changes

frontend/critique/reference/cognitive-load.md

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+# Cognitive Load Assessment
+
+Cognitive load is the total mental effort required to use an interface. Overloaded users make mistakes, get frustrated, and leave. This reference helps identify and fix cognitive overload.
+
+---
+
+## Three Types of Cognitive Load
+
+### Intrinsic Load — The Task Itself
+Complexity inherent to what the user is trying to do. You can't eliminate this, but you can structure it.
+
+**Manage it by**:
+- Breaking complex tasks into discrete steps
+- Providing scaffolding (templates, defaults, examples)
+- Progressive disclosure — show what's needed now, hide the rest
+- Grouping related decisions together
+
+### Extraneous Load — Bad Design
+Mental effort caused by poor design choices. **Eliminate this ruthlessly** — it's pure waste.
+
+**Common sources**:
+- Confusing navigation that requires mental mapping
+- Unclear labels that force users to guess meaning
+- Visual clutter competing for attention
+- Inconsistent patterns that prevent learning
+- Unnecessary steps between user intent and result
+
+### Germane Load — Learning Effort
+Mental effort spent building understanding. This is *good* cognitive load — it leads to mastery.
+
+**Support it by**:
+- Progressive disclosure that reveals complexity gradually
+- Consistent patterns that reward learning
+- Feedback that confirms correct understanding
+- Onboarding that teaches through action, not walls of text
+
+---
+
+## Cognitive Load Checklist
+
+Evaluate the interface against these 8 items:
+
+- [ ] **Single focus**: Can the user complete their primary task without distraction from competing elements?
+- [ ] **Chunking**: Is information presented in digestible groups (≤4 items per group)?
+- [ ] **Grouping**: Are related items visually grouped together (proximity, borders, shared background)?
+- [ ] **Visual hierarchy**: Is it immediately clear what's most important on the screen?
+- [ ] **One thing at a time**: Can the user focus on a single decision before moving to the next?
+- [ ] **Minimal choices**: Are decisions simplified (≤4 visible options at any decision point)?
+- [ ] **Working memory**: Does the user need to remember information from a previous screen to act on the current one?
+- [ ] **Progressive disclosure**: Is complexity revealed only when the user needs it?
+
+**Scoring**: Count the failed items. 0–1 failures = low cognitive load (good). 2–3 = moderate (address soon). 4+ = high cognitive load (critical fix needed).
+
+---
+
+## The Working Memory Rule
+
+**Humans can hold ≤4 items in working memory at once** (Miller's Law revised by Cowan, 2001).
+
+At any decision point, count the number of distinct options, actions, or pieces of information a user must simultaneously consider:
+- **≤4 items**: Within working memory limits — manageable
+- **5–7 items**: Pushing the boundary — consider grouping or progressive disclosure
+- **8+ items**: Overloaded — users will skip, misclick, or abandon
+
+**Practical applications**:
+- Navigation menus: ≤5 top-level items (group the rest under clear categories)
+- Form sections: ≤4 fields visible per group before a visual break
+- Action buttons: 1 primary, 1–2 secondary, group the rest in a menu
+- Dashboard widgets: ≤4 key metrics visible without scrolling
+- Pricing tiers: ≤3 options (more causes analysis paralysis)
+
+---
+
+## Common Cognitive Load Violations
+
+### 1. The Wall of Options
+**Problem**: Presenting 10+ choices at once with no hierarchy.
+**Fix**: Group into categories, highlight recommended, use progressive disclosure.
+
+### 2. The Memory Bridge
+**Problem**: User must remember info from step 1 to complete step 3.
+**Fix**: Keep relevant context visible, or repeat it where it's needed.
+
+### 3. The Hidden Navigation
+**Problem**: User must build a mental map of where things are.
+**Fix**: Always show current location (breadcrumbs, active states, progress indicators).
+
+### 4. The Jargon Barrier
+**Problem**: Technical or domain language forces translation effort.
