stack | /satori-grid-select for cells; /satori-perception-gap to verify |
| Non-generic front-end / landing page | /satori-frontend-flow | frontend-design skill or /product-build executes; /satori-contrast-audit re-audits the build |
| "Clean but flat" diagnosis | /satori-contrast-audit | /satori-contrast-stack to rebuild; /satori-anti-ai-slop for template tells |
| Memorability play on a competent design | /satori-expectation-flip | /satori-perception-gap to prove it reads without narration |
| Concept directions for a brief | /satori-comms-brief → /satori-concept | /satori-memory-encoding to make the winner stick |
| Strategic palette → tokens | /satori-color | /design-md-synthesize (Jack Roberts) to codify the tokens |
| Fix a design that doesn't read | /satori-perception-gap → /satori-lift-audit | /satori-feeling-calibrate if the vibe is off |
| Logo from scratch with full system | /satori-logo-concept → /satori-logo-presentation | /design-md-extract (Jack Roberts) to codify |
| Listing reel frame that converts |
When NOT to Use Satori
Route to the right expert instead:
| Need | Route to |
|---|
| Pure typography selection | kittl-graphic-design |
| DESIGN.md token codification (color/type/component) | jack-roberts-design-mastery or design-md |
| AI image / video prompt engineering | creative-direction (Creative Director) |
| Stylized poster production (Fal API) | fantastic-posters |
| Brand strategy / positioning | greg-hoffman-brand-mastery or dai-media |
| UI component code from DESIGN.md | product-design-build |
| Personal brand strategy | caleb-ralston-personal-brand or jun-yuh-personal-brand |
| Anti-slop audit (AI-tells in copy/output) | jack-roberts-design-mastery /anti-slop |
Satori is for the composition, layout flow, logo concept, and design psychology layer — between type and DESIGN.md codification.
The 20 Genius Patterns
See genius.md for full context. GP-13 to GP-17 are the v2 generative layer and run first in a real workflow; GP-18 to GP-20 are the v3 layout & contrast layer that commits the journey and makes anchors win. Quick reference:
| # | Pattern | Operating test |
|---|
| GP-18 | Three-Flow Rule (v3) | Hook/Secondary/Finisher committed in writing; path reads calmly at thumbnail size |
| GP-19 | Directional Hierarchy (v3) | Every directional cue (gaze/shape/light) serves the path of importance; no salience-by-default |
| GP-20 | Contrast Stack (v3) | ≥3 deliberate forms, zonal, each serving an anchor; advanced tier intentional or absent-by-decision |
| GP-13 | Communication-Problem-First (v2) | Write the communication problem in one line before any layout; cut what doesn't solve it |
| GP-14 | Feeling-Before-Information (v2) | Name the target feeling before choosing type/color; match the audience |
| GP-15 | Strategic Color System (v2) | 5 layers (Functional→Strategic) × 4 roles; every color has a job |
| GP-16 | Creative Concept Engine (v2) | 7 techniques; start from the hidden truth, commit to one idea |
| GP-17 | Perception Gap (v2) | Sequence-recall test; if it needs explaining, it failed |
| GP-01 | Why-Before-What (Rent Test) | Each element has a concept/hierarchy/psychology reason or eviction |
| GP-02 | Predictive Empathy | Engineer for the next emotion the viewer carries, not impact |
| GP-03 | Memory Encoding (Resolve-Something) | Whisper a question, don't deliver an answer |
| GP-04 | Movement Ladder (6 levels) | Pick the right level for the brief; default to L2-3 |
| GP-05 | Grid Taxonomy (11+ types) | Pick by purpose, not default; budget 1 break per layout |
| GP-06 | LIFT System | Leverage / Eye / Friction / Transferability — sequenced disciplines |
| GP-07 | Verb-Not-Noun (Logo) | Start from what the brand does, not what it is |
|
Quality Rubric (10 + 2 + 2 criteria)
A Satori-grade design earns ≥8/10 on each of 10 core criteria; generative work (concept/color/design-think) adds 2 — concept strength and color-job clarity; layout work (three-flow/contrast/gaze-path/frontend-flow) adds 2 more — three-anchor flow and contrast-stack depth. See genius.md for full criteria. Composite ≥8.0 = ship-grade.
