Agent Prompts - Meta-Prompt Templates for HCD-Agile AI

Overview

This directory contains meta-prompt templates designed to be pasted into AI agents as custom instructions or system prompts before starting your Human-Centered Design (HCD) analysis or Agile workflow.

How It Works

The meta-framework follows three pillars:

1. Preparation: Design guiding Markdown templates (Setup)
2. Instantiation: Apply templates to specific use cases
3. Iteration: Refine based on feedback and learnings

See the HCD-Agile-Bootstrap ReadMe for detailed usage instructions and examples.

Key Principles

• User-Centered: AI assists but never replaces talking to real users
• Iterative: Use AI to enable rapid cycles of learning and improvement
• Context-Aware: Ground AI suggestions in your research and constraints
• Practical: Focus on actionable guidance that fits in sprint timeboxes
• Balanced: Combine AI efficiency with human creativity and empathy

What's Inside

The knowledge-base directory contains:

• Agent.MD Templates: Ready-to-use templates for creating project-specific AI agent instructions
• Phase-Specific Guides: Detailed guidance for each of the 5 HCDAgile phases:
  • Discovery: Research and understand the problem space
  • Define: Synthesize insights and define clear problem statements
  • Design: Ideate, prototype, and test solutions
  • Develop: Build and refine the solution iteratively
  • Deliver: Launch, monitor, and iterate based on feedback
• Examples: Real-world examples showing how to use the templates
• Complete Index: Catalog of all available resources

Quick Start

1. Explore the Knowledge-Base: Start with the knowledge-base ReadMe
2. Choose Your Phase: Select the appropriate phase guide from phases directory
3. Use the Template: Customize the TEMPLATE.md for your project
4. Share with AI: Provide your Agent.MD file to AI agents working on your project

Use Cases

These Agent.MD files help AI agents:

• Understand project context and constraints
• Follow appropriate methodology for each phase
• Maintain focus on user needs
• Apply best practices consistently
• Collaborate effectively with human team members
• Make informed decisions aligned with project goals

Agent Templates

This repository provides meta-prompt templates for configuring AI agents to assist with Human-Centered Design (HCD) workflows within Agile methodologies. These are not conversation starters, but rather comprehensive instruction sets to paste into your AI before beginning your work.

Quick Start

1. Choose Your AI Platform

Select the template for your AI:

• 📘 OpenAI (ChatGPT/GPT-4) - Best for conversational AI, code interpreter, and custom GPTs
• 📗 Anthropic Claude - Best for extended context and detailed analysis
• 📙 Google Gemini - Best for multimodal AI and Google Workspace integration
• 📕 GitHub Copilot - Best for code-centric workflows and IDE integration
• 📔 xAI Grok - Best for real-time information and direct communication

2. Load the Meta-Prompt

Before starting your HCD-Agile work, paste the entire template into your AI agent:

• Conversational AI: Paste into Custom Instructions or at the start of a new conversation
• GitHub Copilot: Add to .github/copilot-instructions.md in your repository

3. Begin Your Work

Once loaded, start working on your specific HCD phase. The AI will provide guidance tailored to:

• Your platform's capabilities
• HCD best practices
• Agile sprint constraints
• Your current phase

📚 Read the full usage guide for detailed instructions.

The HCD-Agile Process

All templates support five phases:

1. 🔍 Discovery - Understand users and their needs
2. 📋 Define - Synthesize insights and define problems
3. 💡 Ideate - Generate diverse solution ideas
4. 🛠️ Prototype - Create testable representations
5. ✅ Test - Validate solutions with users

Each phase includes AI-assisted activities that fit within Agile sprints.

What Are Meta-Prompts?

