- name
- ux-decisions
- description
- AI skill for the Making UX Decisions framework (uxdecisions.com) by Tommy Geoco. Use for UI/UX design decisions, design audits, pattern selection, visual hierarchy analysis, and reviewing designs for completeness. Enables rapid, intentional interface design with checklists for visual style, accessibility, social proof, navigation, and more.
- author
- Tommy Geoco
- homepage
- https://uxdecisions.com
UX Decisions Skill
A comprehensive UI design decision-making framework based on "Making UX Decisions" by Tommy Geoco (uxdecisions.com). Enables rapid, intentional interface design in competitive, high-pressure environments.
When to Use This Skill
- Making UI/UX design decisions under time pressure
- Evaluating design trade-offs with business context
- Choosing appropriate UI patterns for specific problems
- Reviewing designs for completeness and quality
- Structuring design thinking for new interfaces
Core Philosophy
Speed ≠ Recklessness. Designing quickly is not automatically reckless. Recklessly designing quickly is reckless. The difference is intentionality.
The 3 Pillars of Warp-Speed Decisioning
- Scaffolding — Rules you use to automate recurring decisions
- Decisioning — Process you use for making new decisions
- Crafting — Checklists you use for executing decisions
Quick Reference Structure
Foundational Frameworks
references/00-core-framework.md— 3 pillars, decisioning workflow, macro betsreferences/01-anchors.md— 7 foundational mindsets for design resiliencereferences/02-information-scaffold.md— Psychology, economics, accessibility, defaults
Checklists (Execution)
references/10-checklist-new-interfaces.md— 6-step process for designing new interfacesreferences/11-checklist-fidelity.md— Component states, interactions, scalability, feedbackreferences/12-checklist-visual-style.md— Spacing, color, elevation, typography, motionreferences/13-checklist-innovation.md— 5 levels of originality spectrum
Patterns (Reusable Solutions)
references/20-patterns-chunking.md— Cards, tabs, accordions, pagination, carouselsreferences/21-patterns-progressive-disclosure.md— Tooltips, popovers, drawers, modalsreferences/22-patterns-cognitive-load.md— Steppers, wizards, minimalist nav, simplified formsreferences/23-patterns-visual-hierarchy.md— Typography, color, whitespace, size, proximityreferences/24-patterns-social-proof.md— Testimonials, UGC, badges, social integrationreferences/25-patterns-feedback.md— Progress bars, notifications, validation, contextual helpreferences/26-patterns-error-handling.md— Form validation, undo/redo, dialogs, autosavereferences/27-patterns-accessibility.md— Keyboard nav, ARIA, alt text, contrast, zoomreferences/28-patterns-personalization.md— Dashboards, adaptive content, preferences, l10nreferences/29-patterns-onboarding.md— Tours, contextual tips, tutorials, checklistsreferences/30-patterns-information.md— Breadcrumbs, sitemaps, tagging, faceted searchreferences/31-patterns-navigation.md— Priority nav, off-canvas, sticky, bottom nav
Usage Instructions
For Design Decisions
- Read
00-core-framework.mdfor the decisioning workflow - Identify if this is a recurring decision (use scaffold) or new decision (use process)
- Apply the 3-step weighing: institutional knowledge → user familiarity → research
For New Interfaces
- Follow the 6-step checklist in
10-checklist-new-interfaces.md - Reference relevant pattern files for specific UI components
- Use fidelity and visual style checklists to enhance quality
For Pattern Selection
- Identify the core problem (chunking, disclosure, cognitive load, etc.)
- Load the relevant pattern reference
- Evaluate benefits, use cases, psychological principles, and implementation guidelines
Decision Workflow Summary
When facing a UI decision:
1. WEIGH INFORMATION
├─ What does institutional knowledge say? (existing patterns, brand, tech constraints)
├─ What are users familiar with? (conventions, competitor patterns)
└─ What does research say? (user testing, analytics, studies)
2. NARROW OPTIONS
├─ Eliminate what conflicts with constraints
├─ Prioritize what aligns with macro bets
└─ Choose based on JTBD support
3. EXECUTE
└─ Apply relevant checklist + patternsMacro Bet Categories
Companies win through one or more of:
| Bet | Description | Design Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity | Features to market faster | Reuse patterns, find metaphors in other markets |
| Efficiency | Manage waste better | Design systems, reduce WIP |
| Accuracy | Be right more often | Stronger research, instrumentation |
| Innovation | Discover untapped potential | Novel patterns, cross-domain inspiration |
Always align micro design bets with company macro bets.
Key Principle: Good Design Decisions Are Relative
A design decision is "good" when it:
- Supports the product's jobs-to-be-done
- Aligns with company macro bets
- Respects constraints (time, tech, team)
- Balances user familiarity with differentiation needs
There is no universally correct UI solution—only contextually appropriate ones.