Design Principles

The guiding philosophy behind Stoneware's visual language.

1. Form & function

• Every element earns its place.
• Remove visual noise.
• Let content breathe.

2. Don't overuse space.

See button example below. The first button is just as usable, noticeable, and functional as the second.

3. Don't overuse color.

Primary actions use near-black (#18181b), not bright colors. Color is for semantics.

4. If you need a shadow

Please don't use these, but if you need them they are light and create depth without distraction.

5. Small smooth transitions

0.15s-0.3s eases for interactions.

Speed	Duration	Use Case
Fast	0.15s	Hover states, button presses
Normal	0.2s	Focus states, small reveals
Slow	0.3s	Panel slides, modal fades

6. Consistent Spacing

4px base unit.

7. Semantic Color Usage

Colors communicate information. Use sparingly but consistently.