objective-evaluator_skill

Overview

This skill evaluates products, features, or design concepts using an objective framework drawn from three design classics. It classifies offerings as Tool vs Vitamin, inspects visceral/behavioral/reflective design layers, and flags red‑flag violations to produce a clear, actionable verdict.

How this skill works

Run three independent audits: a Tool audit (painkiller vs vitamin) from Build, a Toy audit (visceral, behavioral, reflective) from Design of Everyday Things, and a Trash check (red flags) from Dieter Rams’ principles. Synthesize results to produce a final classification with audience nuance, tensions, and practical recommendations.

When to use it

• Assess product-market fit for a new feature or startup idea
• Review usability and emotional impact of a UI or physical design
• Audit marketing claims and potential deceptive practices
• Decide whether to invest resources in improving vs retiring a product
• Compare variants to prioritize roadmap work

Best practices

• Run each audit independently to avoid confirmation bias
• Explicitly identify target user segments before scoring
• Score with examples and evidence, not intuition alone
• Surface tensions (e.g., strong utility but weak emotional appeal)
• Call out monetization or identity trade-offs separately from design

Example use cases

• Evaluate whether a new feature is essential or just nice-to-have for core workflows
• Review a consumer gadget for first-impression appeal, usability, and long-term identity
• Audit a marketing campaign for overstated claims or hidden costs
• Prioritize engineering fixes when a product is useful but has behavioral friction
• Decide whether a product should be repositioned as pro tool vs lifestyle accessory