How does the skill handle different architectural options?

It proposes 2-3 different approaches for your task, highlighting the trade-offs of each and providing a specific recommendation based on your project's context.

Does this skill automatically write code?

No, this is a pre-implementation skill focused solely on discovery and design. It strictly forbids writing code or scaffolding until a plan is approved and handed off.

Can I skip the design phase for simple projects?

No, this skill enforces a 'Hard Gate' policy where even simple tasks require a brief design approval to prevent wasted work caused by unexamined assumptions.

What happens after the design is approved?

The skill invokes the 'writing-plans' skill to translate the high-level design into a detailed, step-by-step implementation plan.

Where is the final design stored?

The validated design is saved as a Markdown file in the docs/plans/ directory and committed to your Git repository for future reference.

Brainstorming & Design Planner

Name: Brainstorming & Design Planner
Author: zerdos

byzerdos

0•

Productivity & Workflow

Transforms abstract ideas into structured technical designs through iterative collaborative dialogue and mandatory validation gates.

The Brainstorming skill enforces a rigorous design-first methodology for Claude Code, ensuring every feature—no matter how small—is thoroughly vetted before implementation begins. It guides the user through project context discovery, sequential questioning, and a comparative analysis of multiple architectural approaches. By establishing a hard gate that requires explicit user approval of a formal design document, it eliminates unexamined assumptions, reduces technical debt, and provides a clear roadmap that seamlessly transitions into actionable implementation plans.

Key Features

01Hard-gate validation that prevents code execution before design approval

02Comparative analysis of 2-3 technical approaches with explicit trade-offs and recommendations

03Context-aware project exploration through file, document, and commit analysis

040 GitHub stars

05Iterative one-at-a-time questioning to refine requirements without overwhelming the user

06Automated design document generation and Git-based versioning for architectural records

Use Cases

01Aligning on project constraints and success criteria before scaffolding new components

02Validating architectural assumptions for small utility scripts to prevent scope creep

03Defining technical specifications and data structures for complex new features

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add zerdos/superpowers brainstorming

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill