Atomic Design Planning Skill

This skill guides UI component architecture using Atomic Design methodology, emphasizing reuse of existing components and proper categorization of new ones.

When to Use

Apply this skill when:

• Planning UI features or components

• Deciding whether to create new components

• Discussing frontend architecture

• Users ask "what components do we need?"

• Reviewing UI implementation plans

• Discussing design system structure

Atomic Design Hierarchy

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ PAGES - Complete screens with real content │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ TEMPLATES - Page-level layout structures │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ORGANISMS - Complex UI sections (Header, LoginForm)│ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ MOLECULES - Simple groups (SearchInput, NavItem) │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ ATOMS - Basic blocks (Button, Input, Icon) │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Component Categories

Atoms

Smallest, indivisible UI elements: Buttons, Inputs, Labels, Icons, Typography.

• No dependencies on other components

• Highly reusable, controlled by props only

Molecules

Simple combinations of 2-4 atoms: SearchInput, FormField, NavItem.

• Single responsibility, reusable in multiple organisms

Organisms

Complex, distinct UI sections: Header, ProductCard, LoginForm, DataTable.

• May connect to data/state, often feature-specific

Templates

Page-level structural layouts: DashboardLayout, AuthLayout.

• Define content placement, handle responsive behavior

Pages

Specific instances with real content: HomePage, ProductDetailPage.

• Templates filled with data, route-specific

The Reuse-First Principle

Before creating ANY component:

• Search existing atoms - Is there a Button/Input that works?

• Search existing molecules - Can a FormField be adapted?

• Search existing organisms - Does a similar Card exist?

• Only then create new - Is this truly unique?

Decision Table

Question If Yes If No

Does something similar exist? Reuse/extend it Continue evaluation

Will this be used in 2+ places? Consider extracting Inline it instead

Is it truly indivisible? Make it an atom Make it a molecule+

Does it combine 2-4 atoms? Make it a molecule Make it an organism

Is it a complete UI section? Make it an organism Reconsider structure

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

• Creating when reusing works - Configure existing Button with props instead

• Feature-specific atoms - "UserProfileButton" should be an organism

• Skipping levels - Pages shouldn't directly use atoms

• Wrong abstraction level - Atoms shouldn't have business logic

Integration with Linear Workflow

When planning UI features, create issues for:

• Atom issues - New basic components needed

• Molecule issues - New component combinations

• Organism issues - New feature-level components

Investigation phase should identify existing components to reuse.

Remember: Reuse existing components. Only create what's truly missing.