+**Fix**: Use plain language. If domain terms are unavoidable, define them inline.
+
+### 5. The Visual Noise Floor
+**Problem**: Every element has the same visual weight — nothing stands out.
+**Fix**: Establish clear hierarchy: one primary element, 2–3 secondary, everything else muted.
+
+### 6. The Inconsistent Pattern
+**Problem**: Similar actions work differently in different places.
+**Fix**: Standardize interaction patterns. Same type of action = same type of UI.
+
+### 7. The Multi-Task Demand
+**Problem**: Interface requires processing multiple simultaneous inputs (reading + deciding + navigating).
+**Fix**: Sequence the steps. Let the user do one thing at a time.
+
+### 8. The Context Switch
+**Problem**: User must jump between screens/tabs/modals to gather info for a single decision.
+**Fix**: Co-locate the information needed for each decision. Reduce back-and-forth.

frontend/critique/reference/heuristics-scoring.md

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+# Heuristics Scoring Guide
+
+Score each of Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics on a 0–4 scale. Be honest — a 4 means genuinely excellent, not "good enough."
+
+## Nielsen's 10 Heuristics
+
+### 1. Visibility of System Status
+
+Keep users informed about what's happening through timely, appropriate feedback.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Loading indicators during async operations
+- Confirmation of user actions (save, submit, delete)
+- Progress indicators for multi-step processes
+- Current location in navigation (breadcrumbs, active states)
+- Form validation feedback (inline, not just on submit)
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | No feedback — user is guessing what happened |
+| 1 | Rare feedback — most actions produce no visible response |
+| 2 | Partial — some states communicated, major gaps remain |
+| 3 | Good — most operations give clear feedback, minor gaps |
+| 4 | Excellent — every action confirms, progress is always visible |
+
+### 2. Match Between System and Real World
+
+Speak the user's language. Follow real-world conventions. Information appears in natural, logical order.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Familiar terminology (no unexplained jargon)
+- Logical information order matching user expectations
+- Recognizable icons and metaphors
+- Domain-appropriate language for the target audience
+- Natural reading flow (left-to-right, top-to-bottom priority)
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | Pure tech jargon, alien to users |
+| 1 | Mostly confusing — requires domain expertise to navigate |
+| 2 | Mixed — some plain language, some jargon leaks through |
+| 3 | Mostly natural — occasional term needs context |
+| 4 | Speaks the user's language fluently throughout |
+
+### 3. User Control and Freedom
+
+Users need a clear "emergency exit" from unwanted states without extended dialogue.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Undo/redo functionality
+- Cancel buttons on forms and modals
+- Clear navigation back to safety (home, previous)
+- Easy way to clear filters, search, selections
+- Escape from long or multi-step processes
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | Users get trapped — no way out without refreshing |
+| 1 | Difficult exits — must find obscure paths to escape |
+| 2 | Some exits — main flows have escape, edge cases don't |
+| 3 | Good control — users can exit and undo most actions |
+| 4 | Full control — undo, cancel, back, and escape everywhere |
+
+### 4. Consistency and Standards
+
+Users shouldn't wonder whether different words, situations, or actions mean the same thing.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Consistent terminology throughout the interface
+- Same actions produce same results everywhere
+- Platform conventions followed (standard UI patterns)
+- Visual consistency (colors, typography, spacing, components)
+- Consistent interaction patterns (same gesture = same behavior)
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | Inconsistent everywhere — feels like different products stitched together |
+| 1 | Many inconsistencies — similar things look/behave differently |
+| 2 | Partially consistent — main flows match, details diverge |
+| 3 | Mostly consistent — occasional deviation, nothing confusing |
+| 4 | Fully consistent — cohesive system, predictable behavior |
+
+### 5. Error Prevention
+
+Better than good error messages is a design that prevents problems in the first place.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Confirmation before destructive actions (delete, overwrite)
+- Constraints preventing invalid input (date pickers, dropdowns)
+- Smart defaults that reduce errors
+- Clear labels that prevent misunderstanding
+- Autosave and draft recovery
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | Errors easy to make — no guardrails anywhere |
+| 1 | Few safeguards — some inputs validated, most aren't |
+| 2 | Partial prevention — common errors caught, edge cases slip |
+| 3 | Good prevention — most error paths blocked proactively |
