I built this quick to-do app using some of my favorite Lovable design hacks.
Here are the basics 👇
1/ Start with feeling, not features
Before you mention a button or layout, define the energy.
Example: Feels like a calm studio in Copenhagen. Minimal, intentional, and warm. Every detail considered.
Lovable captures emotion before structure. That’s what sets your visual tone right from the start.
2/ Think in scenes, not screens
Describe what happens, not just what exists.
Example: When a user completes a task, the interface celebrates with a subtle confetti animation and fades into focus mode.
This gives Lovable context for motion, transitions, and flow — not just static design.
3/ Prompt behavior, not just state
Lovable understands interactions. Make use of it.
Example:
The button should slightly pulse when hovered.
Modal slides up softly with a spring animation.
That’s how you get delight, not just function.
4/ Design for emotional moments
Don’t just design UIs — design how users feel in key moments.
Example: The onboarding should feel like a calm welcome. Include a friendly tone, gentle colors, and encouraging microcopy.
5/ Bring context for smarter results
Lovable learns across screens. Reference what exists.
Example:
Use the same card layout as the dashboard, but smaller and lighter.
Keep typography consistent with the onboarding.
That’s how you maintain design systems automatically.
Pro Tips
→ Use metaphors
Feels like Apple Notes meets Airbnb.
Like the UI version of a Moleskine notebook.
Lovable understands references quite well.
→ Give Lovable a role
Act like my design partner.
Challenge me if something looks off.
It makes the collaboration more creative.
→ Iterate by emotion
Instead of “make buttons bigger,” try “make it feel lighter, more airy.”
You’ll get more human results.
→ Use visual anchors
Reference design systems (shadcn/ui), apps (Linear), or even eras (Bauhaus minimalism) to ground the style.
If you’re building with Lovable, learn to prompt like a designer, not a user.