AuroraBot-discord/tickets/2026-01-07-ux-enhancements-and-animations.md

2026-01-07-ux-enhancements-animations.md: UX Enhancements & Micro-Interactions

Status: Draft Created: 2026-01-07 Tags: ux, animation, interactivity, frontend

1. Context & User Story

• As a: User interacting with the dashboard
• I want to: See smooth transitions and immediate feedback when interacting with elements
• So that: The application feels responsive, "alive," and high-quality.

2. Technical Requirements

Data Model Changes

• N/A

API / Interface

• N/A

3. Constraints & Validations (CRITICAL)

• Performance: Animations must use transform and opacity properties to ensure 60fps performance without triggering expensive layout reflows.
• Accessibility: Respect prefers-reduced-motion media queries to disable animations for sensitive users.
• Subtlety: Animations should be fast and subtle (e.g., 150ms-300ms), not distracting.

4. Acceptance Criteria

1. Content fades in smoothly when the page loads.
2. Interactive elements (buttons, links, cards) have hover effects (scale, lift, or glow) that provide visual feedback.
3. A subtle, dynamic background effect (e.g., slow gradient mesh or blur) is implemented to remove the "flat" look.
4. Loading states (skeletons or spinners) are available for future dynamic content.

5. Implementation Plan

• Add keyframe animations for entry transitions (fade-in, slide-up) in style.css.
• Apply hover transitions to .card and navigation links.
• Implement a subtle background gradient using background-image or pseudo-elements.
• Add prefers-reduced-motion overrides.