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Style Guide Template
Visual reference document for design system. Use this template to create comprehensive style guides.
Style Guide Structure
Cover Page
- Project/Product name
- Design system version
- Last updated date
- Team/designer names
Table of Contents
- Brand Identity
- Color Palette
- Typography
- Spacing & Layout
- Components
- Iconography
- Imagery
- Voice & Tone
- Usage Guidelines
1. Brand Identity
Brand Values
- Value 1: Brief description
- Value 2: Brief description
- Value 3: Brief description
Brand Personality
- Adjective 1: How this shows in design
- Adjective 2: How this shows in design
- Adjective 3: How this shows in design
Logo Usage
Primary logo:
- Full color version
- Minimum size
- Clear space requirements
- Acceptable variations
Don'ts:
- Don't stretch or distort
- Don't change colors
- Don't add effects
- Don't place on busy backgrounds
2. Color Palette
Primary Colors
[Primary Color Name] (#HEX)
- Usage: Primary actions, headers, brand elements
- Shades: 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 (base), 600, 700, 800, 900
- Contrast: #FFFFFF text passes WCAG AA on 600+
Visual swatch showing:
50 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
░░░ ░░ ▒▒ ▓▓ ▓▓ ███ ███ ███ ███ ███
Secondary Colors
[Secondary Color Name] (#HEX)
- Usage: Secondary actions, accents, variety
- Shades: [Same structure as primary]
Neutral Colors
Grays (#HEX)
- Usage: Text, borders, backgrounds, shadows
- Shades: 50 (lightest) to 900 (darkest)
Semantic Colors
Success (#HEX)
- Usage: Success messages, confirmations, positive actions
- Accessibility: Passes WCAG AA
Warning (#HEX)
- Usage: Warning messages, caution states
- Accessibility: Passes WCAG AA
Error (#HEX)
- Usage: Error messages, destructive actions
- Accessibility: Passes WCAG AA
Info (#HEX)
- Usage: Informational messages, help text
- Accessibility: Passes WCAG AA
Color Combinations
Approved combinations:
- Primary 600 on White
- White on Primary 700
- Neutral 900 on Primary 50
- Neutral 700 on Neutral 100
Avoid:
- Low contrast combinations
- Primary on Secondary (insufficient contrast)
- Pure black (#000) on anything (too harsh)
3. Typography
Font Families
Heading Font: [Font Name]
- Source: Google Fonts / Custom / System
- Weights available: 400, 600, 700
- Fallback: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif
Body Font: [Font Name]
- Source: Google Fonts / Custom / System
- Weights available: 400, 500, 600
- Fallback: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif
Monospace Font: [Font Name]
- Source: System
- Usage: Code, technical content
- Fallback: 'Courier New', monospace
Type Scale
Heading 1
- Size: 3.5rem (56px)
- Weight: 700 (Bold)
- Line height: 1.2
- Letter spacing: -0.02em
- Usage: Page titles, hero headlines
Heading 2
- Size: 2.5rem (40px)
- Weight: 700 (Bold)
- Line height: 1.3
- Letter spacing: -0.01em
- Usage: Section headings
Heading 3
- Size: 2rem (32px)
- Weight: 600 (Semibold)
- Line height: 1.4
- Letter spacing: 0
- Usage: Subsection headings
Heading 4
- Size: 1.5rem (24px)
- Weight: 600 (Semibold)
- Line height: 1.4
- Usage: Card headings, component titles
Heading 5
- Size: 1.25rem (20px)
- Weight: 500 (Medium)
- Line height: 1.5
- Usage: Small headings
Body Large
- Size: 1.125rem (18px)
- Weight: 400 (Regular)
- Line height: 1.6
- Usage: Emphasis paragraphs, introductions
Body
- Size: 1rem (16px)
- Weight: 400 (Regular)
- Line height: 1.6
- Usage: Default body text
Body Small
- Size: 0.875rem (14px)
- Weight: 400 (Regular)
- Line height: 1.5
- Usage: Supporting text, captions
Caption
- Size: 0.75rem (12px)
- Weight: 400 (Regular)
- Line height: 1.4
- Letter spacing: 0.01em
- Usage: Metadata, labels
