# design-critique

Provides structured design critique covering usability, visual hierarchy, and accessibility. Works with Figma links, screenshots, or screen descriptions.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 5300 installs · ★ 33071
- Author: anthropics · official Anthropic repository
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/tree/HEAD/design/skills/design-critique/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/design-critique

## What it does

The skill evaluates interfaces across five areas: initial impression, usability, visual hierarchy, consistency, and accessibility. You supply a screenshot, screen description, or a Figma link. When design tool connectors are enabled, it inspects components, tokens, and layer structures directly.

The output arrives as a formatted Markdown critique. It contains issue tables with severity ratings, contrast checks, positive observations, and three prioritized recommendations. Without active tool connectors, the skill relies entirely on your exported images and supplied text context.

## Requirements
- Works with: Figma

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-critique -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/design-critique/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/design-critique/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-critique -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/design-critique/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-critique -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/design-critique/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins design-critique
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/design-critique/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-critique -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --path design/skills/design-critique
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/design-critique/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-critique -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/tree/HEAD/design/skills/design-critique/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- audit screen visual hierarchy and reading order
- check color contrast and touch target sizes
- verify design system consistency across spacing and typography
- produce a prioritized list of layout fixes

## Example prompts
- /design-critique screen.png Focus on the mobile onboarding flow
- Review this checkout layout mockup and evaluate usability
- /design-critique Check button contrast and typography hierarchy on this screen

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 125cc83230047127.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 125cc83230047127
````text
---
name: design-critique
description: Get structured design feedback on usability, hierarchy, and consistency. Trigger with "review this design", "critique this mockup", "what do you think of this screen?", or when sharing a Figma link or screenshot for feedback at any stage from exploration to final polish.
argument-hint: "<Figma URL, screenshot, or description>"
---

# /design-critique

> If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see [CONNECTORS.md](../../CONNECTORS.md).

Get structured design feedback across multiple dimensions.

## Usage

```
/design-critique $ARGUMENTS
```

Review the design: @$1

If a Figma URL is provided, pull the design from Figma. If a file is referenced, read it. Otherwise, ask the user to describe or share their design.

## What I Need From You

- **The design**: Figma URL, screenshot, or detailed description
- **Context**: What is this? Who is it for? What stage (exploration, refinement, final)?
- **Focus** (optional): "Focus on mobile" or "Focus on the onboarding flow"

## Critique Framework

### 1. First Impression (2 seconds)
- What draws the eye first? Is that correct?
- What's the emotional reaction?
- Is the purpose immediately clear?

### 2. Usability
- Can the user accomplish their goal?
- Is the navigation intuitive?
- Are interactive elements obvious?
- Are there unnecessary steps?

### 3. Visual Hierarchy
- Is there a clear reading order?
- Are the right elements emphasized?
- Is whitespace used effectively?
- Is typography creating the right hierarchy?

### 4. Consistency
- Does it follow the design system?
- Are spacing, colors, and typography consistent?
- Do similar elements behave similarly?

### 5. Accessibility
- Color contrast ratios
- Touch target sizes
- Text readability
- Alternative text for images

## How to Give Feedback

- **Be specific**: "The CTA competes with the navigation" not "the layout is confusing"
- **Explain why**: Connect feedback to design principles or user needs
- **Suggest alternatives**: Don't just identify problems, propose solutions
- **Acknowledge what works**: Good feedback includes positive observations
- **Match the stage**: Early exploration gets different feedback than final polish

## Output

```markdown
## Design Critique: [Design Name]

### Overall Impression
[1-2 sentence first reaction — what works, what's the biggest opportunity]

### Usability
| Finding | Severity | Recommendation |
|---------|----------|----------------|
| [Issue] | 🔴 Critical / 🟡 Moderate / 🟢 Minor | [Fix] |

### Visual Hierarchy
- **What draws the eye first**: [Element] — [Is this correct?]
- **Reading flow**: [How does the eye move through the layout?]
- **Emphasis**: [Are the right things emphasized?]

### Consistency
| Element | Issue | Recommendation |
|---------|-------|----------------|
| [Typography/spacing/color] | [Inconsistency] | [Fix] |

### Accessibility
- **Color contrast**: [Pass/fail for key text]
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 125cc83230047127

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