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SFS/DESIGN_PRINCIPLES.md
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# UI Design Principles Documentation
## School For Schools Interface Design System
This document serves as a comprehensive reference guide for understanding and implementing the design principles, visual elements, and user experience patterns used throughout the School For Schools interface.
---
## Table of Contents
1. [Core Design Principles](#core-design-principles)
2. [Visual Design Elements](#visual-design-elements)
3. [Component Patterns](#component-patterns)
4. [User Experience Principles](#user-experience-principles)
5. [Implementation Examples](#implementation-examples)
6. [Design System Architecture](#design-system-architecture)
---
## Core Design Principles
### 1. Minimalism & Clarity
The interface prioritizes **clarity over decoration**. This philosophy manifests through:
- **Clean layouts** with generous white space
- **Focused content** that eliminates visual noise
- **Purposeful elements** where every component serves a clear function
- **Reduced cognitive load** through simplified navigation and information architecture
**Rationale**: Educational platforms require users to process complex information. Minimalist design reduces distractions and helps users focus on essential content.
### 2. Visual Hierarchy
Content is organized through **systematic visual weighting**:
- **Typography scale** creates clear information levels (headings, body, captions)
- **Color contrast** distinguishes primary actions from secondary elements
- **Spatial relationships** guide the eye through content flow
- **Size and weight** emphasize importance without overwhelming
**Implementation**: The design uses a consistent type scale (4xl-7xl for hero headings, base for body text) and strategic use of the brand orange (`#F48120`) for emphasis.
### 3. Consistency & Standards
**Unified design language** across all components:
- **Shared color palette** applied consistently
- **Standardized spacing** using Tailwind's spacing scale
- **Component patterns** reused throughout the interface
- **Interaction patterns** that users can predict and learn
**Rationale**: Consistency reduces learning curve and builds user confidence. Once users understand one section, they can navigate the entire platform intuitively.
### 4. Accessibility First
Design decisions prioritize **inclusive user experience**:
- **Semantic HTML** structure for screen readers
- **Color contrast ratios** that meet WCAG standards
- **Keyboard navigation** support throughout
- **Focus indicators** visible for keyboard users
- **ARIA labels** where appropriate
### 5. Progressive Enhancement
The interface is built with **graceful degradation**:
- **Core functionality** works without JavaScript
- **Enhanced interactions** layer on top of base functionality
- **Responsive design** adapts to all device sizes
- **Performance optimization** ensures fast load times
---
## Visual Design Elements
### Color Palette
The design system uses a **dual-tone color approach** with OKLCH color space for modern color management and perceptual uniformity.
#### Brand Colors
```css
--color-orange: #f48120 /* Primary accent, CTAs, hover states */
--color-dark-grey: #353535 /* Primary text, headings */
--color-black: #000000 /* Deep emphasis */
--color-hero-bg: #eaeaea /* Section backgrounds, cards */
```
**Usage Guidelines**:
- **Orange (`#F48120`)**: Used sparingly for primary actions, hover states, active navigation items, and key accents. Creates visual interest without overwhelming.
- **Dark Grey (`#353535`)**: Primary text color, headings, and important UI elements. Provides excellent readability.
- **Hero Background (`#EAEAEA`)**: Section backgrounds and card containers. Creates subtle separation without harsh contrast.
- **Black (`#000000`)**: Maximum emphasis, reserved for critical text and deep UI elements.
#### Semantic Color System
The system includes a comprehensive semantic color palette based on OKLCH:
**Light Mode**:
- `--background`: Pure white (`oklch(1 0 0)`)
- `--foreground`: Near-black (`oklch(0.145 0 0)`)
- `--primary`: Dark (`oklch(0.205 0 0)`)
- `--secondary`: Light grey (`oklch(0.97 0 0)`)
- `--muted`: Light grey (`oklch(0.97 0 0)`)
- `--accent`: Light grey (`oklch(0.97 0 0)`)
- `--border`: Light border (`oklch(0.922 0 0)`)
- `--destructive`: Red accent (`oklch(0.577 0.245 27.325)`)
**Dark Mode**:
- Complete color inversion while maintaining contrast ratios
- Perceptually uniform transitions between light and dark themes
- Consistent brand orange remains prominent
#### Color Usage Examples
```typescript
// Primary Action Button
className="bg-[#F48120] hover:bg-[#F48120]/90"
// Text Emphasis
className="text-[#353535]"
// Section Background
className="bg-[#EAEAEA]"
// Card Container
className="bg-white border border-gray-300"
```
### Typography
#### Font Family
**Primary Font**: `DIN Alternate`
```css
--font-sans: "DIN Alternate", "Geist", "Geist Fallback"