Text Colors
- Primary text: Neutral 900 (#18181b)
- Secondary text: Neutral 600 (#52525b)
- Disabled text: Neutral 400 (#a1a1aa)
- Link text: Primary 600 (#0284c7)
- Link hover: Primary 700 (#0369a1)
Formatting Guidelines
Emphasis:
- Bold for strong emphasis
- Italic for subtle emphasis
- Underline for links only
Paragraphs:
- Max width: 65-75 characters
- Spacing: 1.5em between paragraphs
- First line: No indent (web convention)
Lists:
- Bullet points: Circle bullets
- Numbered lists: Numbers with period
- Spacing: 0.5em between items
4. Spacing & Layout
Spacing Scale
Based on 8px base unit:
| Token | Value | Pixels | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0px | Reset/None |
| 1 | 0.25rem | 4px | Icon spacing |
| 2 | 0.5rem | 8px | Tight spacing |
| 3 | 0.75rem | 12px | Component padding |
| 4 | 1rem | 16px | Default spacing |
| 6 | 1.5rem | 24px | Card padding |
| 8 | 2rem | 32px | Section spacing |
| 12 | 3rem | 48px | Large spacing |
| 16 | 4rem | 64px | Hero spacing |
| 24 | 6rem | 96px | XL spacing |
Grid System
Container:
- Max width: 1280px (desktop)
- Horizontal padding: 24px (mobile), 32px (desktop)
- Centered with auto margins
Grid:
- Columns: 12
- Gutter: 24px
- Responsive breakpoints
Breakpoints:
- Mobile: 320px - 767px (full width, single column)
- Tablet: 768px - 1023px (80% width, 2-3 columns)
- Desktop: 1024px - 1439px (max 1280px, multi-column)
- Wide: 1440px+ (max 1280px, multi-column)
Layout Patterns
Single column (Mobile):
- Full width sections
- Stacked components
- Minimal horizontal spacing
Two column (Tablet):
- 8-4 column split (main-sidebar)
- 6-6 column split (equal)
- Responsive card grids
Multi-column (Desktop):
- 3-6-3 (sidebar-main-sidebar)
- 4-4-4 (three equal)
- Flexible grid layouts
5. Components
Buttons
Primary Button
- Background: Primary 600
- Text: White
- Padding: 12px 24px
- Border radius: 8px
- Font weight: 500
States:
- Hover: Primary 700 background
- Active: Primary 800 background
- Focus: 2px outline, Primary 500
- Disabled: Neutral 200 background, Neutral 400 text
Secondary Button
- Background: Neutral 200
- Text: Neutral 900
- [Same measurements as primary]
Ghost Button
- Background: Transparent
- Text: Primary 600
- [Same measurements as primary]
Input Fields
Text Input
- Height: 44px
- Padding: 12px 16px
- Border: 1px solid Neutral 300
- Border radius: 8px
- Font size: 16px
States:
- Focus: Primary 500 border, 2px outline
- Error: Error 500 border, error icon
- Success: Success 500 border, check icon
- Disabled: Neutral 100 background
Cards
Standard Card
- Background: White
- Border: 1px solid Neutral 200
- Border radius: 12px
- Padding: 24px
- Shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)
Interactive Card
- Hover: Shadow increases, slight lift
- Active: Shadow reduces
- Cursor: Pointer
Navigation
Navbar
- Height: 64px
- Background: White
- Border bottom: 1px solid Neutral 200
- Padding: 0 32px
- Sticky positioning
Nav Items
- Font size: 16px
- Font weight: 500
- Spacing: 24px between items
- Active: Primary 600 color, underline
6. Iconography
Icon Style
- Style: Outline
- Stroke width: 2px
- Corner radius: 2px
- Optical balance: Centered in viewBox
Icon Sizes
- Small: 16px (inline with text)
- Medium: 24px (default, most common)
- Large: 32px (feature icons)
- XL: 48px+ (hero sections)
Icon Colors
- Primary: Neutral 700 (default)
- Secondary: Neutral 500
- Accent: Primary 600
- Success: Success 600
- Error: Error 600
Icon Library
List of commonly used icons:
- Home, Search, Menu, Close
- User, Settings, Notifications
- Arrow (up, down, left, right)
- Check, X, Info, Warning
- Plus, Minus, Edit, Delete
- Calendar, Clock, Location
7. Imagery
Photography Style
Characteristics:
- Bright, natural lighting
