Tangent
Hand-picked design references, UI patterns and the people behind them, each with why it fits.
Connect it
Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector
URL: https://tangent.directory/api/mcpSettings → Apps & Connectors → Advanced → Developer mode
Create connector with URL: https://tangent.directory/api/mcp{
"mcpServers": {
"tangent": {
"url": "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
}
}
}claude mcp add --transport http tangent https://tangent.directory/api/mcp{
"servers": {
"tangent": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
}
}
}10 tools, verified live
find_inspirationread-onlyTurns a design brief into a short list of references (default 8, at most 10), each with `why` it fits: the pattern, style, category, technology or platform it shares with the brief, or how search matched it (e.g. "similar meaning"). It reads the brief against Tangent's taxonomy and synonyms and combines that with search; no AI calls. Use it when someone describes a screen or product they are about
search_resourcesread-onlyRanked search over Tangent's catalogue of design and design-engineering resources (sites, products, component libraries, tools, articles). Use it when you know roughly what you want; narrow with vertical, category, technology, type, pricing or open_source, and page with cursor. For a whole brief, use find_inspiration. Example: {"query": "command menu", "technology": "react", "limit": 5}
browse_verticalread-onlyThe newest resources in one section: inspiration, components, motion, build, visuals, tools or learn. Use it to browse without a query, with the same filters as search_resources and cursor paging. Example: {"vertical": "components", "technology": "react", "limit": 20}
get_resourceread-onlyEverything Tangent knows about one resource: descriptions, taxonomy, editorial notes, the people behind it, and its related resources (tangents) with reasons. Use it to go deeper on a search pick. Set include_image to also get a small screenshot. Example: {"slug": "linear"}
related_resourcesread-onlyResources related to one resource, each with the reason (e.g. "shares Command Menu", "same maker"). Use it to follow tangents from a site you like. Example: {"slug": "stripe"}
list_patternsread-onlyEvery UI and interaction pattern resources are filed under (Command Menu, Onboarding, Empty State and more), with example counts. Use it to pick a slug for get_pattern. Example: {}
get_patternread-onlyOne UI pattern: its definition, its best examples, related patterns and the technologies the examples use. Use it before designing that pattern. Example: {"slug": "empty-state", "limit": 8}
search_peopleread-onlyFind designers and design engineers by name, role, focus or stack, ranked, with optional technology and role filters. Example: {"query": "motion", "role": "design engineer"}
list_peopleread-onlyDesigners and design engineers in the catalogue, featured first, then by name, with optional technology and role filters and cursor paging. Use search_people to find someone by name or focus. Example: {"role": "design engineer", "technology": "nextjs", "limit": 20}
get_personread-onlyOne person's profile: role, bio, website, social links, studios, what their site is built with (confirmed technologies) and their work on Tangent. Set include_image to also get a small preview of their site. Example: {"slug": "emil-kowalski"}
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