Design to Code with Kimi

“Design to code” is supposed to mean you upload a mockup and get a perfect website instantly. In real life, it’s better and more realistic than that:

You get a strong first draft fast, then you refine it the same way you’d refine any UI build: spacing, typography, responsiveness, and polish.

If you use Kimi the right way, you can turn a screenshot or design into clean HTML/CSS/JS in minutes, and that can save you hours every week especially if you build lots of landing pages, product pages, or UI sections.

This guide is a full playbook. It’s written like a human. It’s practical. And it’s designed to help you produce code you can actually ship.

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What “design to code” really means

Design to code with Kimi usually looks like this:

1. You provide a design input (screenshot, mockup, Figma export, wireframe).

2. Kimi generates a layout draft (HTML + CSS, sometimes JS).

3. You guide it through two or three refinement passes.

4. You run a responsive + accessibility check.

5. You clean and package the code for production.

The key point: Design-to-code is a workflow, not a single prompt.

If you treat it like “one shot and done,” you’ll get results that feel almost right but not quite. If you treat it like a workflow, it becomes one of the fastest ways to build interfaces.

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When design-to-code is worth using

Design-to-code is especially strong when you need:

1) Landing pages and marketing sections

• Hero sections

• Feature grids

• Pricing blocks

• Testimonials

• FAQ accordion

• Final CTA

These are pattern-based layouts that translate well into HTML/CSS.

2) UI prototypes

If you want to quickly test a layout idea before spending time on a full component system, design-to-code is perfect.

3) UI cloning for internal projects

You can use a screenshot as a reference to replicate layout style and spacing. (Just rewrite the copy, use your own assets, and don’t copy branding elements.)

4) Converting design assets into “starter code”

Maybe you already have a designer, but dev time is limited. Kimi can produce a solid baseline so your devs start from something real.

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When you should NOT use it

Design-to-code can be the wrong tool when:

• The UI requires complex data logic (dashboard charts, state management, auth flows)

• You need full component architecture from day one (React + strict design system)

• The design is extremely custom and animated-heavy

• You need pixel-perfect reproduction with strict brand fonts and assets (unless you provide them)

In those cases, use Kimi to accelerate parts (sections, components, CSS tokens), not the whole app.

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Best inputs for design-to-code

Your input quality matters a lot. If the image is unclear, the output will be unclear too.

1) High-resolution screenshots

Best for: existing websites, inspiration layouts, UI references.

Tips

• Use a crisp screenshot (desktop is usually better than mobile unless you’re building mobile-first).

• Capture the full section you want (don’t cut off important padding or button styles).

• Remove overlays (cookie banners, popups) if possible.

2) Figma exports

Best for: your own designs.

Tips

• Export at 2x or higher so text is readable.

• Export one section at a time: hero, features, pricing, etc.

• If the design uses a special font, mention the font name in your prompt.

3) Wireframes (even sketches)

Best for: early-stage layout planning.

Tips

• Label blocks (“H1”, “CTA”, “Card grid”).

• Tell Kimi what style you want (minimal, bold, rounded, etc.).

• Specify spacing direction (airy vs compact).

4) “Before and after” references

This is advanced but powerful:

• Screenshot of what you have

• Screenshot of what you want

Then ask Kimi to update your code to match the target layout. This reduces guessing and speeds up iteration.

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What to request (so you get clean code)

If you want output you can maintain, request these things from the start:

File structure

Ask for:

• index.html

• styles.css

• script.js (only if needed)

This prevents messy inline styling.

Semantic HTML

Ask for:

• header, main, section, nav, footer

• meaningful headings (h1, h2, h3)

• real buttons and links (not clickable divs)

Responsive behavior

Ask for:

• a stacked layout under 768px

• readable type sizes on mobile

• no horizontal scrolling

Accessibility basics

Ask for:

• proper labels

• visible focus states

• alt text placeholders

• accessible button text

A maintainable CSS system

Ask for:

• CSS variables (colors, spacing, radius)

• reusable button/card classes

• consistent spacing scale

These are the “invisible” differences between demo code and production-ready code.

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The step-by-step workflow (prompt → draft → refine)

This is the workflow that consistently produces good design-to-code results.

