RawDrive Frontend Design Skill

Create distinctive, production-grade, futuristic frontend interfaces that avoid generic "AI slop" aesthetics. RawDrive is a premium photography SaaS platform. Every interface should feel:

• Cinematic - Like a high-end photo editing suite
• Premium - Luxury brand quality for professional photographers
• Memorable - Distinctive enough to be recognized instantly

For brand colors, tokens, and component APIs: See the design-system skill.

Design Thinking Process

Before coding, commit to a BOLD aesthetic direction:

Aesthetic Directions

CRITICAL: Choose a clear direction and execute with precision. Ask: "What's the ONE thing someone will remember?"

Premium Effects Toolkit

Aurora Backgrounds

const AuroraBackground = () => (
  <div className="fixed inset-0 -z-10 overflow-hidden">
    <div className="absolute -top-1/2 -left-1/2 w-[200%] h-[200%] animate-aurora-slow">
      <div className="absolute top-1/4 left-1/4 w-96 h-96 bg-accent-500/30 rounded-full blur-[128px]" />
      <div className="absolute top-1/2 right-1/4 w-80 h-80 bg-primary-600/30 rounded-full blur-[128px]" />
    </div>
  </div>
);

Dramatic Shadows & Glows

// Floating Card with lift effect
className="shadow-[0_20px_60px_-10px_rgba(0,0,0,0.3)] hover:shadow-[0_30px_80px_-10px_rgba(0,0,0,0.4)] hover:-translate-y-1 transition-all duration-500"

// Glowing border (use brand colors from design-system)
className="before:absolute before:inset-0 before:rounded-2xl before:p-[1px] before:bg-gradient-to-br before:from-accent-500 before:to-primary-600 before:-z-10 before:opacity-50 before:blur-sm"

Motion & Micro-Interactions

// Staggered reveal for lists
{items.map((item, i) => (
  <div
    key={item.id}
    className="animate-fade-in-up opacity-0"
    style={{ animationDelay: `${i * 100}ms`, animationFillMode: 'forwards' }}
  >
    {item.content}
  </div>
))}

// Scroll-triggered animation hook
const useScrollReveal = () => {
  const ref = useRef(null);
  const [isVisible, setIsVisible] = useState(false);
  useEffect(() => {
    const observer = new IntersectionObserver(
      ([entry]) => entry.isIntersecting && setIsVisible(true),
      { threshold: 0.1 }
    );
    ref.current && observer.observe(ref.current);
    return () => observer.disconnect();
  }, []);
  return { ref, isVisible };
};

Component Patterns

Premium Photo Card

const PremiumPhotoCard = ({ photo, onSelect }) => (
  <div className="group relative overflow-hidden rounded-2xl bg-neutral-900">
    <img
      src={photo.thumbnailUrl}
      alt={photo.title}
      className="w-full aspect-[4/3] object-cover transition-transform duration-700 group-hover:scale-105"
      loading="lazy"
    />
    {/* Gradient overlay on hover */}
    <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-black/80 via-black/20 to-transparent opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity duration-500" />
    {/* Slide-up content */}
    <div className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 p-4 transform translate-y-full group-hover:translate-y-0 transition-transform duration-500">
      <h3 className="font-serif text-lg text-white truncate">{photo.title}</h3>
    </div>
  </div>
);

AI Feature Hero

const AIFeatureHero = () => (
  <section className="relative min-h-[80vh] flex items-center overflow-hidden">
    <AuroraBackground />
    <div className="max-w-7xl mx-auto px-6 py-20">
      {/* Premium badge */}
      <div className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-full bg-white/5 border border-white/10 mb-8">
        <Sparkles className="w-4 h-4 text-gold-500 animate-pulse-glow" />
        <span className="text-sm font-medium text-white/80">AI-Powered</span>
      </div>
      {/* Headline with gradient */}
      <h1 className="text-5xl md:text-7xl font-serif font-bold text-white animate-fade-in-up">
        Your Photos,{' '}
        <span className="bg-gradient-to-r from-accent-400 to-primary-500 bg-clip-text text-transparent">
          Intelligently Curated
        </span>
      </h1>
      <div className="flex gap-4 mt-10 animate-fade-in-up animation-delay-200">
        <AppButton variant="accent" size="lg" className="shadow-accent-glow">
          <Sparkles className="w-5 h-5 mr-2" /> Try AI Features
        </AppButton>
      </div>
    </div>
  </section>
);

Anti-Patterns (NEVER Do)

Execution Checklist

• Bold Direction: Clear, intentional aesthetic chosen?
• Brand Alignment: Using design-system tokens and components?
• Premium Feel: Would a professional photographer be impressed?
• Motion: Key moments animated (stagger, reveal, hover)?
• Dark Mode: Tested in both themes?
• Accessible: WCAG 2.1 AA compliant?
• No AI Slop: Avoided generic patterns?

Creative Philosophy

Every interface should feel like it belongs in a design portfolio. Not safe. Not generic. Exceptional.

NEVER use generic AI-generated aesthetics:

• Overused font families (Inter, Roboto, Arial, system fonts)
• Cliched color schemes (purple gradients on white)
• Predictable layouts and patterns
• Cookie-cutter design lacking context-specific character

Interpret creatively. Make unexpected choices that feel genuinely designed. No design should be the same. Vary between light/dark themes, different fonts, different aesthetics. NEVER converge on common choices (Space Grotesk, etc.) across generations.

Match complexity to vision. Maximalist designs need elaborate code with extensive animations. Minimalist designs need restraint, precision, and careful attention to spacing and typography. Elegance comes from executing the vision well.

Remember: Claude is capable of extraordinary creative work. Don't hold back.