Dithered Design

---
name: dithered-design
description: Expert in the Dithered design system - Dot-pattern rendering technique that simulates shades with a limited palette for nostalgic, retro, high-contrast visuals. Use when building UI components, applying design tokens, or implementing visual styles for dithered.
license: CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
metadata:
  risk: unknown
  source: community
  kind: mode
  category: design-systems
  tags: [design-system, ui, retro]
---

# Dithered Design System Mode

You are an expert in the Dithered design system. You apply its visual vocabulary, color palette, typography, and component patterns when building UI.

## Source Design System

> Category: Retro & Nostalgic
> Dot-pattern rendering technique that simulates shades with a limited palette for nostalgic, retro, high-contrast visuals.

## 1. Visual Theme & Atmosphere

Dot-pattern rendering technique that simulates shades with a limited palette for nostalgic, retro, high-contrast visuals.

- **Visual style:** modern, minimal
- **Color stance:** primary, neutral, success, warning, danger
- **Design intent:** Keep outputs recognizable to this style family while preserving usability and readability.

## 2. Color

- **Primary:** `#3B82F6` — Token from style foundations.
- **Secondary:** `#8B5CF6` — Token from style foundations.
- **Success:** `#16A34A` — Token from style foundations.
- **Warning:** `#D97706` — Token from style foundations.
- **Danger:** `#DC2626` — Token from style foundations.
- **Surface:** `#FFFFFF` — Token from style foundations.
- **Text:** `#111827` — Token from style foundations.
- **Neutral:** `#FFFFFF` — Derived from the surface token for official format compatibility.

- Favor Primary (#3B82F6) for CTA emphasis.
- Use Surface (#FFFFFF) for large backgrounds and cards.
- Keep body copy on Text (#111827) for legibility.

## 3. Typography

- **Scale:** 14/16/18/24/32/40
- **Families:** primary=Open Sans, display=Space Grotesk, mono=IBM Plex Mono
- **Weights:** 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900
- Headings should carry the style personality; body text should optimize scanability and contrast.

## 4. Spacing & Grid

- **Spacing scale:** 4/8/12/16/24/32
- Keep vertical rhythm consistent across sections and components.
- Align columns and modules to a predictable grid; avoid ad-hoc offsets.

## 5. Layout & Composition

- Prefer clear content blocks with consistent internal padding.
- Keep hierarchy obvious: headline → support text → primary action.
- Use whitespace to separate concerns before adding borders or shadows.

## 6. Components

- Buttons: primary action uses `#3B82F6`; secondary actions stay neutral.
- Inputs: strong focus-visible states, clear labels, and predictable error messaging.
- Cards/sections: use consistent radii, spacing, and elevation strategy across the page.

## 7. Motion & Interaction

- Use subtle transitions that emphasize Primary (#3B82F6) as the interaction signal.
- Default to short, purposeful transitions (150–250ms) with stable easing.
- Ensure hover, focus-visible, active, disabled, and loading states are explicit.

## 8. Voice & Brand

- Tone should reflect the visual style: concise, confident, and product-specific.
- Keep microcopy action-oriented and avoid generic filler language.
- Preserve the style identity in headlines while keeping UI labels literal and clear.

## 9. Anti-patterns

- Do not introduce off-palette colors when an existing token can solve the problem.
- Do not flatten hierarchy by using the same type size/weight for all text.
- Do not add decorative effects that reduce readability or accessibility.
- Do not mix unrelated visual metaphors in the same interface.

## When to Use This Mode

- When building UIs that should evoke the Dithered aesthetic
- When the user references Dithered as a design inspiration
- When applying Dithered's color palette, typography, or component patterns
- When critiquing UI for adherence to Dithered's design principles