Step 1: Ask for a layout-first draft

Your first prompt should focus on:

• structure

• spacing direction

• typography hierarchy

Don’t chase pixel perfection yet.

Prompt (copy/paste)

Convert this design into clean HTML/CSS.
Output: index.html + styles.css + script.js (only if needed).
Priorities: correct layout, spacing, and typography hierarchy.
Use semantic HTML, responsive layout, and accessible buttons.
Use placeholders for icons/images if missing.

This produces a “good enough” base quickly.

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Step 2: Ask for a mismatch list (self-check)

Right after the draft, ask the model to critique itself.

Prompt

Now list the top 10 areas where the result might not match the design perfectly (spacing, font sizes, border radius, alignment). Suggest exact fixes.

This forces the model to “look again” and helps you refine systematically.

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Step 3: Do a targeted refinement pass

Here’s the secret: don’t regenerate everything.
Give “design review notes,” like a real designer would.

Examples of targeted notes:

• H1 is too small → increase size + tighten letter spacing

• buttons are too thin → add padding, increase border radius

• card spacing is uneven → unify gaps with a spacing scale

• right-side cards need more padding → increase internal spacing

• borders are too dark → lighten border color

Prompt

Update styles.css only:

• Make H1 larger and more bold.

• Increase line-height for the paragraph.

• Buttons: increase padding, pill shape, consistent height.

• Cards: increase padding, lighten borders, add subtle rounding.
  Keep layout the same, improve visual match.

Targeted instructions = faster, cleaner iteration.

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Step 4: Make it responsive (mobile/tablet)

Even good desktop code can break on small screens. Always do a mobile pass.

Prompt

Add responsive rules:

• Under 768px: stack columns, full-width buttons, reduce padding slightly.

• Under 480px: ensure no overflow, keep text readable.

• Keep the hierarchy similar to desktop.

Key goals:

• No horizontal scroll

• Clear reading experience

• Buttons easy to tap

• Cards stack nicely

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Step 5: Add small interactions (only if needed)

Don’t add JS unless you need it:

• FAQ accordion

• Mobile menu toggle

• Tabs

• Modal dialog

Prompt

Add minimal JS only for: (FAQ accordion / mobile menu). Keep it lightweight and accessible. Do not add frameworks.

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Step 6: Cleanup pass (make it maintainable)

Now ask Kimi to refactor without changing the look.

Prompt

Refactor the CSS to be maintainable:

• Use CSS variables for colors, spacing, radius

• Remove duplicate rules

• Keep class naming consistent
  Do not change the visual output.

This is where “demo code” becomes “ship code.”

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A practical style system you can reuse

If you build multiple pages, create a baseline style system. Here’s a clean one you can ask Kimi to implement:

Typography

• H1: large, bold, tight letter spacing

• Body: 16-18px, comfortable line-height

• Labels: smaller, uppercase tracking (optional)

Spacing scale

Use an 8px system:

• 8, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64

Radius system

• Buttons: 999px (pill) or 12–16px

• Cards: 16–24px

Borders and shadows

• Subtle borders for cards

• Minimal shadows (or none) for clean modern UI

If you want a specific style (Apple-like, Stripe-like, Notion-like), say that-but keep it as “inspiration,” not copying.

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Prompt packs for common scenarios

A) Build a hero section from a screenshot

Recreate the hero section only.
Match typography hierarchy, spacing, and button styles.
Deliver index.html + styles.css.
Make it responsive and accessible.

B) Convert a full landing page section-by-section

We will build this page in sections: hero, features, pricing, FAQ, CTA.
Start with hero only.
Keep a consistent CSS system for the whole page.

C) Turn a Figma export into code with your font

Convert this Figma export into HTML/CSS.
Use font: (Font Name) and a clean type scale.
Use CSS variables for colors/spacing/radius.

D) Fix your existing code to match a target

Here is my current HTML/CSS (paste). Here is the target design screenshot.
Update my code to match the target.
Return only the changed parts + explain what you changed.

E) Make it production-ready

Review this code as if you’re shipping it:

• Accessibility improvements

• Responsive fixes

• Remove duplication

• Consistent naming
  Keep the same visual output.

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Common mistakes

Mistake 1: “Convert this to code” with no constraints

Problem: output becomes messy, inconsistent, hard to edit.
Fix: specify file separation, responsiveness, semantic HTML, and a style system.

