design

Generate distinct design approaches with explicit trade-offs for ambiguous problems.

10|5|Updated Mar 3, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/JHostalek/dotclaude --skill design-jhostalek
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: design
Source: https://github.com/JHostalek/dotclaude/tree/main/skills/design
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/JHostalek/dotclaude --skill design-jhostalek

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill prevents teams from settling on the first plausible solution by producing genuinely distinct design approaches with explicit trade-offs before implementation begins.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Structured Divergence: Explores a problem through independent reasoning methods such as constraint-first, adversarial, analogical, temporal, and elimination-based design.
  • Defamiliarization: Reframes obvious defaults through step-back, inversion, distant analogy, and constraint-removal lenses.
  • Trade-off Synthesis: Compares approaches by core mechanism, benefits, sacrifices, selection criteria, and shared assumptions.
  • Use Case: For an ambiguous architecture or product problem, use this Skill to generate several orthogonal options, identify blind spots, and save a reviewed design landscape for an informed decision.

Quick Start

Use the design skill to explore distinct approaches for the problem of choosing an implementation strategy for my project.

Frequently Asked Questions about design

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I compare different product architecture designs before implementation?

You can compare architecture designs by applying structured divergence methods like constraint-first and adversarial reasoning to generate orthogonal options, identify blind spots, and synthesize a reviewed design landscape for informed decisions.

What is structured divergence in systems design?

Structured divergence in systems design explores a problem through independent reasoning methods like constraint-first, adversarial, analogical, temporal, and elimination-based design to produce genuinely distinct approaches.

How do I perform a trade-off analysis for ambiguous workflow problems?

You perform a trade-off analysis for ambiguous workflow problems by comparing distinct design approaches based on their core mechanisms, benefits, sacrifices, selection criteria, and shared assumptions to prevent settling on the first plausible solution.

When do I need alternative architectures for product strategy?

You need alternative architectures for product strategy when facing ambiguous problems that require meaningful alternatives and explicit trade-offs, preventing teams from settling on an initial plausible solution without exploring defamiliarization lenses.

How do I reframe obvious defaults in design exploration?

You reframe obvious defaults in design exploration by applying defamiliarization lenses such as step-back, inversion, distant analogy, and constraint-removal to view the problem from genuinely distinct perspectives before selecting an implementation direction.

Can I use divergent thinking for any systems design problem?

Divergent thinking is best applied to ambiguous architecture, product, workflow, and systems design problems that require meaningful alternatives and explicit trade-offs, rather than straightforward implementation tasks with a single obvious path.