---
phase: 05-image-handling
plan: 02
subsystem: ui
tags: [image-placeholder, card-layout, tailwind, aspect-ratio]

# Dependency graph
requires:
  - phase: 05-image-handling
    provides: Working image persistence and hero area component from plan 01
provides:
  - Always-visible 4:3 image area on all gear cards with category emoji placeholders
  - Consistent card heights across grid layouts
affects: [06-category-icons]

# Tech tracking
tech-stack:
  added: []
  patterns: [category-emoji-placeholder, always-visible-image-area]

key-files:
  created: []
  modified:
    - src/client/components/ItemCard.tsx
    - src/client/components/CandidateCard.tsx

key-decisions:
  - "Setup detail page only uses ItemCard grid (no separate list view), so no thumbnail component needed"
  - "Category emoji as placeholder provides visual context without requiring default images"

patterns-established:
  - "Always-visible image area: 4:3 aspect ratio container with conditional image or emoji placeholder"

requirements-completed: [IMG-02]

# Metrics
duration: 1min
completed: 2026-03-15
---

# Phase 5 Plan 2: Image Placeholders & Thumbnails Summary

**Always-visible 4:3 image area on ItemCard and CandidateCard with category emoji placeholders for consistent grid layouts**

## Performance

- **Duration:** 1 min
- **Started:** 2026-03-15T16:13:39Z
- **Completed:** 2026-03-15T16:14:40Z
- **Tasks:** 2
- **Files modified:** 2

## Accomplishments
- Replaced conditional image rendering with always-present 4:3 aspect ratio area on both ItemCard and CandidateCard
- Cards without images now show category emoji centered on gray background, providing visual context
- Verified setup detail page uses ItemCard grid (no separate list view), so card placeholders serve both contexts

## Task Commits

Each task was committed atomically:

1. **Task 1: Add always-visible 4:3 image area with placeholders to ItemCard and CandidateCard** - `acf34c3` (feat)
2. **Task 2: Add small thumbnails to setup item lists** - No commit needed (setup page only uses ItemCard grid, already updated in Task 1)

## Files Created/Modified
- `src/client/components/ItemCard.tsx` - Always-visible 4:3 image area with emoji placeholder fallback
- `src/client/components/CandidateCard.tsx` - Same treatment as ItemCard for consistent behavior

## Decisions Made
- Setup detail page only uses ItemCard in a grid layout (no separate list view exists), so no additional thumbnail component was needed
- Category emoji serves as an effective placeholder, providing category context without requiring default images

## Deviations from Plan

None - plan executed exactly as written. The plan anticipated the possibility that the setup page only uses ItemCard grid and specified to verify and note in summary.

## Issues Encountered
None.

## User Setup Required
None - no external service configuration required.

## Next Phase Readiness
- All image display components complete (upload, hero area, card placeholders)
- Phase 5 image handling fully complete
- Ready for Phase 6 category icon system

---
*Phase: 05-image-handling*
*Completed: 2026-03-15*