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Design System Brief for an Open-Source Search and Retrieval Database

Overview

This design system brief aims to outline the essential components and guidelines necessary to create a user-friendly, responsive, and accessible web interface for an open-source search and retrieval database focused on AI applications. The core design principles should prioritize clarity, usability, and a modern aesthetic, while ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.

Design Principles

1. Clarity: Ensure clear visual hierarchy and legibility to support users in navigating and utilizing the database effectively.
2. Responsiveness: The design should adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and devices, maintaining usability across desktop, tablet, and mobile interfaces.
3. Accessibility: Comply with WCAG 2.1 standards to ensure that the interface is usable for individuals with disabilities.

Typography

• Primary Font: Inter
  • Font weight: 100 - 900
  • Usage: For headers, paragraphs, and button text
  • Line height: 1.5 for body text, 1.2 for headers
• Secondary Font: IBM Plex Mono (for code snippets and technical details)
  • Font weight: 400 - 600

Font Sizes:

• Body text: 16px (1rem)
• H1: 36px (2.25rem)
• H2: 30px (1.875rem)
• H3: 24px (1.5rem)
• Button: 14px (0.875rem)

Color Palette

• Primary Colors:

  • Black: #27201c
  • White: #FFFFFF
  • Accent Colors:
    • Blue: #2563eb
    • Gray: #6b7280

• Background & Text Colors:

  • Background Color: var(--background) (default light background)
  • Text Color: var(--foreground) (default dark text)

Color Usage:

• Background for sections: Light gray or white
• Foreground text: Dark gray for primary content, lighter gray for secondary content.

Components

1. Button

   • Variants: Primary, Secondary, Ghost
   • Padding: 12px 24px
   • Border Radius: 4px
   • Accessibility: Include aria-label attributes as necessary

2. Input Fields

   • Types: Text inputs, Search bar, Dropdowns
   • Styles: Rounded corners, clear indicators of focus
   • Include clear error and validation messages

3. Cards

   • Usage: For displaying search results or entities
   • Layout: Image on top, title below, description underneath
   • Shadows: Subtle shadow for depth

4. Navigation Bar

   • Fixed at the top of the viewport
   • Items: Home, About, Docs, API
   • Responsive dropdown for mobile

5. Modals

   • Usage: For notifications, confirmations, and settings
   • Overlay background with slight blur effect

Layout Grid

• Base Grid: 12-column grid system
  • Breakpoints:
    • Mobile: 0 - 640px (1 column)
    • Tablet: 640 - 1024px (2 columns)
    • Desktop: 1024px and above (3 or 4 columns based on content)

Iconography

• Use simple, line-based icons that complement the typography
• Icons should have a consistent style and should be scalable
• Include alt text for accessibility

Responsiveness and Breakpoints

• Mobile-first approach with specific media queries to adjust layouts for larger screens.
• Key breakpoints:
  • 640px: Switch to multi-column layout for cards
  • 1024px: Increase padding and margin values for larger displays

Accessibility Guidelines

• Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard-navigable and use ARIA attributes where necessary.
• Provide sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text).
• Implement focus indicators visibly.

Implementation Considerations

• Utilize modern CSS strategies like Flexbox and Grid for layout structure.
• Employ responsive design frameworks (e.g., Tailwind CSS) for quick prototyping and style adjustments.
• Aim for a cohesive style guide that can evolve alongside application features.

This brief serves as a foundational guide for building a brand-safe and accessible design system for an open-source database, allowing designers and developers to implement consistent and effective UI components.