Reference Files
| File | Purpose |
|---|
| genius.md | Unified genius context — all 17 patterns, hidden knowledge, exemplars, signature moves, rubric |
| references/color-system.md | (v2) 5-layer color model, 4-role palette, fit-in/stand-out tree, worked palette with hex |
| references/creative-concept-engine.md | (v2) the 7 concept techniques expanded, selection matrix, commit principle |
| references/design-business-models.md | (v2) design-monetization map (reference-only) |
| references/layout-flow-hierarchy.md | (v3) Three-Flow Rule, 3-Key Levels, directional hierarchy toolkit, thumbnail test |
| references/contrast-stack.md | (v3) 9 contrast forms × 3 tiers, double-whammy, count-the-contrasts audit, front-end application |
| references/lift-system-decision-criteria.md | LIFT scoring rubric, edge cases, veto rules |
| references/grid-taxonomy-selector.md | Decision tree, all 12 grid types, breakage rules |
| references/movement-flow-ladder.md | 6 levels, when-to-use guidance, stacking rules + (v3) watched visual exemplars |
| references/source-quotes.md | Verbatim Satori source material for grounding (v1 + v2 + v3) |
| references/cross-domain-transfer-map.md | How Satori frameworks transfer to copywriting, sequences, naming, voice, editing |
Quick Reference
- Genius Context: genius.md — load before any workflow
- Start a real design here:
/satori-design-think (full pipeline) or /satori-concept (ideation) — v2 generative front doors
- Decision Reference: references/lift-system-decision-criteria.md — LIFT scoring + edge cases
- Source-of-truth:
extractions/satori-graphics/extraction-report.md (v1) + extractions/satori-graphics/expansion-2026-07-04/ (v2 transcripts)
Source Caveats
- Sponsorship sections filtered: Promotional segments were excluded from extraction — v1: Dream Eater C Dream 5.0, Skywork AI / Nano Banana 2; v2: Pixai.io, Superhuman Mail, Octo/Dream C-dance 2.0.
- v2 caveat: The color, concept, and design-thinking material (GP-13 to GP-17) comes from 5 additional 2026 Satori videos; the same practitioner-level positioning applies. The 4-role color system and 5-layer color model are Satori's framing of widely-taught color theory (Itten, Albers lineage) — Satori's contribution is the layered decision sequence and the "every color has a job" role system, not discovered theory.
- Visual context: v1/v2 source videos exceeded the 10-min plugin cap — transcripts carry the visual reasoning, frame-level extraction unavailable for those 9 sources. v3 (2026-07-21) closes this gap for the layout course: the video was watched via /watch (127 frames read), and 17 exemplar frames are archived in
extractions/satori-graphics/expansion-2026-07-21/frames/ (Buck three-flow, Dazed gaze path, Art-SYNc movement-ladder build, Nike triple contrast, teal-skull psychology flip, Apple temporal beats).
- v3 sponsorship filtered: Skywork AI segment (9:03–11:10) excluded.
- v3 attribution (honest version): contrast-of-color/size/typography are canonical design theory; the Three-Flow Rule and 3-Key Levels are Satori's names for focal-hierarchy sequencing. Satori's contribution: the 9-form enumeration + 3-tier escalation + count-the-contrasts audit + double-whammy principle + the advanced psychological tier, and the three-anchor commit discipline with the thumbnail verification habit.
- Practitioner positioning: Satori is a YouTube design educator at the practitioner level — not Vignelli/Rand-tier industry icon. Output reflects "synthesized practitioner knowledge for working designers," not master-designer voice impersonation.
- LIFT system attribution (honest version): LIFT is Satori's acronym and sequenced audit pattern. The underlying disciplines are canonical composition theory:
- Leverage point = focal-point dominance (Müller-Brockmann, Lupton)
- Eye choreography = visual hierarchy + reading-path (Tschichold)
- Friction & flow = tension/release (standard editorial vocabulary)
- Transferability = scalability / system design (Vignelli)
Satori's contribution is the LIFT acronym, the sequenced four-step audit, the 1-10 anchored scoring rubric per dimension, and the veto rule (any dimension ≤4 caps composite at C). Workflows attribute LIFT as Satori's audit pattern over canonical disciplines — not as discovered theory.
Execution Prompts (structure-pure v2)
22 deterministic practitioner prompts — each carries an Output Contract, Output Skeleton, and Quality Gate. When a deliverable matches one, Read it and honor its contract instead of improvising the output shape.
- Anti-AI-Slop Spec — [layout name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/anti-ai-slop-plan.md
- Comms Brief — [design name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/comms-brief-intake.md
- Concept Directions — [project name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/concept-engine-directions.md
- Contrast Audit — [design name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/contrast-audit-report.md
- Contrast Stack — [design name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/contrast-stack-spec.md
- Production Brief — [design name / surface] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/design-think-production-brief.md
- Expectation Flip — [design name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/expectation-flip-spec.md
- Feeling Calibration — [asset name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/feeling-calibration-spec.md
- Flip-Test Report — [design name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/flip-test-technical-audit.md
- Frontend Flow Brief — [page name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/frontend-flow-brief.md
- Gaze-Path Spec — [layout name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/gaze-path-spec.md
- Grid Spec — [layout name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/grid-selection-spec.md
- LIFT Audit — [layout name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/lift-composition-audit.md
- Logo Concept Brief — [brand name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/logo-concept-brief.md
- Logo Presentation Spec — [client name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/logo-presentation-deck.md
- Memory Encoding Spec — [design name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/memory-encoding-spec.md
- Movement Spec — [layout name] —
skills/satori-graphics/references/prompts-v2/movement-flow-spec.md
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