Update to EngineeringSuite

{
  "name": "redesign-existing-projects",
  "description": "Upgrades existing websites and apps to premium quality. Audits current design, identifies generic AI patterns, and applies high-end design standards without breaking functionality. Works with any CSS framework or vanilla CSS.",
  "included_files": [],
  "skill_md_contents": "---\nname: redesign-existing-projects\ndescription: Upgrades existing websites and apps to premium quality. Audits current design, identifies generic AI patterns, and applies high-end design standards without breaking functionality. Works with any CSS framework or vanilla CSS.\n---\n\n# Redesign Skill\n\n## How This Works\n\nWhen applied to an existing project, follow this sequence:\n\n1. **Scan** — Read the codebase. Identify the framework, styling method (Tailwind, vanilla CSS, styled-components, etc.), and current design patterns.\n2. **Diagnose** — Run through the audit below. List every generic pattern, weak point, and missing state you find.\n3. **Fix** — Apply targeted upgrades working with the existing stack. Do not rewrite from scratch. Improve what's there.\n\n## Design Audit\n\n### Typography\n\nCheck for these problems and fix them:\n\n- **Browser default fonts or Inter everywhere.** Replace with a font that has character. Good options: `Geist`, `Outfit`, `Cabinet Grotesk`, `Satoshi`. For editorial/creative projects, pair a serif header with a sans-serif body.\n- **Headlines lack presence.** Increase size for display text, tighten letter-spacing, reduce line-height. Headlines should feel heavy and intentional.\n- **Body text too wide.** Limit paragraph width to roughly 65 characters. Increase line-height for readability.\n- **Only Regular (400) and Bold (700) weights used.** Introduce Medium (500) and SemiBold (600) for more subtle hierarchy.\n- **Numbers in proportional font.** Use a monospace font or enable tabular figures (`font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums`) for data-heavy interfaces.\n- **Missing letter-spacing adjustments.** Use negative tracking for large headers, positive tracking for small caps or labels.\n- **All-caps subheaders everywhere.** Try lowercase italics, sentence case, or small-caps instead.\n- **Orphaned words.** Single words sitting alone on the last line. Fix with `text-wrap: balance` or `text-wrap: pretty`.\n\n### Color and Surfaces\n\n- **Pure `#000000` background.** Replace with off-black, dark charcoal, or tinted dark (`#0a0a0a`, `#121212`, or a dark navy).\n- **Oversaturated accent colors.** Keep saturation below 80%. Desaturate accents so they blend with neutrals instead of screaming.\n- **More than one accent color.** Pick one. Remove the rest. Consistency beats variety.\n- **Mixing warm and cool grays.** Stick to one gray family. Tint all grays with a consistent hue (warm or cool, not both).\n- **Purple/blue \"AI gradient\" aesthetic.** This is the most common AI design fingerprint. Replace with neutral bases and a single, considered accent.\n- **Generic `box-shadow`.** Tint shadows to match the background hue. Use colored shadows (e.g., dark blue shadow on a blue background) instead of pure black at low opacity.\n- **Flat design with zero texture.** Add subtle noise, grain, or micro-patterns to backgrounds. Pure flat vectors feel sterile.\n- **Perfectly even gradients.** Break the uniformity with radial gradients, noise overlays, or mesh gradients instead of standard linear 45-degree fades.\n- **Inconsistent lighting direction.** Audit all shadows to ensure they suggest a single, consistent light source.\n- **Random dark sections in a light mode page (or vice versa).** A single dark-background section breaking an otherwise light page looks like a copy-paste accident. Either commit to a full dark mode or keep a consistent background tone throughout. If contrast is needed, use a slightly darker shade of the same palette — not a sudden jump to `#111` in the middle of a cream page.\n- **Empty, flat sections with no visual depth.** Sections that are just text on a plain background feel unfinished. Add high-quality background imagery (blurred, overlaid, or masked), subtle patterns, or ambient gradients. Use reliable placeholder sources like `https://picsum.photos/seed/{name}/1920/1080` when real assets are not available. Experiment with background images behind hero sections, feature blocks, or CTAs — even a subtle full-width photo at low opacity adds presence.\n\n### Layout\n\n- **Everything centered and symmetrical.** Break symmetry with offset margins, mixed aspect ratios, or left-aligned headers over centered content.\n- **Three equal card columns as feature row.** This is the most generic AI layout. Replace with a 2-column zig-zag, asymmetric grid, horizontal scroll, or masonry layout.\n- **Using `height: 100vh` for full-screen sections.** Replace with `min-height: 100dvh` to prevent layout jumping on mobile browsers (iOS Safari viewport bug).\n- **Complex flexbox percentage math.** Replace with CSS Grid for reliable multi-column structures.\n- **No max-width container.** Add a container constraint (around 1200-1440px) with auto margins so content doesn't stretch edge-to-edge on wide screens.