+| 4 | Excellent — errors nearly impossible through smart constraints |
+
+### 6. Recognition Rather Than Recall
+
+Minimize memory load. Make objects, actions, and options visible or easily retrievable.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Visible options (not buried in hidden menus)
+- Contextual help when needed (tooltips, inline hints)
+- Recent items and history
+- Autocomplete and suggestions
+- Labels on icons (not icon-only navigation)
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | Heavy memorization — users must remember paths and commands |
+| 1 | Mostly recall — many hidden features, few visible cues |
+| 2 | Some aids — main actions visible, secondary features hidden |
+| 3 | Good recognition — most things discoverable, few memory demands |
+| 4 | Everything discoverable — users never need to memorize |
+
+### 7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use
+
+Accelerators — invisible to novices — speed up expert interaction.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Keyboard shortcuts for common actions
+- Customizable interface elements
+- Recent items and favorites
+- Bulk/batch actions
+- Power user features that don't complicate the basics
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | One rigid path — no shortcuts or alternatives |
+| 1 | Limited flexibility — few alternatives to the main path |
+| 2 | Some shortcuts — basic keyboard support, limited bulk actions |
+| 3 | Good accelerators — keyboard nav, some customization |
+| 4 | Highly flexible — multiple paths, power features, customizable |
+
+### 8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design
+
+Interfaces should not contain irrelevant or rarely needed information. Every element should serve a purpose.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Only necessary information visible at each step
+- Clear visual hierarchy directing attention
+- Purposeful use of color and emphasis
+- No decorative clutter competing for attention
+- Focused, uncluttered layouts
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | Overwhelming — everything competes for attention equally |
+| 1 | Cluttered — too much noise, hard to find what matters |
+| 2 | Some clutter — main content clear, periphery noisy |
+| 3 | Mostly clean — focused design, minor visual noise |
+| 4 | Perfectly minimal — every element earns its pixel |
+
+### 9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors
+
+Error messages should use plain language, precisely indicate the problem, and constructively suggest a solution.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Plain language error messages (no error codes for users)
+- Specific problem identification ("Email is missing @" not "Invalid input")
+- Actionable recovery suggestions
+- Errors displayed near the source of the problem
+- Non-blocking error handling (don't wipe the form)
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | Cryptic errors — codes, jargon, or no message at all |
+| 1 | Vague errors — "Something went wrong" with no guidance |
+| 2 | Clear but unhelpful — names the problem but not the fix |
+| 3 | Clear with suggestions — identifies problem and offers next steps |
+| 4 | Perfect recovery — pinpoints issue, suggests fix, preserves user work |
+
+### 10. Help and Documentation
+
+Even if the system is usable without docs, help should be easy to find, task-focused, and concise.
+
+**Check for**:
+- Searchable help or documentation
+- Contextual help (tooltips, inline hints, guided tours)
+- Task-focused organization (not feature-organized)
+- Concise, scannable content
+- Easy access without leaving current context
+
+**Scoring**:
+| Score | Criteria |
+|-------|----------|
+| 0 | No help available anywhere |
+| 1 | Help exists but hard to find or irrelevant |
+| 2 | Basic help — FAQ or docs exist, not contextual |
+| 3 | Good documentation — searchable, mostly task-focused |
+| 4 | Excellent contextual help — right info at the right moment |
+
+---
+
+## Score Summary
+
+**Total possible**: 40 points (10 heuristics × 4 max)
+
+| Score Range | Rating | What It Means |
+|-------------|--------|---------------|
+| 36–40 | Excellent | Minor polish only — ship it |
+| 28–35 | Good | Address weak areas, solid foundation |
+| 20–27 | Acceptable | Significant improvements needed before users are happy |
+| 12–19 | Poor | Major UX overhaul required — core experience broken |
+| 0–11 | Critical | Redesign needed — unusable in current state |
+
+---
+
+## Issue Severity (P0–P3)
+
+Tag each individual issue found during scoring with a priority level:
+
+| Priority | Name | Description | Action |
+|----------|------|-------------|--------|
+| **P0** | Blocking | Prevents task completion entirely | Fix immediately — this is a showstopper |
+| **P1** | Major | Causes significant difficulty or confusion | Fix before release |
+| **P2** | Minor | Annoyance, but workaround exists | Fix in next pass |
+| **P3** | Polish | Nice-to-fix, no real user impact | Fix if time permits |
+
+**Tip**: If you're unsure between two levels, ask: "Would a user contact support about this?" If yes, it's at least P1.

