# Hallmark Verbs Explained: The 4 Commands for AI-Powered Design > Discover the four Hallmark verbs: default, audit, redesign, and study. Master AI-powered web design generation, evaluation, rebuilding, and analysis with this powerful CLI tool. - Repository: [Hassan El Mghari/hallmark](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark) - Tags: deep-dive - Published: 2026-08-07 --- **Hallmark provides four verbs—default, audit, redesign, and study—that let you generate, evaluate, rebuild, and analyze web designs from the command line.** This guide breaks down each **Hallmark verb** based on the official source code in `Nutlope/hallmark`. Whether you're building from scratch or dissecting an existing interface, understanding these four commands unlocks the full power of Hallmark's AI design workflow. --- ## The Four Hallmark Verbs Hallmark's CLI surface consists of **one implicit default behavior and three explicit verbs**. According to [`skills/hallmark/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/SKILL.md) (line 21), this structure keeps the tool simple while covering the complete design lifecycle: creation, critique, revision, and research. ### 1. Default (No Verb) — Generate from Scratch When you run Hallmark without a verb, it executes the **Design flow**—the built-in generation pipeline that creates new designs from a text brief. This is the entry point for most users. The system parses your intent, constructs information architecture, and produces a working visual structure with routes, components, and content. ```bash # Default behavior — build a fresh design from a brief hallmark "Design a SaaS landing page for a fintech startup" ``` The default verb is **implicit**; no subcommand is required. The implementation lives in the core SKILL.md under "Design flow (default)." --- ### 2. Audit — Score Against Anti-Patterns The **`audit`** verb performs **read-only analysis** on an existing file or page. It evaluates code or design against Hallmark's anti-pattern list, then returns a **ranked punch-list** with severity scores. According to [`skills/hallmark/references/verbs/audit.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/verbs/audit.md), this verb is strictly observational—it never writes changes. Use it for code reviews, design QA, or pre-launch verification. ```bash # Evaluate a page for design debt and anti-patterns hallmark audit ./src/pages/hero.tsx ``` Key characteristics from the source: - Reads the target file without modification - Scores violations by severity - Generates a ranked remediation list - Performs stamp verification for traceability --- ### 3. Redesign — Rebuild Visual Structure The **`redesign`** verb performs a **controlled overhaul** of existing content. It preserves routes, copy intent, brand voice, and information architecture—unless the user explicitly authorizes a full rebuild. The specification in [`skills/hallmark/references/verbs/redesign.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/verbs/redesign.md) defines scope detection (single-page vs. multi-page) and mood modification through flags like `--mood`. ```bash # Overhaul visuals while keeping structure intact hallmark redesign ./src/pages/about.tsx --mood luxurious ``` Redesign is **destructive to visuals but conservative to structure**—ideal for brand refreshes, accessibility fixes, or visual upgrades without rewriting content. --- ### 4. Study — Extract Design DNA The **`study`** verb **reverse-engineers design systems** from screenshots or live URLs. It extracts macrostructure, typography roles, color anchors, and compositional patterns, then produces a diagnosis report. Per [`skills/hallmark/references/study.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/study.md), this verb supports two input modes: - **URL mode**: Fetches and analyzes a public webpage - **Image mode**: Processes a local screenshot Optional: emits a portable **[`design.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/design.md)** for later reuse. ```bash # Extract DNA from a live site hallmark study https://example.com/portfolio # Or analyze a local screenshot hallmark study ./screenshots/inspiration.png ``` Study is the research companion to the default generation flow—use it to build a reference library before creating original work. --- ## Quick Reference: Hallmark Verb Comparison | Verb | Input | Output | Writes files? | Primary use case | |------|-------|--------|-------------|----------------| | *(default)* | Text brief | New design | Yes | Greenfield projects | | `audit` | File or page | Punch-list | **No** | Quality assurance | | `redesign` | Existing files | Rebuilt visuals | Yes | Visual refresh | | `study` | URL or image | Diagnosis report | Optional | Competitive analysis | --- ## Key Source Files Hallmark's verb system is fully documented in the repository's skill definition layer: - **[`skills/hallmark/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/SKILL.md)** — Central definition declaring the default behavior plus three explicit verbs - **[`skills/hallmark/references/verbs/audit.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/verbs/audit.md)** — Protocol for read-only analysis with severity grading - **[`skills/hallmark/references/verbs/redesign.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/verbs/redesign.md)** — Specification for controlled visual overhaul - **[`skills/hallmark/references/study.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/references/study.md)** — DNA extraction workflow for URLs and images These markdown files constitute the complete **Hallmark verb** surface and are parsed by the CLI at runtime. --- ## Summary - **Default (no verb)**: Generates new designs from text prompts using the built-in Design flow - **`audit`**: Read-only scoring against anti-patterns; outputs ranked remediation list - **`redesign`**: Visual rebuild with structural preservation; supports mood and scope flags - **`study`**: Extracts design DNA from URLs or screenshots; optionally outputs [`design.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/design.md) Mastering these four verbs lets you move seamlessly through the full design lifecycle in Hallmark. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I run Hallmark without a verb? Omit any subcommand and provide a text brief directly. Hallmark interprets this as the default Design flow and generates a fresh design from scratch. ### Is the audit verb safe to run on production code? Yes. According to [`audit.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/audit.md), the verb is **read-only** by design—it analyzes and reports without modifying any files. ### Can redesign change my page routes or content? Only if you explicitly authorize it. The `redesign` verb preserves routes, copy intent, and information architecture by default; use flags or prompts to override this behavior. ### What format does the study verb output? By default, a diagnosis report. Optionally, **`study`** can emit a portable [`design.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/design.md) containing the extracted design DNA for reuse in other Hallmark workflows.