design-system · nextlevelbuilder — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

---
name: design-system
description: Token architecture, component specifications, and slide generation. Three-layer tokens (primitive→semantic→component), CSS variables, spacing/typography scales, component specs, strategic slide creation. Use for design tokens, systematic design, brand-compliant presentations.
argument-hint: "[component or token]"
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: claudekit
  version: "1.0.0"
---

# Design System

Token architecture, component specifications, systematic design, slide generation.

## When to Use

- Design token creation
- Component state definitions
- CSS variable systems
- Spacing/typography scales
- Design-to-code handoff
- Tailwind theme configuration
- **Slide/presentation generation**

## Token Architecture

Load: `references/token-architecture.md`

### Three-Layer Structure

```
Primitive (raw values)
       ↓
Semantic (purpose aliases)
       ↓
Component (component-specific)
```

**Example:**
```css
/* Primitive */
--color-blue-600: #2563EB;

/* Semantic */
--color-primary: var(--color-blue-600);

/* Component */
--button-bg: var(--color-primary);
```

## Script Paths

Script paths in this skill and its `references/` are relative to the directory that contains this SKILL.md, not to the project: `scripts/<file>` is this skill's own `scripts/` folder, and `../<skill>/scripts/<file>` is a sibling sub-skill installed alongside it. Build the full path from that directory (Claude Code reports it as the skill's base directory when the skill loads) and keep the working directory at the project root — the scripts read and write project files such as `docs/brand-guidelines.md`, `assets/design-tokens.json` or `src/` relative to it.

## Quick Start

**Generate tokens:**
```bash
node scripts/generate-tokens.cjs --config tokens.json -o tokens.css
```

**Validate usage:**
```bash
node scripts/validate-tokens.cjs --dir src/
```

## References

| Topic | File |
|-------|------|
| Token Architecture | `references/token-architecture.md` |
| Primitive Tokens | `references/primitive-tokens.md` |
| Semantic Tokens | `references/semantic-tokens.md` |
| Component Tokens | `references/component-tokens.md` |
| Component Specs | `references/component-specs.md` |
| States & Variants | `references/states-and-variants.md` |
| Tailwind Integration | `references/tailwind-integration.md` |

## Component Spec Pattern

| Property | Default | Hover | Active | Disabled |
|----------|---------|-------|--------|----------|
| Background | primary | primary-dark | primary-darker | muted |
| Text | white | white | white | muted-fg |
| Border | none | none | none | muted-border |
| Shadow | sm | md | none | none |

## Scripts

| Script | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `generate-tokens.cjs` | Generate CSS from JSON token config |
| `validate-tokens.cjs` | Check for hardcoded values in code |
| `search-slides.py` | BM25 search + contextual recommendations |
| `slide-token-validator.py` | Validate slide HTML for token compliance |
| `fetch-background.py` | Fetch images from Pexels/Unsplash |

## Templates

| Template | Purpose |
|----------|---------|
| `design-tokens-starter.json` | Starter JSON with three-layer structure |

## Integration

**With brand:** Extract primitives from brand colors/typography
**With ui-styling:** Component tokens → Tailwind config

**Skill Dependencies:** brand, ui-styling
**Primary Agents:** ui-ux-designer, frontend-developer

## Slide System

Brand-compliant presentations using design tokens + Chart.js + contextual decision system.

### Source of Truth

| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `docs/brand-guidelines.md` | Brand identity, voice, colors |
| `assets/design-tokens.json` | Token definitions (primitive→semantic→component) |
| `assets/design-tokens.css` | CSS variables (import in slides) |
| `assets/css/slide-animations.css` | CSS animation library |

### Slide Search (BM25)

```bash
# Basic search (auto-detect domain)
python scripts/search-slides.py "investor pitch"

# Domain-specific search
python scripts/search-slides.py "problem agitation" -d copy
python scripts/search-slides.py "revenue growth" -d chart

# Contextual search (Premium System)
python scripts/search-slides.py "problem slide" --context --position 2 --total 9
python scripts/search-slides.py "cta" --context --position 9 --prev-emotion frustration
```

### Decision System CSVs

| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `data/slide-strategies.csv` | 15 deck structures + emotion arcs + sparkline beats |
| `data/slide-layouts.csv` | 25 layouts + component variants + animations |
| `data/slide-layout-logic.csv` | Goal → Layout + break_pattern flag |
| `data/slide-typography.csv` | Content type → Typography scale |
| `data/slide-color-logic.csv` | Emotion → Color treatment |
| `data/slide-backgrounds.csv` | Slide type → Image category (Pexels/Unsplash) |
| `data/slide-copy.csv` | 25 copywriting formulas (PAS, AIDA, FAB) |
| `data/slide-charts.csv` | 25 chart types with Chart.js config |

### Contextual Decision Flow

```
1. Parse goal/context
        ↓
2. Search slide-strategies.csv → Get strategy + emotion beats
        ↓
3. For each slide:
   a. Query slide-layout-logic.csv → layout + break_pattern
   b. Query slide-typography.csv → type scale
   c. Query slide-color-logic.csv → color treatment
   d. Query slide-backgrounds.csv → image if needed
   e. Apply animation class from slide-animations.css
        ↓
4. Generate HTML with design tokens
        ↓
5. Validate with slide-token-validator.py
```

### Pattern Breaking (Duarte Sparkline)

Premium decks alternate between emotions for engagement:
```
"What Is" (frustration) ↔ "What Could Be" (hope)
```

System calculates pattern breaks at 1/3 and 2/3 positions.

### Slide Requirements

**ALL slides MUST:**
1. Import `assets/design-tokens.css` - single source of truth
2. Use CSS variables: `var(--color-primary)`, `var(--slide-bg)`, etc.
3. Use Chart.js for charts (NOT CSS-only bars)
4. Include navigation (keyboard arrows, click, progress bar)
5. Center align content
6. Focus on persuasion/conversion

### Chart.js Integration

```html
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/dist/chart.umd.min.js"></script>

<canvas id="revenueChart"></canvas>
<script>
new Chart(document.getElementById('revenueChart'), {
    type: 'line',
    data: {
        labels: ['Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec'],
        datasets: [{
            data: [5, 12, 28, 45],
            borderColor: '#FF6B6B',  // Use brand coral
            backgroundColor: 'rgba(255, 107, 107, 0.1)',
            fill: true,
            tension: 0.4
        }]
    }
});
</script>
```

### Token Compliance

```css
/* CORRECT - uses token */
background: var(--slide-bg);
color: var(--color-primary);
font-family: var(--typography-font-heading);

/* WRONG - hardcoded */
background: #0D0D0D;
color: #FF6B6B;
font-family: 'Space Grotesk';
```

### Reference Implementation

Working example with all features:
```
assets/designs/slides/claudekit-pitch-251223.html
```

### Command

```bash
/slides:create "10-slide investor pitch for ClaudeKit Marketing"
```

## Best Practices

1. Never use raw hex in components - always reference tokens
2. Semantic layer enables theme switching (light/dark)
3. Component tokens enable per-component customization
4. Use HSL format for opacity control
5. Document every token's purpose
6. **Slides must import design-tokens.css and use var() exclusively**