nw-design-methodology
Apple LeanUX++ design workflow, journey schema, emotional arc patterns, and CLI UX patterns. Load when transitioning from discovery to visualization or when designing journey artifacts.
Best use case
nw-design-methodology is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Apple LeanUX++ design workflow, journey schema, emotional arc patterns, and CLI UX patterns. Load when transitioning from discovery to visualization or when designing journey artifacts.
Teams using nw-design-methodology should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/nw-design-methodology/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How nw-design-methodology Compares
| Feature / Agent | nw-design-methodology | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Apple LeanUX++ design workflow, journey schema, emotional arc patterns, and CLI UX patterns. Load when transitioning from discovery to visualization or when designing journey artifacts.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Design Methodology (Apple LeanUX++)
## Design Workflow
```
PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3 PHASE 4
Journey Mapping Emotional Design TUI Prototyping Integration Check
| | | |
v v v v
"What's the flow?" "How should it feel?" "What does it look?" "Does it connect?"
```
### Phase 1: Journey Mapping (1-2 days)
- Techniques: User journey mapping | goal-completion flow | step identification
- Question: "What complete journey is the user trying to accomplish?"
- Output: Journey map with steps, commands, and touchpoints
### Phase 2: Emotional Design (1 day)
- Techniques: Emotional arc design | form follows feeling | transition analysis
- Question: "How should the user FEEL at each step?"
- Output: Emotional annotations on journey map
### Phase 3: TUI Prototyping (1-3 days)
- Techniques: Progressive fidelity | ASCII mockups | TUI design patterns
- Question: "What does each step look like?"
- Output: TUI mockups for each journey step
### Phase 4: Integration Check (1 day)
- Techniques: Shared artifact tracking | horizontal coherence | CLI vocabulary
- Question: "Do all pieces connect properly?"
- Output: Validated journey with integration checkpoints
## Journey Schema
```yaml
schema_version: 1
journey:
name: "{Goal Name}"
goal: "{What user is trying to accomplish}"
persona: "{User persona reference}"
emotional_arc:
start: "{Initial emotional state}"
middle: "{Journey emotional state}"
end: "{Final emotional state}"
steps:
- id: 1
name: "{Step Name}"
command: "{CLI command or action}"
tui_mockup: |
+-- Step N: {Name} -----------------------------------------+
| {ASCII representation of CLI output} |
| ${variable} <-- tracked artifact |
+------------------------------------------------------------+
shared_artifacts:
- name: "{artifact_name}"
source: "{single source of truth file}"
displayed_as: "${variable}"
consumers: ["{list of places this appears}"]
emotional_state:
entry: "{How user feels entering step}"
exit: "{How user feels after step}"
integration_checkpoint: |
{What must be validated before proceeding}
failure_modes:
- "{What can go wrong at this step — used by DISTILL for error scenario generation}"
- "{Another failure scenario}"
gherkin: |
Scenario: {Step description}
Given {precondition}
When {action}
Then {observable outcome}
And shared artifact "${variable}" matches source
integration_validation:
shared_artifact_consistency:
- artifact: "{name}"
must_match_across: [1, 2, 3]
failure_message: "{Integration error description}"
changelog:
- date: "{YYYY-MM-DD}"
feature: "{feature-id}"
change: "{What changed in this update}"
```
## Emotional Arc Patterns
### Confidence Building
Start: Anxious/Uncertain | Middle: Focused/Engaged | End: Confident/Satisfied
Use when: Complex multi-step operations
### Discovery Joy
Start: Curious | Middle: Exploring | End: Delighted
Use when: Learning new features
### Problem Relief
Start: Frustrated | Middle: Hopeful | End: Relieved
Use when: Fixing issues or debugging
### Transition Rules
- Build confidence progressively through small wins
- Provide clear feedback at each step
- Error states guide to resolution rather than adding frustration
- Positive-to-negative transitions need explicit warning or buffer step
## Apple Design Principles Applied
- **Form Follows Feeling**: Design for emotion first, function second
- **Concentrated Focus**: One thing done excellently beats many done adequately
- **Material Honesty**: Respect the medium -- CLI should feel like CLI
- **Hidden Quality**: Excellence in details users may never see
## CLI UX Patterns (clig.dev)
### Command Structure
- Pattern: `tool [noun] [verb]` or `tool [verb] [noun]`
- Pick one pattern consistently across entire journey
- Example: `crafter agent create` or `crafter create agent`
### Feedback Principles
Responsive: print something in <100ms | Progress: show for long operations | Transparent: show what is happening | Recoverable: clear errors with suggested fixes
### Progressive Disclosure
- Level 1 (default): Basic output for common use
- Level 2 (--verbose): Detailed output for power users
- Level 3 (--debug): Diagnostic output for troubleshooting
### Help Design
Implement --help on every command | Make help discoverable | Provide contextual suggestions
## Output Formats
Three artifact types produced:
1. **Visual Journey** (`journey-{name}-visual.md`): ASCII flow diagram with emotional annotations and TUI mockups per step
2. **Structured Schema** (`journey-{name}.yaml`): Machine-readable journey definition following schema above
3. **Gherkin Scenarios** (`journey-{name}.feature`): Testable acceptance scenarios from each journey step
All artifacts go to `docs/feature/{feature-id}/discuss/`.Related Skills
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