shadcn/ui (component system reference) DESIGN.md for AI coding agents
shadcn/ui component system - Radix primitives plus Tailwind, zinc palette, CSS variable tokens.
Design System Overview
The shadcn/ui (component system reference) design system captures the visual language of a well-known design and creative tools product. This DESIGN.md file distills its color palette, typography, spacing scale, and component patterns into a format that AI coding agents can read and follow when generating UI.
shadcn/ui component system - Radix primitives plus Tailwind, zinc palette, CSS variable tokens.
AI agents like Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and Google Stitch can reference this file to produce UI that visually matches the shadcn/ui (component system reference) aesthetic — consistent colors, proportional spacing, and recognizable component patterns — without requiring explicit pixel-by-pixel instructions for every element.
Browse more design and creative tools design systems or explore the full DESIGN.md directory.
Color System
Brand palette extracted from the design system. Click any swatch to copy the hex value.
Text / Primary
#18181b
Accent
#2563eb
Surface / Background
#eff6ff
Border / Subtle
#93c5fd
BRAND
SURFACE
TEXT
Typography Specimen
Inter
Zinc palette, CSS variable system, JetBrains Mono for code.
Display
2.8rem / 700 / 1.04
The quick brown fox
Heading H1
2rem / 700 / 1.1
The quick brown fox jumps
Heading H2
1.5rem / 600 / 1.15
The quick brown fox jumps over
Heading H3
1.125rem / 600 / 1.2
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy
Body
1rem / 400 / 1.5
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Small / Caption
0.75rem / 400 / 1.5
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog and sat down.
Monospace
const primary = "Inter";
Component Patterns
UI specimens rendered in the shadcn/ui (component system reference) visual style — brand colours, spacing, and radius applied.
Navigation
Buttons & States
Sign-up Form
Get started for free
Layout & Spacing Tokens
Spacing Scale
Border Radius
Elevation & Shadow
Use with AI Coding Agents
Copy one of these prompts into your AI coding agent to apply the shadcn/ui (component system reference) design system to your project. The DESIGN.md file in your repo root is the source of truth.
# .cursor/rules (or DESIGN.md) You are working in a project that uses the shadcn/ui (component system reference) design system. Read the DESIGN.md file in this project root and follow it strictly when generating UI. Match the brand's exact colors, typography, spacing scale, and border radius. Do not create generic Tailwind UI — apply the visual language from DESIGN.md. Key rules: - Use the defined color palette, not arbitrary hex values - Apply the correct font family and weight scale - Follow spacing tokens (4/8/12/16/24/32px scale) - Match component patterns: buttons, cards, inputs, badges as specified
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the shadcn/ui (component system reference) DESIGN.md with Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex?
Yes. Copy the DESIGN.md file into your project root and reference it in your agent rules. For Cursor, add it to .cursor/rules. For Claude Code, include it as CLAUDE.md. For Codex, add it to your system prompt. The agent will read it and apply the shadcn/ui (component system reference) visual system to any UI it generates.
Is this an official shadcn/ui (component system reference) file?
No — this is an independent reference created for AI coding agent compatibility. It is not officially endorsed by shadcn/ui (component system reference). The visual system was analyzed and documented to help AI agents produce UI that matches the shadcn/ui (component system reference) aesthetic. Always verify against official shadcn/ui (component system reference) documentation.
What is a DESIGN.md file?
A DESIGN.md file is a Markdown document that describes a product's visual design system in a format that AI coding agents can read and follow. It captures color palettes, typography, spacing, component patterns, and usage rules — giving AI agents like Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex a source of truth for consistent UI generation.
Can I use the shadcn/ui (component system reference) color tokens and visual style in my own project?
The design tokens and visual patterns documented here are for reference and AI agent guidance. If you are building a project inspired by the shadcn/ui (component system reference) visual style, ensure your use is consistent with shadcn/ui (component system reference)'s brand guidelines and any applicable trademark or copyright rules. This file helps AI agents understand a style — it does not grant license to use proprietary brand assets.
How do I add this to my project?
Download the DESIGN.md file (requires free account) and place it in your project root. Then tell your AI agent to read it: "Read the DESIGN.md file in this project and follow its design system when generating UI." The agent will pick it up automatically in most modern AI coding tools.