Can I use the shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter DESIGN.md with Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex?

Yes. Copy the DESIGN.md file into your project root and reference it in your agent rules. For Cursor, add it to .cursor/rules. For Claude Code, include it as CLAUDE.md. For Codex, add it to your system prompt. The agent will read it and apply the shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter visual system to any UI it generates.

What is a DESIGN.md file?

A DESIGN.md file is a Markdown document that describes a product's visual design system — color palettes, typography, spacing, and component patterns — in a format that AI coding agents like Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex can read and follow when generating UI.

How do I add the shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter DESIGN.md to my project?

Download or copy the DESIGN.md file from this page and place it in your project root. Then instruct your AI agent: "Read the DESIGN.md file in this project and follow its design system when generating UI." The agent will pick it up automatically in Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and most modern AI coding tools.

shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter DESIGN.md for AI coding agents

Dima Braven·May 8, 2026

Practical starter rules for AI agents building shadcn dashboards, forms, and tables.

toolsshadcntemplatedesign-md

CursorClaude CodeCodexGoogle Stitch

# shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter
## Product feel
Practical starter rules for AI agents building shadcn dashboards, forms, and tables.
Build for a Stripe-style, Soft gradients, SaaS visual taste. Keep density practical, typography strong, and layouts easy for AI agents to repeat.
## Color direction
- Primary text: #111111
- Accent / interactive: #f97316
- Surface: #fff7ed
- Border / separators: #fdba74
## Typography
- Use a modern sans for body copy and a sharper display face for hero/page titles.
- Titles should feel deliberate, not shouty. Avoid oversized marketing fluff.
- Meta text should stay compact and quiet.
## Layout rules
- Prefer light UI by default.
- Use compact spacing and card grids that still feel breathable.
- Keep navigation practical: search first, then filters, then actions.
- This entry belongs to the "design-creative" lane.
## Components
- Buttons: slightly rounded, clear hierarchy, only one primary CTA per section.
- Cards: soft border, useful metadata, preview-first composition.
- Empty states: helpful, never dead.
- Code panels: mono, dense, copy-friendly.
## Agent rules
- Do not generate generic Tailwind marketing blocks.
- Respect the palette and keep component states consistent.
- Optimize for these tools: Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Google Stitch.
## Accessibility
- Preserve contrast for text and controls.
- Use visible focus states.
- Avoid relying on color alone for meaning.
## License
Reference only

For makers

Get your product in context

Add your tool/site or create the DESIGN.md first. Every listing is reviewed before publication.

Add your tool/site · $19 Create my DESIGN.md

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Design System Overview

The shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter design system captures the visual language of a well-known design and creative tools product. This DESIGN.md file distills its color palette, typography, spacing scale, and component patterns into a format that AI coding agents can read and follow when generating UI.

Practical starter rules for AI agents building shadcn dashboards, forms, and tables.

AI agents like Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Google Stitch can reference this file to produce UI that visually matches the shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter aesthetic — consistent colors, proportional spacing, and recognizable component patterns — without requiring explicit pixel-by-pixel instructions for every element.

Browse more design and creative tools design systems or explore the full DESIGN.md directory.

Color System

Brand palette extracted from the design system. Click any swatch to copy the hex value.

Text / Primary

#111111

Accent

#f97316

Surface / Background

#fff7ed

Border / Subtle

#fdba74

Typography Specimen

Display

2.8rem / 700 / 1.04

The quick brown fox

Heading H1

2rem / 700 / 1.1

The quick brown fox jumps

Heading H2

1.5rem / 600 / 1.15

The quick brown fox jumps over

Heading H3

1.125rem / 600 / 1.2

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy

Body

1rem / 400 / 1.5

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

Small / Caption

0.75rem / 400 / 1.5

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog and sat down.

Monospace

const primary = "System";

Layout & Spacing Tokens

Spacing Scale

space-14px

space-28px

space-312px

space-416px

space-624px

space-832px

space-1248px

space-1664px

Border Radius

radius-none0px

radius-sm4px

radius-md8px

radius-lg16px

radius-xl24px

radius-full9999px

Elevation & Shadow

Flatshadow-none

XSshadow-xs

SMshadow-sm

MDshadow-md

LGshadow-lg

XLshadow-xl

Use with AI Coding Agents

Copy one of these prompts into your AI coding agent to apply the shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter design system to your project. The DESIGN.md file in your repo root is the source of truth.

# .cursor/rules (or DESIGN.md)
You are working in a project that uses the shadcn/ui DESIGN.md starter design system.

Read the DESIGN.md file in this project root and follow it strictly when generating UI.
Match the brand's exact colors, typography, spacing scale, and border radius.
Do not create generic Tailwind UI — apply the visual language from DESIGN.md.

Key rules:
- Use the defined color palette, not arbitrary hex values
- Apply the correct font family and weight scale
- Follow spacing tokens (4/8/12/16/24/32px scale)
- Match component patterns: buttons, cards, inputs, badges as specified