These are not conversation starters. Instead, they are comprehensive instruction sets that configure your AI agent to:

• Understand HCD-Agile methodology
• Provide platform-optimized guidance
• Structure responses around the 5 HCD phases
• Integrate with Agile sprint practices

How to Use These Templates

Step 1: Choose Your AI Platform

Select the template that matches your AI tool:

• openai.md - For ChatGPT, GPT-4, OpenAI API
• claude.md - For Claude, Claude API, Anthropic
• gemini.md - For Gemini, Google AI Studio
• copilot.md - For GitHub Copilot
• grok.md - For xAI Grok

Step 2: Paste as Meta-Prompt

Before starting your HCD-Agile work, paste the entire contents of the chosen template into your AI agent using one of these methods:

For Conversational AI (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok)

Option A: Custom Instructions / System Prompt

1. Go to your AI's settings or configuration
2. Find "Custom Instructions" or "System Prompt" section
3. Paste the entire template content
4. Save and start a new conversation

Option B: Start of Conversation

1. Start a new conversation
2. Paste the entire template as your first message
3. Add: "Use these instructions for our session. Acknowledge that you understand."
4. Wait for confirmation, then begin your HCD-Agile work

For GitHub Copilot

1. Create a .github/copilot-instructions.md file in your repository
2. Paste the copilot.md template content
3. Copilot will use these instructions for that repository

Step 3: Begin Your HCD-Agile Work

Once the meta-prompt is loaded, start working on your specific HCD phase:

I'm starting the Discovery phase for [your project].
Help me plan user research for [target users].

The AI will now respond with guidance tailored to:

• Your specific platform's capabilities
• HCD best practices
• Agile sprint constraints
• The current phase of your work

Template Structure

Each template includes:

1. Platform Overview

• Model selection guidance
• Platform-specific strengths
• Best use cases

2. HCD Phase Guidance

Detailed prompt patterns for:

• 🔍 Discovery - User research and data collection
• 📋 Define - Insight synthesis and problem definition
• 💡 Ideate - Solution brainstorming and exploration
• 🛠️ Prototype - Rapid prototype planning
• ✅ Test - User testing and validation

3. Agile Integration

• Sprint planning assistance
• Daily standup support
• Retrospective facilitation
• Backlog refinement

4. Platform-Specific Features

• Custom capabilities (e.g., Code Interpreter, Projects, Multimodal)
• Integration patterns
• Optimization tips

5. Best Practices

• Tips for optimal results
• Common pitfalls to avoid
• Resource links

Main Index

For a comprehensive overview of all platforms and the HCD-Agile process, see GUIDES.md.

Example Usage Flow

Example: Starting Discovery Phase with Claude

1. Load Meta-Prompt: Paste claude.md into Claude's Project Knowledge or start of conversation

2. Begin Discovery:

I'm conducting user research for a mobile app that helps freelancers 
manage their finances. Target users are solo entrepreneurs.

Help me plan research activities for a 2-week sprint.

1. AI Responds: Claude will use the HCD-Discovery prompts from the template to guide you through research planning

2. Continue Through Phases: Move through Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test with the same loaded meta-prompt

Customization

Feel free to customize these templates:

• Add project-specific context
• Include team constraints
• Add your organization's HCD practices
• Append technical requirements
• Include domain-specific terminology

Platform Comparison Quick Reference

Platform	Best For	Key Strength
OpenAI	General purpose, custom GPTs	Code Interpreter for data analysis
Claude	Large context, detailed analysis	200K token context, XML prompts
Gemini	Multimodal, Google integration	Text/image/video/audio understanding
Copilot	Code-centric, IDE workflow	Embedded in development tools
Grok	Real-time info, direct style	X/Twitter integration, current trends

Important Notes

⚠️ These are meta-prompts, not conversation content

• Load them once per session/project
• Don't paste them repeatedly in conversation
• They set the context for all subsequent interactions

✅ Best Practices

• Choose one template per AI session
• Customize for your specific project
• Combine with your actual project context
• Update as your project evolves

🔄 Session Management

• Re-load when starting new projects
• Refresh when switching HCD phases
• Update if platform capabilities change

Contributing

To improve these meta-prompt templates:

1. Test them with real HCD-Agile projects
2. Note what works well and what doesn't
3. Share refinements and edge cases
4. Submit improvements via pull requests

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Remember: These templates configure your AI agent to be an HCD-Agile expert. Load them once, then have natural conversations about your actual project work.