.github/CHIEF_GUI_DESIGNER_PHASE1B.md

# Chief GUI Designer - Phase 1.B Design Kickoff

**From**: Release Manager (Claude Code Agent)
**To**: Chief GUI Designer Agent
**Phase**: 1.B (Dashboard Shell Professionalization)
**Timeline**: Dec 1-31, 2025
**Status**: ⏳ READY TO START

---

## 🎯 Your Phase 1.B Mission

**Design and guide implementation** of a professional Dashboard Shell that:
1. ✅ Looks polished and enterprise-grade
2. ✅ Supports multi-monitor displays with intuitive controls
3. ✅ Enables seamless real-time collaboration
4. ✅ Provides advanced UX (drag/drop, keyboard nav, templates)
5. ✅ Meets WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
6. ✅ Feels fast (<100ms UI response)

**Success Criteria**:
- Design mockups approved by Chief Architect (by Dec 10)
- Component specifications complete (by Dec 15)
- Design tokens defined (by Dec 15)
- Accessibility compliance verified (by Dec 20)

---

## 🎨 Design System Requirements

### Visual Foundation
**You must define** by Dec 5:

#### Color Palette
- [ ] Primary color (main actions)
- [ ] Secondary color (alternative actions)
- [ ] Status colors (success, warning, error, info)
- [ ] Neutral grays (background, text, borders)
- [ ] Dark mode variants (all above for dark theme)

**Accessibility**: WCAG AA contrast ratio (4.5:1 minimum)

#### Typography
- [ ] Font family (system fonts preferred for performance)
- [ ] Sizes: h1, h2, h3, body, small, caption
- [ ] Weights: regular (400), medium (500), bold (700)
- [ ] Line heights per size
- [ ] Letter spacing adjustments

**Accessibility**: Minimum 14px body text, 1.5x line height

#### Spacing Scale
- [ ] xs: 4px
- [ ] sm: 8px
- [ ] md: 16px
- [ ] lg: 24px
- [ ] xl: 32px
- [ ] xxl: 48px

**Usage**: Consistent spacing throughout (no random px values)

#### Component Specifications
- [ ] Buttons (primary, secondary, disabled)
- [ ] Input fields (text, number, select)
- [ ] Cards (hover states, shadows)
- [ ] Modals (overlay, backdrop, animations)
- [ ] Status indicators (colors, animations)

---

## 🖼️ Design Deliverables (Due Dec 10)

### 1. Dashboard Shell Wireframes
**High-level layout**:
```
┌─ Multi-Monitor Controls ─┐
│ ├─ Monitor selector      │
│ ├─ Docking options       │
│ └─ Layout templates      │
├─ Main Canvas            │
│ ├─ Widget grid           │
│ ├─ Drag handles          │
│ └─ Collaboration cursors │
└─ Status Bar             │
  ├─ User presence        │
  ├─ Sync status          │
  └─ Performance metrics  │
```

**Deliver**:
- [ ] Desktop layout (1920x1080)
- [ ] Multi-monitor setup (sketch 3+ monitor layouts)
- [ ] Mobile responsive (1024x768)
- [ ] Keyboard-only navigation flow

### 2. Collaboration Features Mockups
**Show**:
- [ ] Real-time cursor tracking (other users' cursors visible)
- [ ] Presence indicators (who's online, working where)
- [ ] Shared layout templates (save/restore interaction)
- [ ] Change notifications (widget updates in real-time)

### 3. UX Enhancements
**Design interactions for**:
- [ ] Drag/drop between monitors (visual feedback)
- [ ] Keyboard shortcuts (full navigation without mouse)
- [ ] Workspace templates (easy switching)
- [ ] Undo/redo functionality

### 4. Accessibility Audit Checklist
**Plan for WCAG 2.1 AA**:
- [ ] Color contrast verification (tools: aXe, WebAIM)
- [ ] Keyboard navigation testing (tab through entire UI)
- [ ] Screen reader testing (NVDA, JAWS)
- [ ] Focus management (visible focus indicators)
- [ ] Motion/animation review (no auto-playing animations)