frontend/critique/reference/personas.md

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+# Persona-Based Design Testing
+
+Test the interface through the eyes of 5 distinct user archetypes. Each persona exposes different failure modes that a single "design director" perspective would miss.
+
+**How to use**: Select 2–3 personas most relevant to the interface being critiqued. Walk through the primary user action as each persona. Report specific red flags — not generic concerns.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Impatient Power User — "Alex"
+
+**Profile**: Expert with similar products. Expects efficiency, hates hand-holding. Will find shortcuts or leave.
+
+**Behaviors**:
+- Skips all onboarding and instructions
+- Looks for keyboard shortcuts immediately
+- Tries to bulk-select, batch-edit, and automate
+- Gets frustrated by required steps that feel unnecessary
+- Abandons if anything feels slow or patronizing
+
+**Test Questions**:
+- Can Alex complete the core task in under 60 seconds?
+- Are there keyboard shortcuts for common actions?
+- Can onboarding be skipped entirely?
+- Do modals have keyboard dismiss (Esc)?
+- Is there a "power user" path (shortcuts, bulk actions)?
+
+**Red Flags** (report these specifically):
+- Forced tutorials or unskippable onboarding
+- No keyboard navigation for primary actions
+- Slow animations that can't be skipped
+- One-item-at-a-time workflows where batch would be natural
+- Redundant confirmation steps for low-risk actions
+
+---
+
+## 2. Confused First-Timer — "Jordan"
+
+**Profile**: Never used this type of product. Needs guidance at every step. Will abandon rather than figure it out.
+
+**Behaviors**:
+- Reads all instructions carefully
+- Hesitates before clicking anything unfamiliar
+- Looks for help or support constantly
+- Misunderstands jargon and abbreviations
+- Takes the most literal interpretation of any label
+
+**Test Questions**:
+- Is the first action obviously clear within 5 seconds?
+- Are all icons labeled with text?
+- Is there contextual help at decision points?
+- Does terminology assume prior knowledge?
+- Is there a clear "back" or "undo" at every step?
+
+**Red Flags** (report these specifically):
+- Icon-only navigation with no labels
+- Technical jargon without explanation
+- No visible help option or guidance
+- Ambiguous next steps after completing an action
+- No confirmation that an action succeeded
+
+---
+
+## 3. Accessibility-Dependent User — "Sam"
+
+**Profile**: Uses screen reader (VoiceOver/NVDA), keyboard-only navigation. May have low vision, motor impairment, or cognitive differences.
+
+**Behaviors**:
+- Tabs through the interface linearly
+- Relies on ARIA labels and heading structure
+- Cannot see hover states or visual-only indicators
+- Needs adequate color contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
+- May use browser zoom up to 200%
+
+**Test Questions**:
+- Can the entire primary flow be completed keyboard-only?
+- Are all interactive elements focusable with visible focus indicators?
+- Do images have meaningful alt text?
+- Is color contrast WCAG AA compliant (4.5:1 for text)?
+- Does the screen reader announce state changes (loading, success, errors)?
