Agent skill · design visual · cursor
principle-exhaust-the-design-space
Apply when facing a novel UI interaction or architectural decision with no precedent in the codebase. Build 2-3 competing prototypes and compare side by side before committing.
Why this skill is useful
Codifies a design exploration process that helps the AI avoid premature commitment to a single solution.
What it needs
About 1k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-06. 2,555 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Exhaust the Design Space When a novel interaction or architectural decision has no established precedent, explore several concrete alternatives before implementation. Building the wrong thing costs more than exploring three options. The rule. When the right answer is not obvious, build 2-3 competing prototypes or sketches. Compare them side by side. Only then commit. Design it twice is this rule by another name. A second flavor of the first shape does not count. When it applies: Novel UI interactions (no prior art in the codebase) Architectural choices with multiple viable approaches Product design decisions where user experience depends on feel, not logic When it doesn't: Mechanical implementation where the pattern is established Bug fixes or refactors with a clear target state Changes where constraints dictate a single viable approach
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills cursor/principle-exhaust-the-design-space