Design Anti-Patterns (Uncodixfy)

SOURCE: Uncodixfy (accessed 2026-03-17)

Before writing any UI code, apply the Uncodixfy metacognitive check: list the UI decisions you would make by default, then do NOT make them if they match any banned pattern below. Build interfaces that feel like Linear, Raycast, Stripe, or GitHub — functional, honest, no visual theatrics.

Pre-Flight Check

Before generating any UI component, run this internal check:

1. List all styling decisions you would make by default for this component
2. Cross-reference each against the banned patterns in this skill and the full rules reference
3. Replace every match with the "normal" standard from the reference
4. Verify the result contains zero banned patterns

Absolute Prohibitions

These patterns are never acceptable unless the user explicitly overrides:

• Border radius > 12px on any element
• Pill-shaped buttons or badges
• Glassmorphism, frosted panels, blur haze
• Soft corporate gradients (backgrounds, buttons, text)
• Hero sections inside dashboards or internal tools
• Decorative copy ("Operational clarity without the clutter")
• Eyebrow labels (uppercase <small> with letter-spacing)
• KPI card grids as default dashboard layouts
• Fake charts that exist only to fill space
• Transform animations on hover (translateX, scale, bounce)
• Dramatic box shadows (> 8px blur, colored shadows)
• Floating detached sidebars with rounded outer shells
• <small> subheaders above <h2> headline blocks
• Decorative note cards with <small> + <strong> pattern
• Generic startup copy in any UI element
• Donut charts with hand-wavy percentages
• Multiple nested panel types (panel, panel-2, rail-panel)
• Status indicators using ::before pseudo-element colored dots
• Nav badges showing "Live" or count indicators without functional purpose
• Footer meta lines ("Dashboard v2.1 - dark mode - single-file HTML")

Normal Standards

Apply these defaults to every component:

Component	Standard
Sidebar	240-260px fixed, solid background, simple border-right
Buttons	Solid fill or simple border, 8-10px radius max
Cards	8-12px radius, subtle border, shadow max 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)
Typography	System fonts or simple sans-serif, 14-16px body, clear hierarchy
Spacing	4/8/12/16/24/32px scale only
Transitions	100-200ms ease, opacity/color changes only
Containers	max-width 1200-1400px, centered, standard padding
Toolbars	Standard height 48-56px, simple horizontal layout
Inputs	Solid borders, simple focus ring, labels above fields
Modals	Centered overlay, simple backdrop, no slide-in animations

Color Selection

Follow this priority order:

1. Use the project's existing colors — search project files for existing palette definitions
2. Pick from a predefined palette — see color palettes in the rules reference
3. Never invent random color combinations unless the user explicitly requests it

When selecting from predefined palettes, pick randomly — do not default to the first one.

Quick Reference

For the complete set of 30+ specifically banned implementation patterns, per-component "normal" standards, and 19 predefined color palettes (10 dark, 9 light), read the full Uncodixfy rules.