web-design-methodology

Web Design Methodology

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Install skill "web-design-methodology" with this command: npx skills add jezweb/claude-skills/jezweb-claude-skills-web-design-methodology

Web Design Methodology

Universal patterns for building production-grade HTML/CSS. This skill covers implementation methodology — pair with web-design-patterns for specific component designs.

What You Produce

Production-ready HTML/CSS prototypes with:

  • Semantic CSS custom properties (tokens)

  • BEM-named components

  • Mobile-first responsive design

  • Accessible markup

  • Optional three-state dark mode

File Structure

prototype/ ├── index.html ├── about.html ├── services.html ├── contact.html ├── favicon.svg ├── css/ │ ├── variables.css # Tokens: colours, typography, spacing │ ├── styles.css # All component styles (BEM) │ └── mobile-nav.css # Mobile menu styles ├── js/ │ ├── theme.js # Dark mode toggle (only if requested) │ └── mobile-menu.js # Hamburger menu └── media/ └── images/

Build order:

  • variables.css — tokens first

  • favicon.svg — simple SVG from brand colour

  • styles.css — all BEM components

  • mobile-nav.css — responsive navigation

  • JS files — from assets/ templates

  • index.html — homepage first

  • Inner pages — about, services, contact

  • Mobile check — verify at 375px

BEM Naming

Use Block-Element-Modifier naming. No exceptions.

/* Block */ .hero { } .card { } .nav { }

/* Element (child of block) */ .hero__title { } .hero__subtitle { } .hero__cta { } .card__image { } .card__content { }

/* Modifier (variation) */ .hero--split { } .hero--minimal { } .card--featured { } .btn--primary { } .btn--lg { }

Rules:

  • Blocks are standalone components

  • Elements are children, connected with __

  • Modifiers are variations, connected with --

  • Never nest more than one level: .hero__content__title is wrong

  • Never use element without its block: .card__image only inside .card

CSS Custom Properties

Use semantic tokens. Never hardcode colours, spacing, or typography values.

See references/css-variables-template.md for the complete token template.

/* Always this */ .card { background: var(--card); color: var(--card-foreground); border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: var(--radius); box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm); padding: var(--space-6); }

/* Never this */ .card { background: #ffffff; color: #333333; border: 1px solid #e5e5e5; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 24px; }

Dark Mode (Optional)

Dark mode is optional — only add if the brief requests it. Most business sites ship faster as light-only.

When to include:

  • Brief explicitly requests it

  • Tech/developer audiences (expected)

  • Portfolio/creative sites (aesthetic choice)

When to skip:

  • Trades, hospitality, professional services

  • When simplicity and fast shipping matter more

If Adding Dark Mode

Use class-based toggle, never CSS media queries.

/* Light mode (default) */ :root { --background: #F9FAFB; --foreground: #0F172A; --card: #FFFFFF; --card-foreground: #1E293B; }

/* Dark mode (via .dark class on html) */ .dark { --background: #0F172A; --foreground: #F1F5F9; --card: #1E293B; --card-foreground: #F1F5F9; }

Rules:

  • .dark class on <html> , toggled via JavaScript

  • NEVER use @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) — JS handles system preference

  • Every background token needs a paired foreground token

  • Brand colours get lighter/more saturated in dark mode

  • Backgrounds: #0F172A to #1E293B range (not pure black)

  • Every text-on-background combo must pass WCAG AA (4.5:1)

Use assets/theme-toggle.js for the three-state toggle implementation.

Responsive Design

Mobile-first. Design for 375px, enhance upward.

Breakpoints

/* Base: 375px (mobile) — no media query needed / @media (min-width: 640px) { / sm — large phone / } @media (min-width: 768px) { / md — tablet / } @media (min-width: 1024px) { / lg — small desktop / } @media (min-width: 1440px) { / xl — standard desktop */ }

Mobile Priorities

  • Phone number visible and tappable without scrolling

  • Primary CTA visible without scrolling

  • Navigation works via hamburger menu

  • Touch targets minimum 44x44px

  • No horizontal scrolling ever

  • Images scale properly (no overflow)

Wide Screen Constraints

.prose { max-width: 65ch; } .hero__content { max-width: min(640px, 45vw); } .container { max-width: 1280px; margin-inline: auto; padding-inline: var(--space-4); } .section { padding: clamp(3rem, 6vw, 6rem) 0; }

Use assets/mobile-nav.js for the hamburger menu implementation.

Typography Rules

  • Dramatic size contrast. Headlines 3-4x body size. clamp(2.5rem, 6vw, 5rem) for hero titles.

  • Weight variety. Mix 300 and 800 weights. Uniform weight is boring.

  • One display moment per page. One oversized word, one dramatic headline, one pull quote. Not three.

  • Left-align body text. Centre only for heroes and short statements. Never centre paragraphs.

  • Letter spacing on uppercase. Add letter-spacing: 0.05em minimum.

Colour Usage

The 80/20 rule:

  • 80% neutral tones (backgrounds, text, cards)

  • 15% secondary/muted brand tones

  • 5% primary brand colour (CTAs, one accent per viewport)

If primary is on every heading, border, icon — nothing stands out.

Spacing System

Not uniform padding. Sections breathe differently:

/* Tight section (service list, FAQ) */ .section--compact { padding: clamp(2rem, 4vw, 4rem) 0; }

/* Standard section */ .section { padding: clamp(3rem, 6vw, 6rem) 0; }

/* Breathing room (editorial break, testimonial) */ .section--spacious { padding: clamp(4rem, 8vw, 10rem) 0; }

Shadow System

Element Shadow

Cards at rest --shadow-sm

Cards on hover --shadow-md

Dropdowns --shadow-lg

Modals --shadow-xl

Not everything needs shadow. Use sparingly.

Icons

Use Lucide icons via inline SVG:

  • Size: 24px inline, 32-48px for feature blocks

  • Stroke width: 1.5 or 2 (consistent throughout)

  • Colour: currentColor (inherits text colour)

  • Each icon should communicate something specific

Accessibility

Non-negotiable:

  • Semantic HTML: <header> , <nav> , <main> , <section> , <footer>

  • Alt text: Meaningful for content images, empty for decorative

  • Contrast: 4.5:1 minimum (7:1 preferred)

  • Focus styles: Visible on all interactive elements

  • Skip link: First focusable element

  • Form labels: Associated with inputs

  • ARIA: aria-expanded on toggles, aria-label where needed

Performance

  • loading="lazy" on images below the fold

  • loading="eager" on hero image

  • <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com"> in head

  • Keep CSS under 50KB total

  • No JavaScript frameworks — vanilla JS only

Anti-AI Patterns

These patterns signal "AI generated this" — avoid:

  • Hero → trust bar → 3 cards → features → stats → CTA → footer (the skeleton)

  • Every section has identical padding

  • All cards same size in perfect 3-column grid

  • Everything centred

  • Every section: heading + subheading + content (same rhythm)

  • Decorative elements with no purpose

  • "Learn More" as every CTA

  • Inter/Arial/system fonts with no typographic personality

Quality Checklist

Before marking complete:

  • Direction is clear — can describe aesthetic in one phrase

  • Typography makes a statement — not Inter/system

  • Colour is restrained — primary used sparingly

  • No two adjacent sections look the same

  • CTAs are specific — no "Learn More"

  • Mobile works — tested at 375px

  • Dark mode works (only if enabled) — every section checked

  • No hallucinated images — only real file paths

  • Would a designer claim this as their work?

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