```
**Rationale**: DIN Alternate provides:
- **Professional authority** appropriate for educational technology
- **Excellent readability** at various sizes
- **Geometric clarity** that aligns with technical content
- **Modern aesthetic** without being overly decorative
**Fallback Chain**: Geist and system fallbacks ensure graceful degradation across platforms.
#### Type Scale
The typography system uses a **responsive scale** that adapts to screen size:
| Element | Mobile | Tablet | Desktop | Usage |
|---------|--------|--------|---------|-------|
| Hero Heading | `text-5xl` | `text-6xl` | `text-7xl` | Main page titles |
| Section Heading | `text-4xl` | `text-5xl` | `text-6xl` | Section titles |
| Card Title | `text-lg` | `text-xl` | `text-2xl` | Card headings |
| Body Text | `text-sm` | `text-base` | `text-base` | Paragraph content |
| Small Text | `text-xs` | `text-sm` | `text-sm` | Captions, meta |
**Implementation Example**:
```tsx
<h1 className="text-5xl md:text-6xl lg:text-7xl font-bold text-[#353535]">
Learning
</h1>
```
#### Font Weights
- **400 (Regular)**: Body text, descriptions
- **700 (Bold)**: Headings, emphasis, important information
**Usage Pattern**: Minimal weight variation maintains clarity while creating hierarchy through size and color.
#### Line Height
- **Tight** (`leading-tight`): Headings for compact, impactful display
- **Relaxed** (`leading-relaxed`): Body text for comfortable reading
- **Normal**: Default for UI elements
### Spacing & Layout System
#### Container System
The layout uses a **constrained width container system**:
```tsx
// Standard Container
<div className="max-w-7xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
// Wide Container (for hero sections)
<div className="max-w-[1200px] mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
// Extra Wide Container
<div className="max-w-[1400px] mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
```
**Rationale**:
- Prevents content from stretching too wide on large screens
- Maintains optimal reading line length
- Creates consistent margins across sections
#### Responsive Padding
Padding scales with screen size to optimize space usage:
- **Mobile**: `px-4` (1rem / 16px)
- **Tablet**: `sm:px-6` (1.5rem / 24px)
- **Desktop**: `lg:px-8` (2rem / 32px)
#### Vertical Spacing
Section spacing follows a consistent rhythm:
```tsx
// Standard Section
className="py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-24"
// Compact Section
className="py-8 md:py-16"
// Hero Section
className="py-16 md:py-24"
