---
name: Apply Aesthetic
slug: apply-aesthetic
category: Frontend
description: Apply Aesthetic maps a chosen visual direction or named design system into the token system. Use it when you need a specific look, brand feel, or premium finish while preserving accessibility.
github: "https://github.com/plugin87/ux-ui-agent-skills/tree/main/.claude/skills/apply-aesthetic"
language: JavaScript
stars: 639
forks: 64
install: "npx degit https://github.com/plugin87/ux-ui-agent-skills/tree/main/.claude/skills/apply-aesthetic ~/.claude/skills/apply-aesthetic"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/apply-aesthetic
source_path: .claude/skills/apply-aesthetic/SKILL.md
collection_size: 17
category_size: 567
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/plugin87/ux-ui-agent-skills"
added: 2026-08-24T05:18:07.425Z
last_synced: 2026-08-24T05:18:07.425Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/apply-aesthetic"
---

# Apply Aesthetic

Apply Aesthetic maps a chosen visual direction or named design system into the token system. Use it when you need a specific look, brand feel, or premium finish while preserving accessibility.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/plugin87/ux-ui-agent-skills/tree/main/.claude/skills/apply-aesthetic ~/.claude/skills/apply-aesthetic
```

## README

# Skill: Apply Aesthetic

Choose and apply a design direction without breaking accessibility.

## Steps
1. **Brief Inference first (mandatory)** — before any tokens, name it: industry/domain, audience & tone, the one mood adjective the result must earn, motion depth, and the layout-family sequence (`taste/design-taste.md` → Brief Inference + Variance Mandate). Generating before deciding = slop.
2. Pick a direction in `taste/aesthetic-systems.md`:
   - An **archetype** (recipe mapped to our tokens), or
   - A **named library system** — browse with `python3 scripts/design_systems.py list` (or `search <term>` / `show <name>`); specs live in `design-systems/library/<name>/DESIGN.md`.
3. Apply the **Library Contract** (in `aesthetic-systems.md`): re-point `semantic.*` tokens to the chosen system's color roles; map typography/spacing/radius/shadow/motion to `tokens/*.json`.
4. **Verify contrast** of every mapped color pair (`scripts/contrast.py` / `a11y-audit`). A brand value that fails must be adjusted — taste never overrides POUR.
5. Add motion per `taste/motion-choreography.md`; run the pre-flight aesthetic check in `design-taste.md`.

## Output
Updated/overridden semantic tokens + notes on type/space/motion, then render via `design-code`. Confirm the result passes both the aesthetic check and accessibility.