layout
by pbakausThe layout skill helps review and improve UI composition, spacing, hierarchy, alignment, and visual rhythm. It is best for crowded or structurally weak screens and depends on /impeccable for context gathering before use.
This skill scores 67/100, which means it is acceptable to list for directory users but comes with clear adoption caveats. The repository provides a real, substantial layout critique framework with explicit triggers and a structured assessment checklist, so an agent can likely invoke it at the right time. However, execution still depends heavily on another prerequisite skill (/impeccable), and the skill lacks concrete workflow artifacts, examples, or implementation references that would reduce guesswork during use.
- Strong triggerability: the frontmatter description clearly names when to use it, including spacing, hierarchy, crowded UI, alignment, and composition issues.
- Substantial written guidance: the skill body is long and includes structured sections for assessing spacing, visual hierarchy, and grid/structure rather than being a placeholder.
- Actionable design lens: it gives practical heuristics like grouping related elements tightly, using the squint test, and checking for monotonous card grids.
- Operational dependency is high: it explicitly requires invoking /impeccable and possibly /impeccable teach first, so it is not very self-contained.
- Limited execution clarity: there are no scripts, examples, code fences, install instructions, or referenced files to show how recommendations should be applied in practice.
Overview of layout skill
What the layout skill does
The layout skill helps an AI review and improve UI composition: spacing, grouping, hierarchy, alignment, and overall visual rhythm. It is meant for screens that feel crowded, flat, repetitive, or structurally weak. Instead of “make it prettier,” the skill focuses on layout decisions that change readability and scanability.
Who should install layout
This layout skill is best for designers, frontend developers, and product teams working on app screens, dashboards, landing pages, and component-heavy interfaces. It is especially useful when the design is functional but feels off: too many equal gaps, weak emphasis, card-grid monotony, or unclear grouping.
What makes this different from a generic prompt
A normal prompt might suggest random tweaks. This skill is more opinionated about diagnosing spatial problems first, then improving them systematically. The strongest differentiator is that layout depends on the parent /impeccable skill and its context-gathering protocol, so it is intended to work from design evidence rather than aesthetic guesswork.
Biggest adoption constraint to know first
layout is not a standalone “instant fix” skill. The repository explicitly requires /impeccable first, and if no design context exists yet, /impeccable teach must run before using layout. If you want one-shot visual mockup generation, this is likely a mismatch; if you want structured critique and better layout guidance, it is a better fit.
How to Use layout skill
Install context and required dependency
Install from the pbakaus/impeccable repository, then invoke the layout skill by name from that skill set. In practice, treat layout as a sub-skill of /impeccable, not an isolated package. Before using it, read SKILL.md in .claude/skills/layout and confirm the dependency flow:
- Run
/impeccable - Follow the context gathering protocol
- If needed, run
/impeccable teach - Then invoke
layout
Because the repo preview shows only SKILL.md, that file is the primary source of truth.
What input the layout skill needs
The layout skill works best when you provide:
- the target screen or component
- the user goal on that screen
- current layout problems
- platform constraints such as mobile, desktop, grid system, or design system
- screenshots, wireframes, or a concise structure description
Weak input: “Improve this page layout.”
Stronger input: “Use the layout skill on this analytics dashboard. Problems: every card has identical spacing, filters compete with the chart title, and the KPI row feels detached from the main trend chart. Desktop-first, 12-column grid, existing design system spacing tokens only.”
That stronger prompt gives the skill enough structure to assess spacing, hierarchy, and grid choices rather than inventing problems.
Turn a rough goal into a usable layout prompt
A good layout usage pattern is:
- identify the target
- describe what feels wrong
- state constraints
- ask for diagnosis first, then revisions
Example prompt:
“Apply the layout skill to this settings page. First assess spacing consistency, hierarchy, grouping, and grid structure. Then propose specific layout changes that reduce crowding and make primary actions easier to scan. Constraints: keep all content, do not redesign branding, use existing 8px spacing scale, preserve responsive behavior.”
This works better than asking for a redesign because the skill is built around spatial diagnosis: spacing rhythm, squint-test hierarchy, grouping, and avoiding repetitive generic grids.
Practical workflow and what to read first
For a fast layout guide, use this workflow:
- Read
SKILL.md - Run
/impeccableand gather context - Ask
layoutfor an assessment, not immediate fixes - Review the diagnosis by category: spacing, hierarchy, grid, monotony
- Ask for a revised layout plan with explicit tradeoffs
- Apply changes and run a second pass on the updated screen
If you are deciding whether to install, the key repository-reading path is short: SKILL.md first and likely only. Look for the sections on mandatory preparation and assessment criteria; they tell you more about real usage quality than a generic repo skim.
layout skill FAQ
Is layout good for beginners?
Yes, if you can describe the screen and the problem clearly. You do not need advanced design vocabulary, but you will get better results if you mention concrete symptoms like “everything has equal spacing” or “the page feels like one undifferentiated block” instead of saying only “bad layout.”
When should I use layout instead of a normal design prompt?
Use the layout skill when the problem is structural rather than stylistic. If the issue is spacing rhythm, grouping, hierarchy, or repetitive grid patterns, layout is more targeted than a broad UI prompt. If you mainly want colors, typography, or brand direction, another skill may be a better fit.
What are the boundaries of layout for UI Design?
layout for UI Design is strongest at critique and direction, not final visual production. It can tell you how to reorganize space and emphasis, but it does not replace full product context, usability testing, or implementation-specific frontend judgment. It also relies on /impeccable, so teams wanting a fully standalone layout tool may find the dependency inconvenient.
When is this a poor fit?
Skip layout install if your main need is code generation, pixel-perfect production files, or heavy visual exploration without prior context. It is also a poor fit if you cannot provide a target screen, constraints, or symptoms; the skill is most useful when there is an existing interface to assess.
How to Improve layout skill
Give the skill better evidence, not broader requests
The fastest way to improve layout output is to show the actual screen structure. Include screenshots, section order, component types, and which elements should dominate. Mention whether the current issue is crowding, sameness, weak grouping, or misaligned emphasis. Better evidence leads to better hierarchy and spacing advice.
Ask for diagnosis before recommendations
A common failure mode is jumping straight to “fix it.” Ask the skill to evaluate:
- spacing consistency
- grouping and separation
- hierarchy under a squint test
- underlying grid or structural rhythm
This exposes why the current composition fails and makes the recommendations easier to trust and apply.
Constrain the solution so advice is implementable
If you want usable output, tell the layout skill what it cannot change: content count, spacing scale, breakpoint model, design system tokens, or card component reuse. Without constraints, it may suggest improvements that are directionally right but hard to ship.
Iterate on one screen state at a time
After the first pass, update the screen and ask layout to compare old vs. new. Useful follow-ups are:
- “What still feels monotonous?”
- “Where is hierarchy still weak?”
- “Which spacing choices are still too uniform?”
- “What is the single highest-impact layout change left?”
This keeps iteration focused and helps the layout skill refine composition instead of restarting from scratch.