```
**Principle**: Vertical rhythm creates visual breathing room and clearly separates content sections.
#### Grid System
The interface uses **CSS Grid** for two-dimensional layouts and **Flexbox** for one-dimensional alignment:
```tsx
// Responsive Grid (Why SFS Section)
<div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
// Card Grid (Offerings)
<div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-8">
// Testimonial Grid
<div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
```
**Breakpoint Strategy**:
- **Mobile First**: Base styles target mobile, then enhance for larger screens
- **Breakpoints**: `sm:` (640px), `md:` (768px), `lg:` (1024px)
- **Gap Scaling**: Gap sizes increase with container size
### Visual Hierarchy Techniques
#### Size Hierarchy
1. **Primary**: Hero headings (7xl) - Most important content
2. **Secondary**: Section headings (4xl-6xl) - Section identification
3. **Tertiary**: Card titles (lg-xl) - Content grouping
4. **Body**: Paragraph text (base) - Content consumption
5. **Meta**: Captions, labels (xs-sm) - Supporting information
#### Color Hierarchy
- **High Contrast**: Brand orange on key interactive elements
- **Medium Contrast**: Dark grey for primary content
- **Low Contrast**: Muted colors for secondary information
#### Spatial Hierarchy
- **Grouping**: Related items grouped with consistent spacing
- **Separation**: Sections separated by background colors or significant spacing
- **Alignment**: Consistent alignment creates visual structure
#### Motion Hierarchy
Animations are **purposeful and restrained**:
- **Micro-interactions**: Hover states, transitions (300ms duration)
- **Content transitions**: Animated content changes (500-800ms)
- **Page transitions**: Smooth, non-distracting animations
---
## Component Patterns
### 1. Navigation Pattern
The navigation follows a **horizontal menu pattern** with mobile-first responsive behavior:
**Desktop**:
- Horizontal menu with equal spacing (`space-x-8`)
- Active state indicated by orange color
- Hover transitions for feedback
**Mobile**:
- Hamburger menu icon
- Collapsible drawer navigation
- Full-width touch targets
```12:48:components/navbar.tsx
{/* Desktop Navigation */}
<div className="hidden md:flex items-center space-x-8">
{navItems.map((item) => (
<Link
key={item.label}
href={item.href}
className={`text-sm font-medium transition-colors whitespace-nowrap ${item.isActive ? "text-[#F48120]" : "text-[#353535] hover:text-[#F48120]"
}`}
>
{item.label}
</Link>
))}
</div>
```
**Design Decisions**:
- **Fixed height** (`h-20`) maintains consistency across pages
- **Border separation** (`border-b border-gray-200`) subtly separates navigation from content
- **Transition animations** (`transition-colors`) provide smooth feedback
### 2. Hero Section Pattern
Hero sections use a **split-screen layout** with animated content:
**Characteristics**:
- Large, bold typography (5xl-7xl)
- Animated content rotation (4.5s intervals)
- SVG iconography with drawing animations
- Fixed-height containers to prevent layout shift
```100:130:components/main-hero.tsx
<section className="relative w-full bg-[#EAEAEA] py-8 md:py-16 overflow-hidden min-h-[600px] flex items-center justify-center">
<div className="w-full max-w-[1200px] mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
<div className="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2 gap-4 lg:gap-0 items-center">
{/* --- Left Column: Text --- */}
<div className="flex flex-col justify-center text-center lg:text-left z-10 lg:pl-12">
<h1 className="text-5xl md:text-6xl lg:text-7xl font-bold text-[#353535] leading-tight">
Learning
</h1>
{/* Fixed Height Text Container to prevent jumping */}
<div className="relative h-[220px]">
<AnimatePresence mode="wait">
<motion.div
key={currentContent.id}
initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 15 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0, y: -15 }}
transition={{ duration: 0.5, ease: "easeOut" }}
className="absolute inset-0 flex flex-col justify-start"
>
```
**Key Features**:
- **Fixed-height container** prevents content jumping during animations
- **Fade + slide transitions** create smooth content changes
- **Responsive grid** adapts from stacked (mobile) to side-by-side (desktop)
### 3. Feature Card Pattern
Feature cards use a **hover transformation pattern**:
```97:112:components/hero-section.tsx
<div
key={index}
className="group bg-[#E8E8E8] hover:bg-[#F48120] p-6 flex flex-col justify-start transition-colors duration-300 min-h-[220px]"
>
<div className="mb-6">
<div className="w-12 h-12 flex items-center justify-start">
<Icon className="w-10 h-10 text-[#353535] group-hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300" />
