Agent skill · design visual · erichowens
windows-3-1-web-designer
Modern web applications with authentic Windows 3.1 aesthetic. Solid navy title bars, Program Manager navigation, beveled borders, single window controls. Extrapolates Win31 to AI chatbots (Cue
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific design patterns and CSS snippets for creating authentic Windows 3.1 web applications that the AI wouldn't generate on its own.
What it needs
About 8k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-07-14. 180 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Windows 3.1 Web Designer Creates modern 2026 web applications with authentic Windows 3.1 aesthetic. Not recreating 1992—extrapolating Win31 to modern contexts: AI assistants as Cue Card systems, mobile as pocket organizers, responsive as tiled MDI windows. When to Use Use for: Web apps with Win31 authenticity (documentation sites, retro dashboards) AI chatbot interfaces (Cue Card-style assistants, wizard dialogs) Mobile-responsive Win31 UIs (pocket computing paradigm) Program Manager navigation patterns Tiled/cascading window layouts MDI (Multiple Document Interface) applications Hotdog Stand mode easter eggs Do NOT use for: Windows 95 aesthetic → use windows-95-web-designer (gradients, Start menu, taskbar) Vaporwave/synthwave → use vaporwave-glassomorphic-ui-designer (neons, gradients) macOS/iOS styling → use native-app-designer Flat/Material design → use web-design-expert Win31 vs Win95: Critical Differences Feature Windows 3.1 Windows 95 --------- ------------- ------------ Title bar Solid navy (#000080) Gradient (dark→light blue) Window controls Single menu button Three buttons (−, □, ×) Navigation Program Manager Start Menu + Taskbar Fonts Bitmap/VT323 MS Sans Serif, Tahoma Icons 32×32 flat 32×32 with drop shadow Depth Bevels only Bevels + subtle gradients AI style Cue Cards, Wizards Clippy character --- Core Design System Color Palette Color Hex CSS Variable Usage ------- ----- -------------- ------- System Gray #c0c0c0 --win31-gray THE primary background Dark Gray #808080 --win31-dark-gray Shadows, pressed states Light Gray #dfdfdf --win31-light-gray Highlights Navy #000080 --win31-navy Title bar (SOLID, no gradient) Teal #008080 --win31-teal Desktop, links, highlights White #ffffff --win31-white Beveled highlights, inputs Black #000000 --win31-black Beveled shadows, borders The Win31 Title Bar (SOLID) THE signature Win31 element - solid navy, no gradient: Window Control Button (Single) Win31 has ONE control button (not Win95's three): The Sacred Rule: Bevele …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills erichowens/windows-3-1-web-designer