Affora: A Design System for Agent-Friendly Interfaces
Affora is a design system making interfaces legible to computer-use agents while preserving human workflows, with reusable components and executable checks.
Affora supports both human users and computer-use agents through a shared interface rather than a separate agent-only surface. Three controlled studies cover component implementations, visual variation, and interaction-design principles, producing guidance from individual components to complete sites with reusable implementations and executable checks. Evaluation on independently authored interfaces shows gains where agent-readability deficits exist, limited effects where they do not, and a workflow case gives preliminary evidence of reduced interaction cost.
- Agent performance depends on the interaction meaning available in the interface representation
- Substantial visual variation remains possible when interaction meaning is preserved
- Gains appear only where existing interfaces have agent-readability deficits
- Connects user experience and agent experience in one shared interface
Full article139 words · extracted from arxiv.org · click to collapse
Computer-use agents increasingly operate software designed for people, but interfaces often leave actions or task state unclear to machine readers. We present Affora, a design system that supports both readers while preserving visual freedom and familiar human workflows. Three controlled studies examine component implementations, visual variation, and interaction-design principles. Their findings inform guidance from individual components to complete sites, supported by reusable implementations and executable checks. Agent performance depends on the interaction meaning available through its interface representation; substantial visual variation remains possible when that meaning is preserved. Evaluation on independently authored interfaces shows gains where Affora addresses existing deficits, but limited effects where those deficits are absent or outside its coverage. A workflow case provides preliminary evidence of reduced interaction cost. Affora connects user experience and agent experience through a shared interface rather than a separate agent-only surface.
Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.19125