---

## 📋 Component Library Planning

### Button Component
```
Primary Button: Blue (#007AFF)
- States: Normal, Hover, Active, Disabled
- Sizes: sm (32px), md (40px), lg (48px)
- Icons: Optional left/right icon
- WCAG AA: 4.5:1 contrast ratio

Secondary Button: Gray (#6C757D)
- Same variants as primary
- Lower visual weight
```

**Deliverable**: Figma component with all states

### Input Component
```
Text Input:
- States: Normal, Focus, Error, Disabled
- Placeholder text (light gray)
- Error message display
- Help text support
- WCAG AA: Visible focus ring

Other inputs: Number, Select, Checkbox, Radio
- All with same treatment
```

**Deliverable**: Figma component library

### Card Component
```
Widget Card:
- Border radius: 8px
- Padding: 16px
- Shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)
- Hover: Shadow increased, subtle scale
- Responsive: Full width on mobile
```

**Deliverable**: Multiple card examples with use cases

### Modal Component
```
Modal:
- Backdrop: Semi-transparent (rgba(0,0,0,0.5))
- Dialog: Centered, max-width 600px
- Header: Title + close button
- Body: Content
- Footer: Action buttons
- Animation: Fade in smoothly
- WCAG AA: Focus trap, keyboard esc to close
```

**Deliverable**: Modal variations (small, large, with form)

---

## 🌙 Dark Mode Strategy

**Design system must support**:
- Light mode (default)
- Dark mode (user preference)
- Auto mode (system preference)

**Implementation**:
- Define light variant: each token
- Define dark variant: each token
- Use CSS variables for runtime switching
- Test contrast in both modes

**Deliverable**: Color palette with light/dark variants

---

## ♿ Accessibility Strategy

### WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance

**You must**:
- [ ] Ensure 4.5:1 text contrast ratio
- [ ] Support keyboard-only navigation
- [ ] Provide clear focus indicators
- [ ] Include ARIA labels where needed
- [ ] Avoid automatic animations (or allow disabling)
- [ ] Test with screen readers

**Tools**:
- aXe DevTools (Chrome/Firefox)
- WAVE (WebAIM)
- Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools)
- Screen reader (NVDA, JAWS)

**Testing Protocol**:
- [ ] Automated scan (aXe) → 100% pass
- [ ] Manual keyboard test → Navigate entire UI
- [ ] Screen reader test → Make sense when read aloud
- [ ] Visual testing → Works at various zoom levels

**Deliverable**: Accessibility audit report by Dec 20

---

## 🎬 Animation & Motion

**Philosophy**: Smooth, subtle, purposeful

**Animations to design**:
- [ ] Page transitions (fade in/out)
- [ ] Drag feedback (visual preview during drag)
- [ ] Button feedback (hover scale, active press)
- [ ] Loading states (spinner, progress bar)
- [ ] Notifications (slide in from corner)

**Constraints**:
- [ ] Duration: 200-300ms (feel snappy)
- [ ] Easing: ease-in-out (natural feeling)
- [ ] Must be disableable (prefers-reduced-motion)
- [ ] No auto-playing animations on load

**Deliverable**: Animation specifications with timing

---

## 🎖️ Your Approval Process

### Design Review (Dec 10)
**Chief Architect will review**:
- Does design align with technical architecture?
- Are components feasible to build?
- Will it meet performance targets?
- Are accessibility requirements clear?