</div>
</div>
<h3 className="text-lg font-bold mb-4 leading-tight text-[#353535] group-hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300">
{feature.title}
</h3>
<p className="text-sm leading-relaxed text-[#353535]/80 group-hover:text-white/90 transition-colors duration-300">
{feature.description}
</p>
</div>
```
**Pattern Elements**:
- **Group hover**: Entire card responds to hover
- **Color transformation**: Background shifts from grey to orange
- **Text inversion**: Text changes to white for contrast
- **Smooth transitions**: 300ms duration for polished feel
- **Minimum height**: Ensures consistent card sizing
### 4. Offering Card Pattern
Larger offering cards use an **aspect-ratio square pattern**:
```33:63:components/our-offerings.tsx
<div
key={offering.id}
className="group relative bg-[#EAEAEA] hover:bg-[#353535] transition-colors duration-300 overflow-hidden aspect-square flex flex-col justify-center p-8 md:p-12"
>
{/* Icon */}
<div className="mb-6">
<offering.icon
size={48}
strokeWidth={1.5}
className="text-[#353535] group-hover:text-[#F48120] transition-colors duration-300"
/>
</div>
{/* Title */}
<h3 className="text-3xl font-bold text-[#353535] group-hover:text-white mb-4 transition-colors duration-300">
{offering.title}
</h3>
{/* Description */}
<p className="text-base text-[#353535] group-hover:text-white/90 mb-8 leading-relaxed transition-colors duration-300 max-w-sm">
{offering.description}
</p>
{/* Link */}
<Link
href={offering.href}
className="inline-block text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-wider text-[#353535] group-hover:text-[#F48120] transition-colors duration-300"
>
{offering.linkText}
</Link>
</div>
```
**Design Decisions**:
- **Square aspect ratio**: Creates visual balance and consistency
- **Centered content**: Uses flexbox to center content vertically
- **Icon → Title → Description → Link**: Clear information hierarchy
- **Dark hover state**: Inverts to dark background for dramatic effect
### 5. Testimonial Carousel Pattern
Testimonials use a **sliding window carousel** with navigation controls:
```104:201:components/testimonials.tsx
<section className="w-full bg-[#EAEAEA] py-16 px-4 md:py-24">
<div className="max-w-[1100px] mx-auto">
<h2 className="text-4xl md:text-5xl font-bold text-[#353535] text-center mb-16">
Testimonials
</h2>
<div className="relative flex items-center justify-center">
{/* Navigation Buttons */}
<button
onClick={handlePrev}
className="absolute left-0 lg:-left-16 z-10 p-3 rounded-full bg-[#353535] text-white hover:bg-[#F48120] transition-colors"
aria-label="Previous testimonial"
>
<ChevronLeft size={24} />
</button>
<button
onClick={handleNext}
className="absolute right-0 lg:-right-16 z-10 p-3 rounded-full bg-[#353535] text-white hover:bg-[#F48120] transition-colors"
aria-label="Next testimonial"
>
<ChevronRight size={24} />
</button>
{/* Carousel Viewport */}
<div className="w-full overflow-hidden">
<div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
<AnimatePresence mode="popLayout">
{visibleTestimonials.map((testimonial) => (
<motion.div
key={`${testimonial.id}-${startIndex}`}
initial={{ opacity: 0, x: 20 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1, x: 0 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0, x: -20 }}
transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
className="h-full"
>
{/*
Card Design:
- White background
- Padding around
- Inner border that changes color on hover
*/}
<div className="group bg-white p-4 h-full cursor-pointer transition-shadow hover:shadow-lg">
<div className="w-full h-full min-h-[480px] border border-gray-300 group-hover:border-[#F48120] transition-colors duration-300 p-6 md:p-8 flex flex-col items-center text-center">
```
**Pattern Features**:
- **External navigation**: Buttons positioned outside content area
- **Sliding animation**: Smooth fade + slide transitions
- **Border hover effect**: Border color changes on hover
- **Fixed card height**: Prevents layout shift during transitions
- **Touch-friendly**: Large hit targets for mobile users
### 6. Infinite Marquee Pattern
The "Trusted By" section uses a **seamless infinite scroll**:
```22:60:components/trusted-by.tsx
{/* Infinite Marquee Container */}
<div className="relative w-full flex overflow-hidden">
{/* We need two sets of logos for seamless looping */}
<motion.div
className="flex gap-12 items-center"
animate={{
x: ["0%", "-50%"],
}}
transition={{
x: {
repeat: Infinity,
repeatType: "loop",
duration: 20, // Adjust speed here
ease: "linear",
},
}}
style={{ width: "max-content" }}
>
{/* Set 1 */}
{SCHOOLS.map((school) => (
