Curio — design style library

What Curio — design style library MCP server does

Curio — design style library MCP server gives AI agents access to a catalog of design styles represented as machine-readable specifications. The library includes design movements, brands, and cultural traditions, with styles intended for use in slides, websites, and products.

Agents can discover styles by keyword or facets, browse the catalog, inspect metadata and preview images, and retrieve a style’s full DESIGN.md specification when access is available. This makes the service useful for workflows where an agent needs to select a visual direction before applying it to an existing design task.

How it works

The service is available through a streamable HTTP MCP endpoint at https://mcp.designbycurio.com/mcp. Authentication uses OAuth sign-in rather than an API key. After connecting, an agent can search or browse without spending credits.

A style’s full specification is available after it has been unlocked. Calling get_style_spec for a locked style does not purchase it; instead, the response reports the unlock cost and the current balance. unlock_style is the operation intended to purchase access, and it returns the specification after unlocking. Each style costs one credit once, and credits do not expire. Unlocking a style that is already owned costs nothing.

Setup and configuration

Configure the MCP endpoint in a compatible client and complete the OAuth sign-in flow. Claude Code can be configured with claude mcp add --transport http curio https://mcp.designbycurio.com/mcp, while Codex supports codex mcp add curio --url https://mcp.designbycurio.com/mcp. Cursor can use the same URL in its MCP configuration.

Gemini CLI provides an extension installation command using the repository URL. Claude.ai or Claude Desktop can add the endpoint as a custom connector. The README also documents setup for Kimi Code CLI and ChatGPT through their connector or developer-mode settings.

No server environment variables or API keys are required in the documented setup. OAuth is used for account access, including credit and unlock state.

Tools and capabilities

• search_styles: searches the catalog with keywords and facet filters.
• list_styles: lists styles with pagination and optional facet filtering.
• get_style: returns metadata and a preview image for one style.
• get_style_spec: reads the full DESIGN.md for an unlocked style, or reports the price and balance for a locked style.
• unlock_style: unlocks a style permanently for the account and returns its specification after confirmation by the user or agent workflow.
• get_balance: reports the available credit balance and the number of unlocked styles.

Together, these tools support a discovery-first workflow: find candidates, inspect them, check account state, and unlock only the selected style.

Limitations and notes

The full specification is credit-gated. Search, browsing, metadata, preview images, and balance checks are free, but unlocking a new style consumes one credit. The agent does not spend credits through get_style_spec; an unlock operation is separate and is intended to happen only after the user agrees.

This service supplies design-style references and specifications. The provided material does not describe tools for editing files, rendering designs, or applying a style directly to an external design application, so those actions must be handled by the connected agent or other tools.