- Authentic, not overly staged
- Diverse subjects
- Clean backgrounds
Aspect ratios:
- Hero: 21:9 or 16:9
- Portrait: 3:4
- Square: 1:1
- Thumbnail: 4:3
Treatments:
- Border radius: 12px for cards
- Overlay for text: 40% black gradient
- No filters except brand-approved
- Minimum resolution: 2x display size
Illustrations
Style:
- Flat design
- Brand colors only
- Simple geometric shapes
- Consistent stroke width
Usage:
- Empty states
- Error messages
- Onboarding
- Feature explanations
8. Voice & Tone
Brand Voice
Characteristics:
- Professional but approachable
- Clear and concise
- Helpful and encouraging
- Confident without arrogance
We are:
- Knowledgeable experts
- Supportive partners
- Clear communicators
We are not:
- Overly casual or jokey
- Condescending or robotic
- Vague or uncertain
Tone Variations
Marketing:
- Energetic and inspiring
- Benefit-focused
- Action-oriented
Product UI:
- Clear and direct
- Task-focused
- Minimal and efficient
Support:
- Patient and helpful
- Solution-oriented
- Empathetic
Writing Guidelines
Button labels:
- Start with verb
- Be specific
- Keep short (1-3 words)
- Examples: "Get Started", "Save Changes", "Download Report"
Error messages:
- Explain what went wrong
- Suggest how to fix
- Be empathetic
- Example: "We couldn't process your payment. Please check your card details and try again."
Empty states:
- Explain why empty
- Guide next action
- Stay positive
- Example: "No projects yet. Create your first project to get started."
9. Usage Guidelines
Do's and Don'ts
Colors: ✓ Use colors from defined palette ✓ Maintain contrast ratios ✓ Use semantic colors appropriately ✗ Don't invent new brand colors ✗ Don't use color alone to convey meaning ✗ Don't use low-contrast combinations
Typography: ✓ Use defined type scale ✓ Maintain hierarchy ✓ Keep line length readable ✗ Don't use too many font families ✗ Don't skip heading levels ✗ Don't use tiny font sizes (<14px)
Spacing: ✓ Use spacing scale values ✓ Be consistent ✓ Align to 8px grid ✗ Don't use arbitrary spacing ✗ Don't cram elements together ✗ Don't create uneven rhythms
Components: ✓ Use existing components ✓ Follow state patterns ✓ Maintain consistency ✗ Don't reinvent components ✗ Don't customize without reason ✗ Don't ignore accessibility
Accessibility Requirements
Minimum standards:
- Color contrast: WCAG AA (4.5:1)
- Touch targets: 44x44px
- Focus indicators: Visible
- Alt text: All images
- Keyboard navigation: Full support
Maintenance
Versioning:
- Major: Breaking changes
- Minor: New components
- Patch: Bug fixes, tweaks
Updates:
- Review quarterly
- Document all changes
- Communicate to team
- Update all instances
Feedback:
- Designers submit proposals
- Team reviews monthly
- Consensus required
- Document rationale
Visual Examples
Example Page Layouts
[Include mockups showing:]
- Landing page
- Dashboard
- Form page
- Content page
- Mobile views
Component Gallery
[Include visuals showing:]
- All button variants
- Form components
- Cards
- Navigation
- Modals
- Common patterns
Color Swatches
[Include actual color samples]
Typography Specimens
[Show each text style with sample content]
File Formats
Design files:
- Figma/Sketch source files
- Component library
- Design tokens (JSON)
Development:
- CSS/SCSS variables
- Tailwind config
- Component code examples
Documentation:
- PDF version of style guide
- Interactive HTML version
- Markdown documentation
Credits & Contact
Design team:
- Lead Designer: [Name]
- UI Designer: [Name]
- UX Researcher: [Name]
Contact:
- Questions: design-team@company.com
- Contributions: Submit via [process]
- Feedback: [feedback channel]
Resources:
- Design files: [Link]
- Code repository: [Link]
- Documentation: [Link]
Last updated: [Date] Version: [Number]