Design System Creation

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name: design-system-creation model: reasoning description: Complete workflow for creating distinctive design systems from scratch. Orchestrates aesthetic documentation, token architecture, components, and motion. Use when starting a new design system or refactoring an existing one. Triggers on create design system, design tokens, design system setup, visual identity, theming.

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Design System Creation (Meta-Skill)

Complete workflow for creating distinctive design systems with personality.

Installation

OpenClaw / Moltbot / Clawbot

npx clawhub@latest install design-system-creation

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When to Use

Starting a new product that needs visual identity

Refactoring an existing design with scattered styles

Building a component library with design tokens

Want to go beyond generic Tailwind/Bootstrap aesthetics

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Workflow Overview

1. Aesthetic Foundation   → Document the vibe before code
2. Color Token System     → CSS variables + Tailwind + TypeScript
3. Typography System      → Font stack + scale + patterns
4. Surface Components     → Layered primitives with CVA
5. Motion Tokens          → Consistent animation timing
6. Loading States         → Skeleton + shimmer patterns

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Step 1: Aesthetic Foundation

Read: ai/skills/design-systems/distinctive-design-systems

Before writing CSS, document the aesthetic:

## The Vibe
[1-2 sentences describing the visual feel]
Inspirations
[Reference 1 - what to take from it]
[Reference 2 - what to take from it]
Emotions to Evoke
| Emotion | How It's Achieved |
|---------|-------------------|
| [X] | [specific technique] |
| [Y] | [specific technique] |

Proven Directions to Consider

| Aesthetic | Characteristics | |-----------|----------------| | Retro-futuristic | CRT textures, glow effects, monospace fonts | | Warm cyberpunk | Tan/beige base, emerald accents, glass panels | | Magazine financial | Bold typography, dark theme, gradient text |

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Step 2: Color Token Architecture

Read: ai/skills/design-systems/distinctive-design-systems

Create the three-layer token system:

/* 1. CSS Variables (source of truth) */
:root {
  --tone-primary: 76, 204, 255;
  --primary: 200 90% 65%;
  --success: 154 80% 60%;
  --destructive: 346 80% 62%;
}

// 2. Tailwind Config
colors: {
  primary: 'hsl(var(--primary))',
  tone: { primary: 'rgb(var(--tone-primary))' },
}

// 3. TypeScript Tokens (optional)
export const colors = {
  primary: 'hsl(var(--primary))',
};

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Step 3: Typography System

Read: ai/skills/design-systems/distinctive-design-systems

Define fonts and scale:

:root {
  --font-display: 'Orbitron', system-ui;
  --font-mono: 'Share Tech Mono', monospace;
  --font-sans: 'Inter', system-ui;
  
  --typo-scale: 0.88;  /* Mobile */
}
@media (min-width: 640px) {
  :root { --typo-scale: 1; }
}

Typography Patterns

/* Magazine-style numbers */
.metric { font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: -0.02em; font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; }
/* Labels */
.label { text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.1em; font-weight: 700; }

---

Step 4: Surface Components

Read: ai/skills/design-systems/design-system-components

Build layered surface primitives with CVA:

const surfaceVariants = cva(
  'rounded-lg backdrop-blur-sm transition-colors',
  {
    variants: {
      layer: {
        panel: 'bg-tone-cadet/40 border border-tone-jordy/10',
        tile: 'bg-tone-midnight/60 border border-tone-jordy/5',
        chip: 'bg-tone-cyan/10 border border-tone-cyan/20 rounded-full',
      },
    },
  }
);
export function Surface({ layer, children }: SurfaceProps) {
  return 
{children}
;
}

---

Step 5: Motion Tokens

Read: ai/skills/design-systems/distinctive-design-systems

Define consistent animation timing:

// tailwind.config.ts
keyframes: {
  'shimmer': { '0%': { backgroundPosition: '200% 0' }, '100%': { backgroundPosition: '-200% 0' } },
  'pulse-glow': { '0%, 100%': { opacity: '1' }, '50%': { opacity: '0.5' } },
  'slide-in': { '0%': { opacity: '0', transform: 'translateY(10px)' }, '100%': { opacity: '1', transform: 'translateY(0)' } },
},
animation: {
  'shimmer': 'shimmer 1.5s ease-in-out infinite',
  'pulse-glow': 'pulse-glow 1.8s ease-in-out infinite',
  'slide-in': 'slide-in 0.2s ease-out',
}

---

Step 6: Loading States

Read: ai/skills/design-systems/loading-state-patterns

Create skeleton components that match your aesthetic:

export function Skeleton({ className }: { className?: string }) {
  return (
    

  );
}

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Component Skills Reference

| Skill | Purpose | |-------|---------| | distinctive-design-systems | Aesthetic foundation, tokens | | design-system-components | Surface primitives, CVA | | animated-financial-display | Number animations | | loading-state-patterns | Skeletons, shimmer | | financial-data-visualization | Chart theming |

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File Structure

styles/
├── globals.css          # CSS variables, base styles
├── design-tokens.ts     # TypeScript exports
└── theme.css            # Component patterns
tailwind.config.ts       # Token integration
components/
├── ui/
│   ├── surface.tsx      # Surface primitive
│   ├── skeleton.tsx     # Loading states
│   └── button.tsx       # Variant components

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NEVER Do

Never start with code before documenting aesthetic — Vibes before CSS

Never use pure black (#000) as base — Always use tinted blacks for depth

Never use pure white (#fff) for text — Use tinted whites that match the palette

Never skip design tokens in favor of hardcoded values — Tokens prevent drift

Never create components without variant system — Use CVA or similar for consistency

Never use Inter/Roboto for headings — Display fonts create distinctiveness

Never use default Tailwind colors — Define your own palette

Never skip backdrop-filter blur on glass — Glass panels need blur to work

Never apply decorative patterns to readable content — Background decoration only

Never use high-saturation colors without opacity — Modulate with rgba()

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Checklist

[ ] Document aesthetic foundation (vibe, inspirations, emotions)

[ ] Create color token system (CSS + Tailwind + TS)

[ ] Define typography stack and scale

[ ] Build Surface primitive component

[ ] Add motion tokens and animations

[ ] Create loading state components

[ ] Document anti-patterns (what NOT to do)