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UI/UX Specification

Required design ui_ux_spec
Agent Prompt Snippet
Ensure the project has a UI/UX specification covering wireframes, interaction flows, design system tokens, and responsive breakpoints.

Purpose

A UI/UX specification defines wireframes, interaction flows, design system tokens, and responsive breakpoints that ensure a consistent and intuitive user experience across all pages.

This is a Required document — every project of this type should have one. Without it, the team risks misalignment, rework, or undetected issues that compound over time.

Key Sections to Include

  • Wireframes
  • Interaction flows
  • Design system tokens
  • Responsive breakpoints

Agent hint: Ensure the project has a UI/UX specification covering wireframes, interaction flows, design system tokens, and responsive breakpoints.

What Makes It Good vs Bad

A strong version of this document:

  • Grounded in user research or validated assumptions about user needs
  • Includes interaction flows, not just static mockups
  • Specifies responsive behavior, accessibility, and edge states
  • Defines a consistent design language (typography, spacing, color)
  • Tested with real users or validated through usability heuristics

Warning signs of a weak version:

  • Only covers the happy path — no error, empty, or loading states
  • Pixel-perfect mockups with no guidance on responsive adaptation
  • Ignores accessibility requirements (color contrast, keyboard navigation, screen readers)
  • No connection to the design system or component library
  • Created without understanding technical constraints

Common Mistakes

  • Designing only for the ideal scenario and ignoring edge cases
  • Not testing designs with actual users before committing to implementation
  • Treating accessibility as an afterthought rather than a design constraint
  • Creating designs that can’t be built within technical constraints

How to Use This Document

Begin with user research or clearly stated assumptions about user needs. Design for the full range of states: empty, loading, error, partial, and success. Specify responsive behavior and ensure all interactive elements are keyboard-accessible. Document the design system tokens (colors, spacing, typography) so implementation is consistent.

For AI agents: Reference design documents when implementing UI components. Verify that implementations match specified states and responsive behaviors. Check accessibility requirements against WCAG 2.1 AA.

Starter Template

SpecBase includes a ready-to-use template for this document: kb/templates/design/ui_ux_spec.md.tmpl. Use the SpecBase CLI or MCP integration to generate it pre-filled for your project.

# Generate stubs via CLI
specbase init <archetype> --features <features> --dir ./docs
  • The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman — Foundational work on human-centered design principles and affordances.
  • Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug — Concise, practical guide to web usability and intuitive interface design.
  • Refactoring UI by Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger — Tactical design advice for developers — visual hierarchy, spacing, color, and typography.

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