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Interfaces (UI/UX)48k · #2808

vaporwave

Lets your agent use neon colors and retro digital aesthetics. It's good for a 90s-inspired look, with old system elements.

What it does

This design style uses vibrant colors like pink and blue, mixed with elements reminiscent of old 90s computers, such as windows and buttons with a 3D look. It can also include images of classical statues.

When to use it

  • ✓Creating a retro look for a website or app.
  • ✓Developing a theme with neon and pastel colors.
  • ✓Incorporating design elements from old operating systems.

Example of what to ask your AI

“Create a design with neon colors, old-looking buttons, and a Roman statue image.”

Want more? Open the sections below.

How to use

The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.

Skill link

https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/design-it/vaporwave/SKILL.md

Ready-to-paste message

Use this skill to help me: https://github.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/blob/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/design-it/vaporwave/SKILL.md Read the SKILL.md file at that link and follow its instructions for my task.
How it works

It works by combining colors like cyan, magenta, and grays with specific fonts and borders that simulate 3D buttons from systems like Windows 95. The result is a nostalgic and slightly surreal digital aesthetic.

Installation

Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.

In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:

npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill vaporwave

Or download just the file:

curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills/main/plugins/agentic-awesome-skills-claude/skills/design-it/vaporwave/SKILL.md -o SKILL.md
Technical content (original SKILL.md)

Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.

Vaporwave

"A surreal, nostalgic dream of 90s computing and pastel neon."

When to Use

Use this sub-style when the user's request matches the aesthetic described above. This is a child reference of the design-it skill and is not meant to be triggered directly.

Core Principles

  1. Windows 95 / Mac OS 9 Motifs: UI elements designed to look explicitly like 1990s operating systems (grey boxes, hard bevels, blue title bars).
  2. Surreal Pastels & Neons: A mix of soft pinks, cyans, and harsh neon overlays.
  3. Collage Aesthetic: Mixing classical art (Roman busts), early 3D renders (checkerboard floors), and Japanese text (Kanji/Katakana).

Visual DNA

  • Colors: Cyan (#00FFFF), Magenta (#FF00FF), Lavender (#E6E6FA), and classic Windows Grey (#C0C0C0).
  • Typography: MS Sans Serif, Tahoma, or pixel fonts. Fullwidth characters (AESTHETIC) are highly encouraged for headers.
  • Styling: Hard, 1px outsets and insets to simulate 90s 3D buttons.

Web Implementation

  • Use standard CSS borders to create the classic 90s button look.
  • CSS Example:
body {
  background: linear-gradient(180deg, #ff99cc 0%, #99ccff 100%);
  color: #000;
  font-family: 'Tahoma', sans-serif;
  min-height: 100vh;
}

/* Windows 95 Style Window */
.vapor-window {
  background-color: #C0C0C0;
  border: 2px outset #fff;
  border-right-color: #808080;
  border-bottom-color: #808080;
  width: 400px;
  padding: 2px;
}

.vapor-titlebar {
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #000080, #1084d0);
  color: white;
  font-weight: bold;
  padding: 4px 8px;
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
}

.vapor-button {
  background-color: #C0C0C0;
  border: 2px outset #fff;
  border-right-color: #808080;
  border-bottom-color: #808080;
  padding: 4px 12px;
}
.vapor-button:active {
  border-style: inset;
}

/* The iconic vaporwave sun/grid */
.vapor-sun {
  width: 200px; height: 200px;
  background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #ff00ff, #ffff00);
  border-radius: 50%;
  box-shadow: 0 0 20px #ff00ff;
}

App Implementation

SwiftUI

struct VaporwaveView: View {
    var body: some View {
        ZStack {
            // Neon Gradient Background
            LinearGradient(colors: [Color(hex: "ff99cc"), Color(hex: "99ccff")], startPoint: .top, endPoint: .bottom)
                .ignoresSafeArea()
            
            // Win95 Window
            VStack(spacing: 0) {
                // Title Bar
                HStack {
                    Text("AESTHETIC.exe")
                        .font(.system(size: 14, weight: .bold, design: .monospaced))
                        .foregroundColor(.white)
                    Spacer()
                    Text("X")
                        .font(.system(size: 12, weight: .bold))
                        .padding(.horizontal, 6)
                        .background(Color(hex: "C0C0C0"))
                        .border(.white, width: 1) // Faux 3D
                }
                .padding(4)
                .background(LinearGradient(colors: [Color(hex: "000080"), Color(hex: "1084d0")], startPoint: .leading, endPoint: .trailing))
                
                // Content
                VStack {
                    Text("It's all in your head.")
                        .font(.custom("Tahoma", size: 16))
                        .padding()
                    
                    // Win95 Button
                    Button(action: {}) {
                        Text("OK")
                            .foregroundColor(.black)
                            .padding(.horizontal, 24)
                            .padding(.vertical, 8)
                    }
                    .background(Color(hex: "C0C0C0"))
                    // Complex borders to simulate Outset
                    .overlay(
                        Rectangle().stroke(Color.black, lineWidth: 1) // Outer bottom/right
                    )
                    .overlay(
                        Rectangle().stroke(Color.white, lineWidth: 1).padding(1) // Inner top/left
                    )
                }
                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
                .padding(16)
                .background(Color(hex: "C0C0C0"))
            }
            .frame(width: 300)
            // Outset border for window
            .border(Color(hex: "808080"), width: 2)
            .padding()
        }
    }
}
  • You cannot use .cornerRadius() anywhere in Vaporwave design.

…

FAQ

Why 'Vaporwave'?

The name comes from a musical and visual genre that explores nostalgia for 80s and 90s technology, mixing consumer and digital art elements.

What colors are used?

The main colors are cyan (#00FFFF), magenta (#FF00FF), lavender (#E6E6FA), and a classic Windows gray (#C0C0C0).

Can I use rounded corners?

No, the Vaporwave style generally avoids rounded corners to maintain the appearance of old operating systems.

Details

Original description by the author

Web and App implementation guide for Vaporwave. Trigger when user wants neon colors, retro digital aesthetics, 90s OS elements, and Roman statues.

repo: sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills

Popularity

GitHub stars
48k
Ranking position
#2808
License
MIT
Updated
10/15/2026

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