English Français العربية

Ensemble

Official registry Media and design

AI-ready design toolkit: color palettes, typography, spacing, shadows and accessibility audits.

Source code Website Documentation

Install

Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).

NPM package @hearthbyte/ensemble-mcp
Claude Code 
claude mcp add ensemble -e 'ENSEMBLE_API_KEY=<your ensemble_api_key>' -- npx -y @hearthbyte/ensemble-mcp@1.0.0
JSON configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code) 
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "ensemble": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@hearthbyte/ensemble-mcp@1.0.0"
            ],
            "env": {
                "ENSEMBLE_API_KEY": "<your ensemble_api_key>"
            }
        }
    }
}

Environment variables

  • ENSEMBLE_API_KEY secret Ensemble Pro API key (hearthbyte.dev/ensemble/pricing). Without it only the free a11y_validate tool works.

Documentation

From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.

Contents
  1. 🎨 Ensemble MCP
  2. What is this?
  3. Quick Start
  4. Example Prompts
  5. API Key
  6. Design Philosophy
  7. Links

🎨 Ensemble MCP

Give your AI agent design taste.

Website · Documentation · Get API Key

What is this?

Ensemble MCP is a Model Context Protocol server that gives AI agents access to professional design tools. Generate color palettes, pair typography, create shadow systems, and export complete design tokens - all through natural conversation.

10 tools. One API. Infinite possibilities.

ToolWhat it doesIts main argument
harmony_generate_paletteA full color system from one brand colorcolor_scheme
duet_pair_fontsHeading, body and mono fonts with a type scaletype_style
tempo_generate_scaleA spacing system tuned to the typedensity
chord_generate_shadowsElevation shadows tinted by the paletteshadow_intensity
cadence_generate_gridResponsive grid: breakpoints, columns, guttersdensity
riff_generate_motionDurations, easing curves and transition presetsanimation_style
bridge_generate_themeA complete dark mode from the light systemcolor
pitch_audit_contrastWhich palette pairs pass WCAG, and what to fixcolor
compose_exportThe whole system as CSS, JSON, Tailwind or SCSSformats
a11y_validateCheck one color pair for accessibility (FREE, no key needed)foreground, background

Every builder takes a brand color and an optional preferences object, so tools called separately agree with each other. Results are deterministic: the same color and preferences always give the same system.

------|--------------| | harmony_generate_palette | Generate harmonious color palettes from a single color | | duet_pair_fonts | Pair heading and body fonts that complement each other | | tempo_generate_scale | Create type scales and spacing systems | | chord_generate_shadows | Generate 5-level shadow elevation systems | | bridge_generate_theme | Auto-generate dark mode from light theme colors | | cadence_set_grid | Configure CSS Grid layouts with presets | | pitch_create_gradient | Create linear, radial, and conic gradients | | riff_set_easing | Set cubic-bezier easing curves | | compose_export | Export complete design system (CSS, Tailwind, SCSS, JSON) | | a11y_validate | Check color contrast accessibility (FREE, no key needed) |

Quick Start

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ensemble": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@hearthbyte/ensemble-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "ENSEMBLE_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}
Cursor / Cline
{
  "ensemble": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["-y", "@hearthbyte/ensemble-mcp"],
    "env": {
      "ENSEMBLE_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
    }
  }
}
Manual Installation
npm install -g @hearthbyte/ensemble-mcp
ensemble-mcp

Example Prompts

Once installed, try these with your AI:

"Generate a triadic color palette from #6366F1"

"Give me a classical font pairing and an airy spacing system to go with it"

"Check if #FFFFFF text on #6366F1 background is accessible"

"Build a design system from #0F766E with dramatic shadows and export it as Tailwind config"

"Audit the contrast of the palette you just made and tell me what fails"

API Key

The builders call the Ensemble API, which needs a Pro key ($4.99/month, or $39/year).

Free tool: a11y_validate - accessibility validation with no API key required.

Get your API key →

Design Philosophy

Ensemble tools are built on these principles:

  1. One color in, design system out - Start with a single value, get a complete system
  2. Cross-tool sync - Colors flow to typography, typography informs spacing
  3. Export everywhere - CSS, Tailwind, SCSS, JSON
  4. Accessibility first - WCAG 2.1 + APCA checking built in

Built with 🧡 by HearthByte

Your work. Your choice. Always.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ensemble?

AI-ready design toolkit: color palettes, typography, spacing, shadows and accessibility audits.

How do I install Ensemble?

It runs on your machine. In Claude Code: claude mcp add ensemble -e 'ENSEMBLE_API_KEY=<your ensemble_api_key>' -- npx -y @hearthbyte/ensemble-mcp@1.0.0. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.

Does Ensemble need an API key?

Yes. It expects ENSEMBLE_API_KEY, which you set in its configuration.

Is Ensemble open source?

Yes. Its code is on GitHub under the MIT license.

Who maintains Ensemble?

It is published by MPfeifer33. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.

From the official MCP Registry. Listing is not an endorsement: review a server's code and permissions before giving it access to your data.