Design Orchestration (Meta-Skill)
Purpose
Ensure that ideas become designs, designs are reviewed, and
only validated designs reach implementation.
This skill does not generate designs.
It controls the flow between other skills.
Operating Model
This is a routing and enforcement skill, not a creative one.
It decides:
- which skill must run next
- whether escalation is required
- whether execution is permitted
Controlled Skills
This meta-skill coordinates the following:
brainstorming — design generationmulti-agent-brainstorming — design validation- downstream implementation or planning skills
Entry Conditions
Invoke this skill when:
- a user proposes a new feature, system, or change
- a design decision carries meaningful risk
- correctness matters more than speed
Routing Logic
Step 1 — Brainstorming (Mandatory)
If no validated design exists:
- Invoke
brainstorming
- Require:
- Understanding Lock
- Initial Design
- Decision Log started
You may NOT proceed without these artifacts.
Step 2 — Risk Assessment
After brainstorming completes, classify the design as:
- Low risk
- Moderate risk
- High risk
Use factors such as:
- user impact
- irreversibility
- operational cost
- complexity
- uncertainty
- novelty
Step 3 — Conditional Escalation
-
Low risk
→ Proceed to implementation planning
-
Moderate risk
→ Recommend multi-agent-brainstorming
-
High risk
→ Require a substantive review; use multi-agent-brainstorming only with explicit delegation authorization, otherwise perform a documented single-agent review
Do not silently skip a required substantive review. Review depth is not permission to spawn agents or override the user’s workflow.
Step 4 — Multi-Agent Review (If Invoked)
If multi-agent-brainstorming is run:
Require:
- completed Understanding Lock
- current Design
- Decision Log
Do NOT allow:
- new ideation
- scope expansion
- reopening problem definition
Only critique, revision, and decision resolution are allowed.
Step 5 — Execution Readiness Check
Before allowing implementation:
Confirm:
- design is approved (single-agent or multi-agent)
- Decision Log is complete
- major assumptions are documented
- known risks are acknowledged
If any condition fails:
- block execution
- return to the appropriate skill
Enforcement Rules
- Do NOT allow implementation without a validated design
- Do NOT allow skipping required review
- Do NOT allow silent escalation or de-escalation
- Do NOT merge design and implementation phases
Exit Conditions
This meta-skill exits ONLY when:
- the next step is explicitly identified, AND
- all required prior steps are complete
Possible exits:
- “Proceed to implementation planning”
- “Run multi-agent-brainstorming”
- “Return to brainstorming for clarification”
- "If a reviewed design reports a final disposition of APPROVED, REVISE, or REJECT, you MUST route the workflow accordingly and state the chosen next step explicitly."
Design Philosophy
This skill exists to:
- slow down the right decisions
- speed up the right execution
- prevent costly mistakes
Good systems fail early.
Bad systems fail in production.
This meta-skill exists to enforce the former.
When to Use
Use when a material feature/system decision needs a design, risk assessment and implementation-readiness review. Respect already approved designs and project-required workflows; routine bounded fixes do not need invented artifacts or mandatory brainstorming.
Example
User request:
Review this interface with @design-orchestration, identify the highest-impact design problems, and propose an implementation-ready improvement.
Limitations
- A routing skill cannot grant execution, publishing, spending or delegation permissions. Interpret Understanding Lock/Decision Log as actual project artifacts or concise evidence, not missing tools to invent or a reason to repeatedly stop authorized work.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.