\n- **Cards of equal height forced by flexbox.** Allow variable heights or use masonry when content varies in length.\n- **Uniform border-radius on everything.** Vary the radius: tighter on inner elements, softer on containers.\n- **No overlap or depth.** Elements sit flat next to each other. Use negative margins to create layering and visual depth.\n- **Symmetrical vertical padding.** Top and bottom padding are always identical. Adjust optically — bottom padding often needs to be slightly larger.\n- **Dashboard always has a left sidebar.** Try top navigation, a floating command menu, or a collapsible panel instead.\n- **Missing whitespace.** Double the spacing. Let the design breathe. Dense layouts work for data dashboards, not for marketing pages.\n- **Buttons not bottom-aligned in card groups.** When cards have different content lengths, CTAs end up at random heights. Pin buttons to the bottom of each card so they form a clean horizontal line regardless of content above.\n- **Feature lists starting at different vertical positions.** In pricing tables or comparison cards, the list of features should start at the same Y position across all columns. Use consistent spacing above the list or fixed-height title/price blocks.\n- **Inconsistent vertical rhythm in side-by-side elements.** When placing cards, columns, or panels next to each other, align shared elements (titles, descriptions, prices, buttons) across all items. Misaligned baselines make the layout look broken.\n- **Mathematical alignment that looks optically wrong.** Centering by the math doesn't always look centered to the eye. Icons next to text, play buttons in circles, or text in buttons often need 1-2px optical adjustments to feel right.\n\n### Interactivity and States\n\n- **No hover states on buttons.** Add background shift, slight scale, or translate on hover.\n- **No active/pressed feedback.** Add a subtle `scale(0.98)` or `translateY(1px)` on press to simulate a physical click.\n- **Instant transitions with zero duration.** Add smooth transitions (200-300ms) to all interactive elements.\n- **Missing focus ring.** Ensure visible focus indicators for keyboard navigation. This is an accessibility requirement, not optional.\n- **No loading states.** Replace generic circular spinners with skeleton loaders that match the layout shape.\n- **No empty states.** An empty dashboard showing nothing is a missed opportunity. Design a composed \"getting started\" view.\n- **No error states.** Add clear, inline error messages for forms. Do not use `window.alert()`.\n- **Dead links.** Buttons that link to `#`. Either link to real destinations or visually disable them.\n- **No indication of current page in navigation.** Style the active nav link differently so users know where they are.\n- **Scroll jumping.** Anchor clicks jump instantly. Add `scroll-behavior: smooth`.\n- **Animations using `top`, `left`, `width`, `height`.** Switch to `transform` and `opacity` for GPU-accelerated, smooth animation.\n\n### Content\n\n- **Generic names like \"John Doe\" or \"Jane Smith\".** Use diverse, realistic-sounding names.\n- **Fake round numbers like `99.99%`, `50%`, `$100.00`.** Use organic, messy data: `47.2%`, `$99.00`, `+1 (312) 847-1928`.\n- **Placeholder company names like \"Acme Corp\", \"Nexus\", \"SmartFlow\".** Invent contextual, believable brand names.\n- **AI copywriting cliches.** Never use \"Elevate\", \"Seamless\", \"Unleash\", \"Next-Gen\", \"Game-changer\", \"Delve\", \"Tapestry\", or \"In the world of...\". Write plain, specific language.\n- **Exclamation marks in success messages.** Remove them. Be confident, not loud.\n- **\"Oops!\" error messages.** Be direct: \"Connection failed. Please try again.\"\n- **Passive voice.** Use active voice: \"We couldn't save your changes\" instead of \"Mistakes were made.\"\n- **All blog post dates identical.** Randomize dates to appear real.\n- **Same avatar image for multiple users.** Use unique assets for every distinct person.\n- **Lorem Ipsum.** Never use placeholder latin text. Write real draft copy.\n- **Title Case On Every Header.** Use sentence case instead.\n\n### Component Patterns\n\n- **Generic card look (border + shadow + white background).** Remove the border, or use only background color, or use only spacing. Cards should exist only when elevation communicates hierarchy.\n- **Always one filled button + one ghost button.** Add text links or tertiary styles to reduce visual noise.\n- **Pill-shaped \"New\" and \"Beta\" badges.** Try square badges, flags, or plain text labels.\n- **Accordion FAQ sections.** Use a side-by-side list, searchable help, or inline progressive disclosure.\n- **3-card carousel testimonials with dots.** Replace with a masonry wall, embedded social posts, or a single rotating quote.\n- **Pricing table with 3 towers.** Highlight the recommended tier with color and emphasis, not just extra height.\n- **Modals for everything.** Use inline editing, slide-over panels, or expandable sections instead of popups for simple actions.\n- **Avatar circles exclusively.** Try squircles or rounded squares for a less generic look.\n- **Light/dark toggle always a sun/moon switch.