web-design

name	web-design
description	WHEN refining UI layout, typography, color, or polish; NOT code implementation; provides concise principles for intentional, legible design.

Web Design

Focus on clear hierarchy, generous spacing, and restrained styling to make interfaces feel intentional.

Visual Hierarchy & Focus

• Group related elements by proximity and aligned edges; avoid scattered, evenly-spaced elements that compete for attention.
• Add hierarchy with weight before color: font-weight: 600 and size changes beat random accent colors.
• Reduce noise: fewer borders; use spacing, background tints, or subtle dividers instead of heavy outlines.

Layout & Spacing

• Use a consistent scale (4px or 8px).
• Make vertical rhythm obvious: larger gaps between sections than between labels/inputs.
• Set max widths for readability (e.g. max-width: 1280px for pages, 68-70ch for text blocks).
• Pad clickable areas generously (12–16px vertical, 16–24px horizontal) so touch targets feel confident.

Typography

• Pick one font family; use weight/size/letter-spacing for contrast instead of juggling many fonts.
• Define a small scale of text styles (e.g., 32/40, 24/32, 18/28, 16/24, 14/20) and reuse them.
• Use letter-spacing for uppercase labels; use color to de-emphasize metadata instead of shrinking excessively.

.eyebrow {
  text-transform: uppercase;
  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
  font-size: 12px;
  color: #6c7280;
}

Color & Contrast

• Start with neutrals; let a single accent color carry primary actions. Avoid pure black/white—use softened grays for warmth.
• Build palettes by lightening/darkening the same hue; use low-saturation tints for surfaces and bolder shades for actions.
• Ensure contrast for text on tints; add a subtle border when a tinted panel touches a white background.
• Use color for meaning (success/info/warn/danger) plus an icon or text so color-blind users are covered.

Depth, Shape & Elevation

• Prefer soft, diffuse shadows for elevation; combine slight offset with low opacity blur. Avoid harsh, opaque drop shadows.
• Keep radii consistent (e.g., 8–12px across inputs, cards, modals). Match inner elements to the parent radius.
• Separate stacked surfaces with either a light border or a faint shadow but not both.

Components That Feel Designed

• Buttons: one clear primary, a low-emphasis secondary (ghost/text), and a destructive variant. Use consistent padding and radius.
• Forms: pair clear labels with inputs; avoid placeholder-as-label; show inline validation close to the field; use generous vertical spacing.
• Lists/tables: increase row height, soften alternating backgrounds, and highlight the primary cell with weight/color.
• Icons: keep stroke weight consistent; pair icons with labels unless the meaning is universal. Balance visual weight with padding.

States, Feedback & Empty Space

• Design hover, active, focus, loading, error, and success states. A primary button should have at least hover + active + disabled styles.
• Use skeletons or subtle shimmer for loading instead of spinners alone; provide friendly empty states with a short “what to do next.”
• Clarify errors with color, icon, and text; reserve red for errors and use calmer hues for neutral info.
• Give content room to breathe—whitespace is a design tool, not wasted space.

Compositional Polish

• Use consistent gaps, radii, shadows, and border colors across the entire UI to create harmony.
• Replace visual clutter (dividers, lines, boxes) with spacing and alignment; let one strong anchor (title or primary action) lead.
• When stacking elements on images, add a dark or light overlay to keep text legible.