+
+**Red Flags** (report these specifically):
+- Click-only interactions with no keyboard alternative
+- Missing or invisible focus indicators
+- Meaning conveyed by color alone (red = error, green = success)
+- Unlabeled form fields or buttons
+- Time-limited actions without extension option
+- Custom components that break screen reader flow
+
+---
+
+## 4. Deliberate Stress Tester — "Riley"
+
+**Profile**: Methodical user who pushes interfaces beyond the happy path. Tests edge cases, tries unexpected inputs, and probes for gaps in the experience.
+
+**Behaviors**:
+- Tests edge cases intentionally (empty states, long strings, special characters)
+- Submits forms with unexpected data (emoji, RTL text, very long values)
+- Tries to break workflows by navigating backwards, refreshing mid-flow, or opening in multiple tabs
+- Looks for inconsistencies between what the UI promises and what actually happens
+- Documents problems methodically
+
+**Test Questions**:
+- What happens at the edges (0 items, 1000 items, very long text)?
+- Do error states recover gracefully or leave the UI in a broken state?
+- What happens on refresh mid-workflow? Is state preserved?
+- Are there features that appear to work but produce broken results?
+- How does the UI handle unexpected input (emoji, special chars, paste from Excel)?
+
+**Red Flags** (report these specifically):
+- Features that appear to work but silently fail or produce wrong results
+- Error handling that exposes technical details or leaves UI in a broken state
+- Empty states that show nothing useful ("No results" with no guidance)
+- Workflows that lose user data on refresh or navigation
+- Inconsistent behavior between similar interactions in different parts of the UI
+
+---
+
+## 5. Distracted Mobile User — "Casey"
+
+**Profile**: Using phone one-handed on the go. Frequently interrupted. Possibly on a slow connection.
+
+**Behaviors**:
+- Uses thumb only — prefers bottom-of-screen actions
+- Gets interrupted mid-flow and returns later
+- Switches between apps frequently
+- Has limited attention span and low patience
+- Types as little as possible, prefers taps and selections
+
+**Test Questions**:
+- Are primary actions in the thumb zone (bottom half of screen)?
+- Is state preserved if the user leaves and returns?
+- Does it work on slow connections (3G)?
+- Can forms leverage autocomplete and smart defaults?
+- Are touch targets at least 44×44pt?
+
+**Red Flags** (report these specifically):
+- Important actions positioned at the top of the screen (unreachable by thumb)
+- No state persistence — progress lost on tab switch or interruption
+- Large text inputs required where selection would work
+- Heavy assets loading on every page (no lazy loading)
+- Tiny tap targets or targets too close together
+
+---
+
+## Selecting Personas
+
+Choose personas based on the interface type:
+
+| Interface Type | Primary Personas | Why |
+|---------------|-----------------|-----|
+| Landing page / marketing | Jordan, Riley, Casey | First impressions, trust, mobile |
+| Dashboard / admin | Alex, Sam | Power users, accessibility |
+| E-commerce / checkout | Casey, Riley, Jordan | Mobile, edge cases, clarity |
+| Onboarding flow | Jordan, Casey | Confusion, interruption |
+| Data-heavy / analytics | Alex, Sam | Efficiency, keyboard nav |
+| Form-heavy / wizard | Jordan, Sam, Casey | Clarity, accessibility, mobile |
+
+---
+
+## Project-Specific Personas
+
+If `AGENTS.md` contains a `## Design Context` section (generated by `teach-impeccable`), derive 1–2 additional personas from the audience and brand information:
+
+1. Read the target audience description
+2. Identify the primary user archetype not covered by the 5 predefined personas
+3. Create a persona following this template:
+
+```
+### [Role] — "[Name]"
+
+**Profile**: [2-3 key characteristics derived from Design Context]
+
+**Behaviors**: [3-4 specific behaviors based on the described audience]
+
+**Red Flags**: [3-4 things that would alienate this specific user type]
+```
+
+Only generate project-specific personas when real Design Context data is available. Don't invent audience details — use the 5 predefined personas when no context exists.