How does the design-critique skill work?
The design-critique skill is a slash command skill in Anthropic's knowledge-work-plugins repository. Share a Figma URL, screenshot or description and it returns a structured critique: overall impression, usability findings with severity, hierarchy, consistency, accessibility, what works well and three priority recommendations.
The critique framework starts with a two second first impression: what draws the eye first, what the emotional reaction is and whether the purpose is clear. Four more lenses follow: usability, visual hierarchy, consistency and accessibility.
The input is a Figma URL, a screenshot or a description, plus context on the audience and stage, from exploration to final. You can narrow the review, for example to mobile or to the onboarding flow.
Rules for the feedback itself
- Be specific, such as saying the CTA competes with the navigation instead of calling the layout confusing.
- Explain why, tying each note to a design principle or a user need.
- Suggest alternatives, not only problems.
- Acknowledge what works.
- Match the stage, since early exploration deserves different feedback than final polish.
What the report contains
- Overall impression in one or two sentences.
- A usability table with finding, severity (critical, moderate or minor) and recommendation.
- Visual hierarchy notes on first focus, reading flow and emphasis.
- A consistency table for typography, spacing and color.
- Accessibility pass or fail notes on contrast, touch targets and readability.
- Positive observations, then three ranked priority recommendations.
Fit and limits
Good for
- A second opinion on a mockup at any stage.
- Structured notes that a team can triage by severity.
- Related: a critique skill and polish.
Not for
- A full accessibility audit. The section here is a short check, not a criterion by criterion review.
- Changing the design. The output is feedback. Related: improve UI.
- Replacing user research, which the skill only cross-references when a feedback tool is connected.
Use it with UiChemy
Critique the Figma frames before UiChemy Figma to WordPress converts them, so hierarchy and consistency notes arrive while the design can still change. The skill gives feedback only and does not touch WordPress. Click Get Started on uichemy.com.
How to install Design Critique Skill: Structured Feedback on a Screen
git clone https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins.gitClone the repository
Run
git clone https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins.git. The skill sits in design/skills/design-critique.Copy the skill folder
Copy design/skills/design-critique into the folder your agent reads skills from. The pack shows a single SKILL.md in it.
Optional marketplace route
For Claude Code the README documents
claude plugin marketplace add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins, followed by installing a plugin, after which skills activate.Request a critique
Type
/design-critiquefollowed by a Figma URL, a screenshot or a description, and add the stage and any focus area.
Check that it loaded
Run /design-critique with a short description of a checkout page. The reply should contain an overall impression, a usability table with severities, hierarchy and consistency notes, accessibility checks and three priority recommendations.
Key features
- Three input typesAccepts a Figma URL, a screenshot or a detailed description, and pulls the design from Figma when a link is given.
- Context intakeAsks what the design is, who it is for and which stage it is at, from exploration to refinement to final.
- Optional focusTakes a narrowing instruction such as focus on mobile or focus on the onboarding flow, for more depth on one area.
- Two second first impressionChecks what draws the eye, the emotional reaction and whether the purpose is immediately clear.
- Usability questionsAsks whether users can reach their goal, whether navigation is intuitive, whether interactive elements are obvious and whether steps are unnecessary.
- Visual hierarchy reviewLooks at reading order, emphasis, use of whitespace and whether typography builds the right hierarchy.
- Consistency checkCompares spacing, colors and typography against the design system and asks whether similar elements behave alike.
- Severity ratingsUsability findings are marked critical, moderate or minor so the team can order the work.
- What works wellThe output always includes positive observations next to the problems.
- Connector hooksWith a design tool connected it inspects components, tokens and layers in Figma, and with a user feedback tool it cross references recent feedback and support tickets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the design-critique skill?
It is a skill in Anthropic's knowledge-work-plugins repository that gives structured design feedback on usability, hierarchy and consistency. It works from a Figma link, a screenshot or a description and returns a markdown critique with ranked recommendations.
How do I install design-critique?
Clone anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins and copy the design/skills/design-critique folder to where your agent loads skills. The README also documents a marketplace route for Claude Code, using claude plugin marketplace add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins and then a plugin install.
What should I tell it first?
Share the design and its context: what it is, who it is for and which stage it is at. The skill's tips say a line like a checkout flow for a B2B product gives more relevant feedback, and you can ask it to focus on one area.
Which agents does it work with?
The repository says it is built for Claude Cowork and also compatible with Claude Code. The skill is a plain markdown file, so other agents that read SKILL.md may load it, but the repository does not list them.
Does it need Figma access?
No. If you give a Figma URL it pulls the design, and if a file is referenced it reads it. Otherwise it asks you to describe or share the design, so a screenshot or a careful description is enough.
How is it different from the accessibility audit skill?
This one covers five lenses in a single pass and keeps accessibility to contrast, touch targets and readability. A dedicated WCAG audit goes through criteria in detail, so run that after the critique if compliance matters.
What license does it use?
The repository metadata lists Apache-2.0. The README describes the plugins as markdown and JSON files with no build steps, which you can fork and edit to match how your own team reviews design.