polaris-task-force/DESIGN.md

# Polaris Task Force Design System

## 1. Atmosphere & Identity

Polaris is a dark operations console: focused, quiet, and information-dense without feeling cramped. The signature is a neutral charcoal surface hierarchy with restrained white controls and small, purposeful state accents.

## 2. Color

### Palette

| Role | Token | Usage |
|------|-------|-------|
| Surface / page | `bg-background` | Frontend page background |
| Surface / card | `bg-card` | Elevated content sections |
| Text / primary | `text-foreground` | Headings and primary labels |
| Text / secondary | `text-muted-foreground` | Descriptions and supporting copy |
| Interactive / primary | `bg-primary`, `text-primary-foreground` | Primary actions and checked controls |
| Interactive / focus | `ring-ring` | Keyboard focus indicators |
| Border | `border-border` | Card and control boundaries |
| Status / error | `text-destructive` | Inline validation and failure copy |
| Status / success | `text-emerald-500` | Existing save confirmations |

### Rules

- Use semantic Tailwind tokens backed by `src/app/(frontend)/styles.css`; do not add raw colors in frontend components.
- Preserve the dark neutral palette and use accent color only for interactive state.

## 3. Typography

### Scale

| Level | Token | Usage |
|-------|-------|-------|
| Page title | `text-lg font-semibold` | Route heading |
| Card title | `font-semibold` | Section heading |
| Body | inherited `text-base` | Primary content |
| Supporting | `text-sm text-muted-foreground` | Descriptions and helper text |
| Compact | `text-xs` | Secondary metadata only |

### Font Stack

- Primary: Geist, sans-serif
- Mono: Geist Mono, monospace

## 4. Spacing & Layout

### Base Unit

Spacing follows Tailwind's 4px scale. Existing frontend stacks use `gap-1`, `gap-2`, `gap-3`, `gap-4`, and `gap-6`.

### Rules

- Use `flex flex-col gap-*` for vertical stacks; do not use `space-y-*`.
- Account content is constrained with `max-w-2xl` and uses `gap-6` between cards.
- Preference sections use `CardHeader` and `CardContent`; controls use `gap-4`.
- Preference sub-options are indented with `pl-6` and remain one readable column on narrow screens.

## 5. Components

### Card sections

- **Structure**: `Card` → `CardHeader` → `CardTitle` + `CardDescription`; `CardContent` body.
- **Variants**: default dark card surface.
- **Spacing**: built-in card padding; internal control stack uses `gap-4`.
- **States**: default, focus/error states belong to child controls.
- **Accessibility**: headings and descriptions provide section context.
- **Motion**: no section-level motion.
- **Layout**: vertical stack.

### Preference row

- **Structure**: `label.flex.items-center.justify-between` with text on the left and a shadcn control on the right.
- **Variants**: primary setting and indented notification setting.
- **Spacing**: `gap-3` for label copy; `pl-6` for dependent settings.
- **States**: default, checked, unchecked, disabled, focus-visible.
- **Accessibility**: the label owns the control relationship; disabled dependent rows use both disabled controls and reduced-opacity presentation.
- **Motion**: shadcn control transition only.
- **Layout**: responsive cluster with a single-column text block.

### Switch

- **Structure**: shadcn `Switch` with an associated label and optional description.
- **Variants**: primary and dependent/disabled.
- **Spacing**: control row uses `gap-4`.
- **States**: unchecked, checked, hover, active, focus-visible, disabled.
- **Accessibility**: keyboard reachable with visible focus and native switch semantics.
- **Motion**: 100–150ms control transition.
- **Layout**: inline control at the row edge.

### RadioGroup

- **Structure**: shadcn `RadioGroup` with `RadioGroupItem` and `Label` pairs.
- **Variants**: two-option roster label selection.
- **Spacing**: option cluster uses `gap-4`.
- **States**: selected, unselected, hover, active, focus-visible.
- **Accessibility**: grouped options retain native radio semantics and labels.
- **Motion**: control transition only.
- **Layout**: wraps on narrow screens without horizontal overflow.

## 6. Motion & Interaction

### Timing

| Type | Duration | Usage |
|------|----------|-------|
| Micro | 100–150ms | Switch and radio state feedback |
| Standard | 200–300ms | Button hover and focus transitions |

### Rules

- Keep motion in existing shadcn controls and buttons; do not add decorative animation to the account form.
- Preserve visible keyboard focus and `prefers-reduced-motion` behavior from the component primitives.

## 7. Depth & Surface

The frontend uses a mixed strategy: card borders plus the existing shadcn card shadow, with tonal changes for muted controls. New preference sections should compose the existing `Card` primitive rather than introduce custom shadows or radii.

## 8. Accessibility Constraints & Accepted Debt

### Constraints

- Target WCAG 2.2 AA.
- Every interactive control must be keyboard reachable with a visible focus state.
- Dependent notification controls must expose their disabled state through the actual control, not only visual opacity.
- The form must reflow to one readable column at mobile widths without horizontal scrolling.

### Accepted Debt

| Item | Location | Why accepted | Owner / Exit |
|------|----------|--------------|--------------|
| Existing success color uses `text-emerald-500` | Account forms | Preserve established feedback styling in this focused redesign | Consolidate account feedback tokens in a future account UI pass |