<div key={`a-${school.id}`} className="min-w-[280px] h-[160px] flex items-center justify-center">
<img
src="/images/partnerSchool.png"
alt="Partner School"
className="max-h-full w-auto object-contain"
/>
</div>
))}
{/* Set 2 (Duplicate) */}
{SCHOOLS.map((school) => (
<div key={`b-${school.id}`} className="min-w-[280px] h-[160px] flex items-center justify-center">
<img
src="/images/partnerSchool.png"
alt="Partner School"
className="max-h-full w-auto object-contain"
/>
</div>
))}
</motion.div>
</div>
```
**Implementation Strategy**:
- **Duplicate content**: Two identical sets of logos
- **50% translation**: Animation moves exactly one set width
- **Linear easing**: Creates seamless, continuous motion
- **Performance**: Uses GPU-accelerated transforms
### 7. Button Component Pattern
Buttons follow a **variant-based system** using class-variance-authority:
```7:37:components/ui/button.tsx
const buttonVariants = cva(
"inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-2 whitespace-nowrap rounded-md text-sm font-medium transition-all disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-50 [&_svg]:pointer-events-none [&_svg:not([class*='size-'])]:size-4 shrink-0 [&_svg]:shrink-0 outline-none focus-visible:border-ring focus-visible:ring-ring/50 focus-visible:ring-[3px] aria-invalid:ring-destructive/20 dark:aria-invalid:ring-destructive/40 aria-invalid:border-destructive",
{
variants: {
variant: {
default: 'bg-primary text-primary-foreground hover:bg-primary/90',
destructive:
'bg-destructive text-white hover:bg-destructive/90 focus-visible:ring-destructive/20 dark:focus-visible:ring-destructive/40 dark:bg-destructive/60',
outline:
'border bg-background shadow-xs hover:bg-accent hover:text-accent-foreground dark:bg-input/30 dark:border-input dark:hover:bg-input/50',
secondary:
'bg-secondary text-secondary-foreground hover:bg-secondary/80',
ghost:
'hover:bg-accent hover:text-accent-foreground dark:hover:bg-accent/50',
link: 'text-primary underline-offset-4 hover:underline',
},
size: {
default: 'h-9 px-4 py-2 has-[>svg]:px-3',
sm: 'h-8 rounded-md gap-1.5 px-3 has-[>svg]:px-2.5',
lg: 'h-10 rounded-md px-6 has-[>svg]:px-4',
icon: 'size-9',
'icon-sm': 'size-8',
'icon-lg': 'size-10',
},
},
defaultVariants: {
variant: 'default',
size: 'default',
},
},
)
```
**Design Principles**:
- **Accessibility**: Focus states, ARIA support, keyboard navigation
- **Consistency**: Standardized sizes and spacing
- **Flexibility**: Multiple variants for different contexts
- **Icon support**: Automatic spacing adjustments for icons
### 8. Card Component Pattern
Cards provide a **composable container system**:
```5:15:components/ui/card.tsx
function Card({ className, ...props }: React.ComponentProps<'div'>) {
return (
<div
data-slot="card"
className={cn(
'bg-card text-card-foreground flex flex-col gap-6 rounded-xl border py-6 shadow-sm',
className,
)}
{...props}
/>
)
}
```
**Composition Pattern**:
- **Card**: Base container
- **CardHeader**: Header section with title/description
- **CardTitle**: Heading within card
- **CardDescription**: Supporting text
- **CardContent**: Main content area
- **CardFooter**: Footer actions/info
**Usage**: Allows flexible composition while maintaining consistent styling.
---
## User Experience Principles
### Navigation Structure
#### Information Architecture
The site follows a **shallow navigation hierarchy**:
```
Home
├── About
├── ERP
├── Tech Lab Setup
├── Resources
└── Contact
```
**Rationale**: Flat structure reduces cognitive load and allows quick access to any section.
#### Navigation Patterns
1. **Primary Navigation**: Horizontal menu (desktop), hamburger (mobile)
2. **Section Navigation**: Anchor links for long pages
3. **Breadcrumbs**: Not implemented (shallow structure doesn't require them)
4. **Footer Navigation**: Quick links for common destinations
#### Mobile Navigation
- **Hamburger menu**: Collapses navigation to save screen space
- **Full-width items**: Touch-friendly targets
- **Smooth transitions**: Slide-in animation for drawer
- **Overlay behavior**: Menu overlays content when open
### Interaction Patterns
#### Hover States
**Consistent hover feedback** across all interactive elements:
- **Links**: Color change to brand orange (300ms transition)
- **Buttons**: Background opacity change (10% darker)
- **Cards**: Background color transformation + shadow
- **Icons**: Color change matching context
**Implementation**:
```tsx
// Link hover
className="text-[#353535] hover:text-[#F48120] transition-colors"
// Button hover
className="bg-[#353535] hover:bg-[#F48120] transition-colors"
// Card hover
className="group hover:bg-[#F48120] transition-colors duration-300"