Mistake 2: Using a blurry screenshot

Problem: wrong font sizes, spacing, and hierarchy.
Fix: export at 2x, use a clearer image, crop to one section.

Mistake 3: Asking for the whole page at once

Problem: inconsistent styles, missed details.
Fix: build section-by-section with a shared CSS baseline.

Mistake 4: Not telling Kimi what to do about icons/images

Problem: broken layout or missing blocks.
Fix: request placeholders (simple SVG circles, image blocks, etc.).

Mistake 5: Overusing absolute positioning

Problem: layout breaks on mobile.
Fix: ask for Flexbox/Grid first; avoid absolute positioning unless necessary.

Mistake 6: No responsive pass

Problem: mobile view is unusable.
Fix: explicitly request breakpoints and stacked layout under 768px.

Mistake 7: Forgetting accessibility

Problem: buttons hard to use with keyboard, no focus styles.
Fix: add focus states, aria labels, semantic tags.

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Troubleshooting guide

Issue: spacing feels “tight” and uncomfortable

Ask:

Increase overall section padding and use an 8px spacing system. Add more whitespace around cards and buttons.

Issue: typography looks wrong

Ask:

Increase H1 size and reduce letter spacing slightly. Make body text 16–18px with comfortable line-height.

Issue: buttons don’t match design

Ask:

Make buttons taller with more padding, consistent height, and pill radius. Match primary/secondary styles (filled vs outlined).

Issue: cards look heavy

Ask:

Lighten card borders, increase padding, slightly increase border radius, reduce shadow or remove it.

Issue: alignment is off

Ask:

Align the left content and right card stack to the same top baseline. Use consistent vertical spacing between cards.

Issue: mobile horizontal scroll appears

Ask:

Fix overflow: ensure container has max-width, add proper padding, and prevent elements from exceeding viewport width.

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How to verify quality before you publish

Here’s a simple “ship checklist” you can use every time.

Layout & style

• Headline hierarchy matches the design

• Buttons match shape/size/spacing

• Cards have consistent padding and spacing

• No weird misalignment between columns

Responsiveness

• Under 768px, columns stack properly

• No horizontal scroll

• Buttons are easy to tap (full width if needed)

• Text remains readable

Accessibility

• Buttons are real <button> or <a> elements

• Visible focus styles exist

• Images have alt text placeholders

• Proper heading structure is used

Maintainability

• CSS variables are used for shared tokens

• No duplicated styles everywhere

• Class naming is consistent

• JS is minimal and only used when needed

If you do just one thing: run a “cleanup pass” after layout and responsiveness. That’s what turns drafts into production code.

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FAQs

What is “design to code” with Kimi?

It’s using Kimi to convert screenshots or design images into working code usually HTML/CSS/JS then refining the result until it matches your intended UI.

Can I convert Figma designs into code?

Yes. Export the design as a high-resolution image (2x), and provide font/color guidance if you want better accuracy.

Will Kimi produce pixel-perfect output?

Sometimes it gets very close, but the best approach is: draft first, refine with targeted change requests. Pixel-perfect usually takes at least one refinement pass.

Should I use plain HTML/CSS or a framework?

Plain HTML/CSS is easiest to deploy anywhere. Frameworks like Tailwind can speed up iteration if your project already uses them. Choose based on your stack.

Can Kimi generate JavaScript too?

Yes-especially for common UI interactions like accordions, menus, tabs, and modals. Keep JS minimal and add it after layout is correct.

How do I stop it from making messy code?

Ask for:

• Separate files

• Semantic HTML

• CSS variables

• Consistent class naming

• A cleanup/refactor pass

What’s the fastest way to improve output quality?

Ask for a “mismatch list” after the first draft and apply fixes one pass at a time. It prevents random tweaking.

Can I use a screenshot from another website as a reference?

You can use it as layout inspiration, but avoid copying brand assets and rewrite text in your own words.

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Final takeaway

Design-to-code with Kimi works best when you treat it like a real build process:

• Draft the layout

• Refine with targeted notes

• Make it responsive

• Add minimal interactions

• Clean up for production

That workflow is how you get results that look professional and stay easy to maintain.