DESIGN.md for shadcn/ui

How to keep shadcn-generated UI from feeling generic.

CursorClaude CodeCodexGoogle Stitch

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dimabraven

May 8, 2026

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learnshadcnguidearticle

# DESIGN.md for shadcn/ui
## Product feel
How to keep shadcn-generated UI from feeling generic.
Build for a Practical, Editorial, Clear visual taste. Keep density practical, typography strong, and layouts easy for AI agents to repeat.
## Color direction
- Primary text: #111111
- Accent / interactive: #f97316
- Surface: #fff7ed
- Border / separators: #fdba74
## Typography
- Use a modern sans for body copy and a sharper display face for hero/page titles.
- Titles should feel deliberate, not shouty. Avoid oversized marketing fluff.
- Meta text should stay compact and quiet.
## Layout rules
- Prefer light UI by default.
- Use compact spacing and card grids that still feel breathable.
- Keep navigation practical: search first, then filters, then actions.
- This entry belongs to the "tools" lane.
## Components
- Buttons: slightly rounded, clear hierarchy, only one primary CTA per section.
- Cards: soft border, useful metadata, preview-first composition.
- Empty states: helpful, never dead.
- Code panels: mono, dense, copy-friendly.
## Agent rules
- Do not generate generic Tailwind marketing blocks.
- Respect the palette and keep component states consistent.
- Optimize for these tools: Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Google Stitch.
## Accessibility
- Preserve contrast for text and controls.
- Use visible focus states.
- Avoid relying on color alone for meaning.
## License
Public source

Color Palette

TEXT

#111111

ACCENT

#f97316

SURFACE

#fff7ed

BORDER

#fdba74

Typography

display

4.5rem / 600 / 1.04

The quick brown fox

heading-lg

3rem / 700 / 1.07

The quick brown fox

heading

2rem / 600 / 1.1

The quick brown fox jumps

heading-sm

1.25rem / 600 / 1.2

The quick brown fox jumps

body

1rem / 400 / 1.5

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

caption

0.75rem / 400 / 1.5

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

Design Tokens

Spacing

space-14px

space-28px

space-312px

space-416px

space-624px

space-832px

space-1248px

space-1664px

Border Radius

radius-none0px

radius-sm4px

radius-md8px

radius-lg16px

radius-xl24px

radius-full9999px

Elevation

Flatshadow-none

XSshadow-xs

SMshadow-sm

MDshadow-md

LGshadow-lg

XLshadow-xl

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FAQ

Can I use this with Cursor or Claude Code?

Yes. Copy the DESIGN.md into your project root and ask the agent to follow it.

Is this official?

No — this is an independent reference.

How do I add this to my project?

Copy the markdown into a DESIGN.md file in your repo root and mention it in your agent prompt.