```
#### Click Feedback
- **Visual feedback**: Immediate color change on click
- **Transition animations**: Smooth state changes
- **Loading states**: Spinners or disabled states for async actions
- **Success feedback**: Visual confirmation when actions complete
#### Animation Philosophy
**Principle**: Animations should feel **natural and purposeful**, not decorative.
**Guidelines**:
- **Duration**: 300ms for micro-interactions, 500-800ms for content transitions
- **Easing**: `ease-out` for most transitions (feels responsive)
- **Reduced motion**: Respects `prefers-reduced-motion` media query
- **Performance**: Uses GPU-accelerated properties (transform, opacity)
**Example Implementation**:
```tsx
// Smooth content transition
<motion.div
initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 15 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0, y: -15 }}
transition={{ duration: 0.5, ease: "easeOut" }}
>
```
### Accessibility Considerations
#### Semantic HTML
All components use **appropriate semantic elements**:
- `<nav>` for navigation
- `<main>` for main content
- `<section>` for content sections
- `<article>` for independent content blocks
- `<header>` and `<footer>` for page structure
#### ARIA Labels
Interactive elements include descriptive labels:
```tsx
<button
onClick={handlePrev}
aria-label="Previous testimonial"
>
```
#### Keyboard Navigation
- **Tab order**: Logical flow through interactive elements
- **Focus indicators**: Visible focus rings on all interactive elements
- **Skip links**: Allows bypassing navigation (when implemented)
- **Keyboard shortcuts**: Standard browser shortcuts work throughout
#### Color Contrast
All text meets **WCAG AA standards**:
- **Normal text**: Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio
- **Large text**: Minimum 3:1 contrast ratio
- **Interactive elements**: Clear visual distinction from non-interactive
#### Screen Reader Support
- **Alt text**: All images include descriptive alt attributes
- **Heading hierarchy**: Proper h1-h6 structure
- **Form labels**: Associated with form controls
- **Live regions**: Announce dynamic content changes
### Responsive Design Approach
#### Mobile-First Strategy
Design starts with **mobile constraints**, then enhances for larger screens:
1. **Base styles**: Target mobile (320px+)
2. **Tablet enhancements**: `md:` breakpoint (768px+)
3. **Desktop enhancements**: `lg:` breakpoint (1024px+)
#### Breakpoint System
| Breakpoint | Min Width | Usage |
|------------|-----------|-------|
| `sm:` | 640px | Small tablets |
| `md:` | 768px | Tablets, small desktops |
| `lg:` | 1024px | Desktop |
| `xl:` | 1280px | Large desktop (when needed) |
#### Responsive Patterns
**Typography Scaling**:
```tsx
className="text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-6xl"
```
**Layout Adaptation**:
```tsx
// Stacked on mobile, side-by-side on desktop
className="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2"
```
**Spacing Adjustment**:
```tsx
className="px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8 py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-24"
```
**Navigation Transformation**:
- Mobile: Hamburger menu
- Desktop: Horizontal navigation bar
#### Touch Targets
- **Minimum size**: 44x44px for touch targets (iOS/Android guidelines)
- **Spacing**: Adequate space between interactive elements
- **Gestures**: Support standard swipe and pinch gestures
### Content Strategy
#### Progressive Disclosure
Complex information is **revealed progressively**:
- **Hero sections**: High-level value proposition
- **Feature sections**: Detailed benefits
- **Testimonials**: Social proof
- **Contact**: Call-to-action
#### Content Hierarchy
1. **Headline**: Captures attention (hero heading)
2. **Subheadline**: Provides context (section description)
3. **Body**: Detailed information (feature cards, descriptions)
4. **Actions**: Clear next steps (CTA buttons, links)
#### Reading Patterns
Layout respects **common reading patterns**:
- **F-pattern**: Top-heavy content placement
- **Z-pattern**: For pages with strong CTAs
- **Visual flow**: Eye follows natural progression
---
## Implementation Examples
### Color System Implementation
The color system uses **CSS custom properties** for theme support:
```css
:root {
--color-orange: #f48120;
--color-dark-grey: #353535;
--color-hero-bg: #eaeaea;