**You address feedback by Dec 11**

### Component Handoff (Dec 15)
**Frontend team receives**:
- [ ] Figma file with all components
- [ ] Design tokens exported
- [ ] Component specifications document
- [ ] Accessibility checklist
- [ ] Animation timing specs

### QA Sign-Off (Dec 20)
**Before shipping**:
- [ ] Visual pixel-perfect comparison (dev vs design)
- [ ] Responsive testing (multiple screen sizes)
- [ ] Accessibility audit complete
- [ ] Dark mode tested
- [ ] Animation performance checked

---

## 💬 Design Collaboration

### With Chief Architect
**Sync Points**:
- Dec 5: Present design approach, get early feedback
- Dec 10: Design review, approve architectural fit
- Dec 15: Component handoff, clarify specs
- Dec 20: Final design gate

### With Frontend Architect
**Sync Points**:
- Dec 11: Component library review, answer implementation questions
- Dec 15: Component feedback, iterate on specs
- Dec 18: Responsive design testing
- Dec 22: Final tweaks before release

### With QA/Testing
**Sync Points**:
- Dec 17: Testing begins, provide testing guidance
- Dec 20: Accessibility audit, address findings
- Dec 24: Final sign-off

---

## 📊 Design System Deliverables Timeline

| Date | Deliverable | Status |
|------|-------------|--------|
| Dec 5 | Design approach + color palette | Figma file |
| Dec 8 | Component mockups | Figma components |
| Dec 10 | Complete design package | Approved by Architect |
| Dec 15 | Component library exported | Tokens + CSS |
| Dec 20 | Accessibility audit | Full report |
| Dec 24 | Final design validation | Sign-off |

---

## 🎨 Design Patterns to Use

### For Multi-Monitor Display
- **Visual separation**: Different background for each monitor
- **Docking indicators**: Show which monitor each widget is on
- **Drag preview**: Ghost widget shown while dragging
- **Drop zones**: Highlight drop targets during drag

### For Collaboration
- **Cursor tracking**: Show other users' cursors with colors
- **Presence list**: Who's online, where they're working
- **Change indicators**: Flash/highlight when others update widgets
- **User colors**: Assign colors to users for visual tracking

### For Professional Feel
- **Clean spacing**: Generous margins and padding
- **Consistent grid**: Everything aligns to grid system
- **Subtle shadows**: Depth without heaviness
- **Micro-interactions**: Buttons respond to hover/click
- **Status clarity**: Always clear what's loading/saved/error

---

## 🚀 Phase 1.C Transition (Dec 21-31)

**After Phase 1.B is done**:
- [ ] Design system foundation complete
- [ ] Component library established
- [ ] Tokens defined and exported
- [ ] Accessibility audit passed

**Phase 1.C begins**: Expand component library for Phase 2

---

## 📋 Design Checklist

**Before Dec 10**:
- [ ] Read governance docs (RELEASE_MANIFEST.md)
- [ ] Sync with Chief Architect on design approach
- [ ] Create Figma file with project structure
- [ ] Design color palette (light + dark)
- [ ] Sketch initial layouts and components
- [ ] Plan accessibility strategy

**Dec 1-10**:
- [ ] Complete all wireframes
- [ ] Create component mockups
- [ ] Define typography system
- [ ] Design animations
- [ ] Prepare accessibility checklist
- [ ] Get Chief Architect approval

**Dec 11-15**:
- [ ] Export design tokens (CSS variables)
- [ ] Prepare component specifications
- [ ] Create developer handoff documentation
- [ ] Support frontend team implementation

**Dec 16-20**:
- [ ] Verify implementation matches design
- [ ] Conduct accessibility audit
- [ ] Make final adjustments
- [ ] Sign off on quality

---

## 🎯 Your Authority

**You can**:
- ✅ Define all visual design decisions
- ✅ Specify component designs
- ✅ Approve/reject designs
- ✅ Require accessibility compliance
- ✅ Request implementation changes (visual only)

**You must coordinate with**:
- Chief Architect (architectural fit)
- Frontend team (implementation feasibility)
- QA/Testing (accessibility validation)

**Release Manager will**:
- Support timeline adherence
- Escalate blockers
- Approve final design gate

---

**Document Version**: 1.0.0
**Created**: November 16, 2025
**Release Manager**: Claude Code Agent (Autonomous)

**Key Phrase**: "Your design determines how 100,000+ users experience WidgetBoard. Make it beautiful, make it accessible, make it fast."