UI Neuro-Ergo Skill

Autonomous workflow for neuro-ergonomic + accessible UI work with visual iteration via Chrome DevTools MCP. Delivers production-ready results without requiring human intervention between iterations.

Overview

This skill combines:

1. Neuro-ergonomics — cognitive science applied to UI: reduce friction, lower cognitive load, amplify signal
2. Accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA) — inclusive design, screen reader support, keyboard navigation, contrast
3. Visual Iteration Loop — Chrome DevTools MCP screenshots for autonomous see→fix→verify cycles

When to load references

• Neuro-ergonomic principles → load references/neuro-ergo-principles.md
• WCAG 2.2 AA checklist → load references/a11y-checklist.md
• Chrome MCP iteration protocol → load references/iteration-protocol.md

---

Workflow

Phase 1 — Audit

1. Open Chrome DevTools MCP → navigate to the target page
2. Take screenshot → capture current state (full page)
3. Take a11y tree snapshot (take_snapshot) → see ARIA roles, labels, structure
4. Read the source code → analyze component structure
5. Run axe audit via evaluate_script:

   () => {
     // Check for basic a11y violations visible without axe
     const issues = [];
     // Missing alt on images
     document
       .querySelectorAll("img:not([alt])")
       .forEach((el) =>
         issues.push({ type: "img-no-alt", el: el.outerHTML.slice(0, 80) }),
       );
     // Buttons without accessible name
     document
       .querySelectorAll("button:not([aria-label]):not([aria-labelledby])")
       .forEach((b) => {
         if (!b.textContent.trim())
           issues.push({
             type: "button-no-name",
             el: b.outerHTML.slice(0, 80),
           });
       });
     // Inputs without label
     document
       .querySelectorAll("input:not([aria-label]):not([id])")
       .forEach((i) =>
         issues.push({ type: "input-no-label", el: i.outerHTML.slice(0, 80) }),
       );
     // animate-pulse without reduced motion guard
     document
       .querySelectorAll('[class*="animate-"]')
       .forEach((el) =>
         issues.push({ type: "animation-check", cls: el.className }),
       );
     return issues;
   };
   

6. Compile audit report with findings in 4 categories:
   • 🔴 Critical (WCAG A violations, blocking keyboard/SR users)
   • 🟠 Ergonomic (cognitive load, Fitts' Law, visual hierarchy)
   • 🟡 WCAG AA (contrast, live regions, target sizes)
   • 🟢 Polish (micro-interactions, motion, progressive disclosure)

Phase 2 — Plan Fixes

Load references/neuro-ergo-principles.md and references/a11y-checklist.md. For each finding, define the specific fix with exact code changes. Prioritize: Critical → WCAG AA → Ergonomic → Polish.

Phase 3 — Implement

Apply all changes to the source file(s). Stagger changes in logical groups if file is large:

1. Structure & ARIA (landmarks, roles, labels, live regions)
2. Keyboard & Focus (skip link, focus ring, tab order)
3. Cognitive load (chunking, visual hierarchy, reduced noise)
4. Motion & animation (prefers-reduced-motion, remove unnecessary pulse)
5. Contrast & sizing (text contrast, touch targets min 44×44px)

Phase 4 — Visual Iteration

Reload the page and take before/after screenshots. Fix any regressions:

take_screenshot → analyze → find issues → fix code → navigate/reload → take_screenshot → ...

Iterate until:

• No critical a11y violations visible
• Visual hierarchy is clear (1 primary action per view, clear F-pattern scan path)
• All interactive elements have visible focus indicators
• Motion respects prefers-reduced-motion
• Skip navigation link present
• Live region announces filter results to screen readers
• Touch targets ≥ 44×44px on mobile viewport
• Headings form a logical outline (h1 → h2 → h3, no skips)

Phase 5 — Production Checklist

Before declaring done, verify:

• TypeScript compiles without errors (pnpm build or check editor diagnostics)
• No arbitrary Tailwind values (w-[...], text-[...]) — unless using CSS vars
• All <button> have accessible names
• All <input> have <label> or aria-label
• <article> elements have aria-labelledby pointing to their heading
• Dynamic count updates use role="status" or aria-live="polite"
• Animations wrapped in motion-safe: or @media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference)
• Color is not the only differentiator (icon+color, not color alone)

---

Reference Files

Load these on demand:

• references/neuro-ergo-principles.md — cognitive science principles (CLT, Fitts' Law, Gestalt, Miller's Law, F-pattern)
• references/a11y-checklist.md — WCAG 2.2 AA checklist + JS audit script for React/Next.js
• references/react-a11y-patterns.md — copy-paste fix patterns (skip link, live region, article+aria-labelledby, radiogroup, motion guard, touch target)
• references/iteration-protocol.md — Chrome DevTools MCP tool sequence and iteration exit criteria