}
.dark {
/* Dark mode color overrides */
}
```
**Usage in Components**:
```tsx
// Direct color usage
className="bg-[#F48120] text-[#353535]"
// CSS variable usage (when implemented)
className="bg-[var(--color-orange)]"
```
### Typography Implementation
Font family is set globally in the root layout:
```20:20:app/layout.tsx
<body className="font-sans antialiased" style={{ fontFamily: "DIN Alternate, sans-serif" }} suppressHydrationWarning>
```
**Responsive Typography**:
```tsx
<h1 className="text-5xl md:text-6xl lg:text-7xl font-bold">
Learning
</h1>
```
### Component Composition Example
**Feature Card Component**:
```tsx
<div className="group bg-[#E8E8E8] hover:bg-[#F48120] p-6
flex flex-col justify-start transition-colors
duration-300 min-h-[220px]">
{/* Icon */}
<div className="mb-6">
<Icon className="w-10 h-10 text-[#353535]
group-hover:text-white transition-colors
duration-300" />
</div>
{/* Title */}
<h3 className="text-lg font-bold mb-4 leading-tight
text-[#353535] group-hover:text-white
transition-colors duration-300">
{title}
</h3>
{/* Description */}
<p className="text-sm leading-relaxed text-[#353535]/80
group-hover:text-white/90 transition-colors
duration-300">
{description}
</p>
</div>
```
**Key Patterns**:
- **Group hover**: Entire card responds to hover
- **Consistent transitions**: All color changes use 300ms
- **Minimum height**: Prevents layout shift
- **Opacity variations**: Uses `/80` and `/90` for text hierarchy
### Animation Implementation
**Content Transition** (Hero Section):
```tsx
<AnimatePresence mode="wait">
<motion.div
key={currentContent.id}
initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 15 }}
animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
exit={{ opacity: 0, y: -15 }}
transition={{ duration: 0.5, ease: "easeOut" }}
>
{/* Content */}
</motion.div>
</AnimatePresence>
```
**SVG Drawing Animation**:
```tsx
<motion.path
d={shape.path}
fill="currentColor"
initial={{ pathLength: 0, fillOpacity: 0 }}
animate={{ pathLength: 1, fillOpacity: 1 }}
transition={{ duration: 0.8, ease: "easeInOut" }}
/>
```
### Responsive Grid Implementation
```tsx
// Adaptive grid: 1 column mobile, 2 tablet, 5 desktop
<div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
{items.map(item => (
<Card key={item.id} {...item} />
))}
</div>
```
---
## Design System Architecture
### Technology Stack
- **Framework**: Next.js 16 (React 19)
- **Styling**: Tailwind CSS 4.x
- **UI Components**: shadcn/ui (New York variant)
- **Animations**: Framer Motion
- **Icons**: Lucide React
- **Form Handling**: React Hook Form + Zod
- **Theme**: next-themes (dark mode support)
### File Structure
```
components/
├── ui/ # Base UI components (shadcn/ui)
├── navbar.tsx # Navigation component
├── main-hero.tsx # Hero section
├── hero-section.tsx # Why SFS section
├── our-offerings.tsx
├── testimonials.tsx
└── footer.tsx
app/
├── globals.css # Global styles, CSS variables
└── layout.tsx # Root layout
lib/
└── utils.ts # Utility functions (cn helper)
```
### CSS Architecture
**Layers** (using Tailwind's layer system):
1. **Base**: Reset styles, typography defaults
2. **Components**: Reusable component styles
3. **Utilities**: Utility classes (Tailwind)
**Custom Properties**:
```css
:root {
/* Color tokens */
--color-orange: #f48120;
/* Spacing tokens */
--radius: 0.625rem;
/* Typography tokens */
--font-sans: "DIN Alternate", ...;
}
```
### Component Architecture
**Pattern**: Compound components with composition
```tsx
// Base component
<Card>
<CardHeader>
<CardTitle>Title</CardTitle>
<CardDescription>Description</CardDescription>
</CardHeader>
<CardContent>
{/* Content */}
</CardContent>
</Card>
```
**Benefits**:
- **Flexibility**: Mix and match sub-components
- **Consistency**: Shared styling through base component
- **Maintainability**: Single source of truth for styles
### Theme System
**Implementation**: CSS custom properties + class-based dark mode
```css
:root {
--background: oklch(1 0 0); /* Light mode */
}
.dark {
--background: oklch(0.145 0 0); /* Dark mode */
}
```
**Switching**: Uses `next-themes` for persistent theme preference
### Utility Functions
**Class Name Merging**:
```1:6:lib/utils.ts
import { clsx, type ClassValue } from 'clsx'
import { twMerge } from 'tailwind-merge'
export function cn(...inputs: ClassValue[]) {
return twMerge(clsx(inputs))