** Use a dropdown, system preference detection, or integrate it into settings.\n- **Footer link farm with 4 columns.** Simplify. Focus on main navigational paths and legally required links.\n\n### Iconography\n\n- **Lucide or Feather icons exclusively.** These are the \"default\" AI icon choice. Use Phosphor, Heroicons, or a custom set for differentiation.\n- **Rocketship for \"Launch\", shield for \"Security\".** Replace cliche metaphors with less obvious icons (bolt, fingerprint, spark, vault).\n- **Inconsistent stroke widths across icons.** Audit all icons and standardize to one stroke weight.\n- **Missing favicon.** Always include a branded favicon.\n- **Stock \"diverse team\" photos.** Use real team photos, candid shots, or a consistent illustration style instead of uncanny stock imagery.\n\n### Code Quality\n\n- **Div soup.** Use semantic HTML: `<nav>`, `<main>`, `<article>`, `<aside>`, `<section>`.\n- **Inline styles mixed with CSS classes.** Move all styling to the project's styling system.\n- **Hardcoded pixel widths.** Use relative units (`%`, `rem`, `em`, `max-width`) for flexible layouts.\n- **Missing alt text on images.** Describe image content for screen readers. Never leave `alt=\"\"` or `alt=\"image\"` on meaningful images.\n- **Arbitrary z-index values like `9999`.** Establish a clean z-index scale in the theme/variables.\n- **Commented-out dead code.** Remove all debug artifacts before shipping.\n- **Import hallucinations.** Check that every import actually exists in `package.json` or the project dependencies.\n- **Missing meta tags.** Add proper `<title>`, `description`, `og:image`, and social sharing meta tags.\n\n### Strategic Omissions (What AI Typically Forgets)\n\n- **No legal links.** Add privacy policy and terms of service links in the footer.\n- **No \"back\" navigation.** Dead ends in user flows. Every page needs a way back.\n- **No custom 404 page.** Design a helpful, branded \"page not found\" experience.\n- **No form validation.** Add client-side validation for emails, required fields, and format checks.\n- **No \"skip to content\" link.** Essential for keyboard users. Add a hidden skip-link.\n- **No cookie consent.** If required by jurisdiction, add a compliant consent banner.\n\n## Upgrade Techniques\n\nWhen upgrading a project, pull from these high-impact techniques to replace generic patterns:\n\n### Typography Upgrades\n- **Variable font animation.** Interpolate weight or width on scroll or hover for text that feels alive.\n- **Outlined-to-fill transitions.** Text starts as a stroke outline and fills with color on scroll entry or interaction.\n- **Text mask reveals.** Large typography acting as a window to video or animated imagery behind it.\n\n### Layout Upgrades\n- **Broken grid / asymmetry.** Elements that deliberately ignore column structure — overlapping, bleeding off-screen, or offset with calculated randomness.\n- **Whitespace maximization.** Aggressive use of negative space to force focus on a single element.\n- **Parallax card stacks.** Sections that stick and physically stack over each other during scroll.\n- **Split-screen scroll.** Two halves of the screen sliding in opposite directions.\n\n### Motion Upgrades\n- **Smooth scroll with inertia.** Decouple scrolling from browser defaults for a heavier, cinematic feel.\n- **Staggered entry.** Elements cascade in with slight delays, combining Y-axis translation with opacity fade. Never mount everything at once.\n- **Spring physics.** Replace linear easing with spring-based motion for a natural, weighty feel on all interactive elements.\n- **Scroll-driven reveals.** Content entering through expanding masks, wipes, or draw-on SVG paths tied to scroll progress.\n\n### Surface Upgrades\n- **True glassmorphism.** Go beyond `backdrop-filter: blur`. Add a 1px inner border and a subtle inner shadow to simulate edge refraction.\n- **Spotlight borders.** Card borders that illuminate dynamically under the cursor.\n- **Grain and noise overlays.** A fixed, pointer-events-none overlay with subtle noise to break digital flatness.\n- **Colored, tinted shadows.** Shadows that carry the hue of the background rather than using generic black.\n\n## Fix Priority\n\nApply changes in this order for maximum visual impact with minimum risk:\n\n1. **Font swap** — biggest instant improvement, lowest risk\n2. **Color palette cleanup** — remove clashing or oversaturated colors\n3. **Hover and active states** — makes the interface feel alive\n4. **Layout and spacing** — proper grid, max-width, consistent padding\n5. **Replace generic components** — swap cliche patterns for modern alternatives\n6. **Add loading, empty, and error states** — makes it feel finished\n7. **Polish typography scale and spacing** — the premium final touch\n\n## Rules\n\n- Work with the existing tech stack. Do not migrate frameworks or styling libraries.\n- Do not break existing functionality. Test after every change.\n- Before importing any new library, check the project's dependency file first.\n- If the project uses Tailwind, check the version (v3 vs v4) before modifying config.\n- If the project has no framework, use vanilla CSS.\n- Keep changes reviewable and focused. Small, targeted improvements over big rewrites.\n"
}