Direct answer
Better Design uses shadcn's registry and editable components, then adds design-system context, agent guidance, and review.
One workflow, three layers
| Layer | What it contributes | Source of truth |
|---|---|---|
| shadcn registry | Editable component source and distribution | Registry definitions and installed files |
| Better Design | Design-system context, agent guidance, and review rules | MCP guidance and the selected system |
| Repository | Production tokens, components, behavior, tests, and history | The code the team owns |
Start with shadcn components
- Keep the shadcn-compatible component source already in the repository.
- Preserve established tokens, variants, behavior, and accessibility decisions.
- Install only the registry components the product needs.
- Compose existing primitives before creating duplicate components.
Add Better Design guidance
- Select or create a coherent visual system for the agent to follow.
- Load relevant UI and UX principles before implementation.
- Give the agent retrievable rules for using the existing component source.
- Review rendered states for comprehension, interaction quality, and visual consistency.
Keep the source owned by the project
Better Design uses the shadcn registry format to install editable source into a project. The result remains local code that the developer and coding agent can inspect, change, and compose.
shadcn provides the registry and editable-component model. Better Design supplies design-system context and agent guidance around the source the team owns.
Questions
How does Better Design use shadcn/ui?
Better Design uses the shadcn registry format and editable-component model, then adds design-system context, agent guidance, and review rules.
Do Better Design components remain editable?
Yes. Registry components are installed as source code in the project, so the team can inspect and customize them.
Can a project keep its existing shadcn components?
Yes. For an established product, the safest path is to preserve existing components and tokens, then use Better Design guidance to extend the same system.