}
```
**Usage**: Ensures Tailwind classes merge correctly and resolves conflicts.
---
## Design Rationale: Before & After Examples
### Example 1: Feature Card Hover State
**Before**: Static cards with no interaction feedback
**After**: Interactive cards with:
- Background color transformation (grey → orange)
- Text color inversion (dark → white)
- Smooth 300ms transitions
- Visual feedback that guides user attention
**Impact**:
- **Engagement**: Users understand cards are interactive
- **Visual interest**: Hover states add dynamism
- **Hierarchy**: Active cards stand out
### Example 2: Hero Section Layout
**Before**: Single-column text-only hero
**After**: Two-column split layout with:
- Large typography for impact
- Animated SVG icons for visual interest
- Content rotation for engagement
- Fixed-height containers for stability
**Impact**:
- **Visual balance**: Text and graphics create harmony
- **Information density**: More content in same space
- **Engagement**: Animations keep users interested
### Example 3: Responsive Navigation
**Before**: Horizontal menu that overflows on mobile
**After**: Adaptive navigation with:
- Horizontal menu on desktop
- Collapsible hamburger menu on mobile
- Touch-friendly full-width targets
- Smooth slide-in animation
**Impact**:
- **Usability**: Navigation accessible on all devices
- **Space efficiency**: Mobile menu doesn't clutter screen
- **Consistency**: Same functionality across breakpoints
---
## Best Practices & Guidelines
### When Adding New Components
1. **Follow existing patterns**: Use similar component structure
2. **Maintain color consistency**: Use established color palette
3. **Implement hover states**: All interactive elements need feedback
4. **Ensure accessibility**: ARIA labels, keyboard navigation, focus states
5. **Test responsive behavior**: Verify mobile, tablet, desktop views
6. **Use semantic HTML**: Appropriate HTML elements
7. **Add animations thoughtfully**: Purposeful, not decorative
### Color Usage Guidelines
- **Brand Orange**: Primary actions, hover states, active states
- **Dark Grey**: Text, headings, primary UI elements
- **Light Grey**: Backgrounds, subtle separations
- **White**: Card backgrounds, contrast elements
### Typography Guidelines
- **Headings**: Use font-bold with appropriate size scale
- **Body text**: Use default weight (400) with leading-relaxed
- **Small text**: Use text-xs or text-sm for captions
- **Line height**: Tight for headings, relaxed for body
### Spacing Guidelines
- **Between sections**: py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-24
- **Within cards**: p-6 or p-8
- **Grid gaps**: gap-4, gap-6, or gap-8 depending on content
- **Container padding**: px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8
### Animation Guidelines
- **Micro-interactions**: 300ms duration
- **Content transitions**: 500-800ms duration
- **Easing**: ease-out or ease-in-out
- **Reduce motion**: Respect user preferences
---
## Conclusion
This design system prioritizes **clarity, consistency, and user experience**. By following these principles and patterns, new features and components will integrate seamlessly with the existing interface while maintaining the professional, modern aesthetic that defines School For Schools.
The system is built on **solid foundations** (Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui, React) that provide flexibility while enforcing consistency. As the platform evolves, these principles should guide design decisions to ensure the interface remains cohesive and user-friendly.
---
**Document Version**: 1.0
**Last Updated**: 2025
**Maintained By**: Design & Development Team
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