AI App Starter
A dark-first DESIGN.md for AI apps: deep space canvas, an indigo-to-violet brand gradient reserved for generative moments, calm neutrals, and streaming-aware states.
- Tokens
- 14
- Components
- 8
- Themes
- Dark + Light
- Responsive
- 3 breakpoints
Preview Lab
LiveInspect theme and responsive behavior
Design system overview
A calm shell that lets AI output take the stage
A dark-first system for AI apps: deep space canvas, an indigo-to-violet brand gradient reserved for generative moments, calm neutrals, and streaming-aware states.
The template defines the working system behind the preview: three-zone layout, prompt composer behavior, streaming and stop states, semantic status, keyboard focus, and implementation rules for AI coding agents.
Primary
One clear action
Active navigation and primary controls
Typography
$482,900
Total revenue
+8.2% this month
Controls
Status
Tokens
Color system
Named roles from the template contract. Every swatch is keyboard-copyable and includes its intended use, so the palette stays meaningful outside this preview.
Brand
Surfaces
Text
Semantic
Data visualization
Source file
Raw DESIGN.md and export formats
This is the single canonical source view. Anonymous visitors see a short preview; signed-in users get the complete Markdown and generated implementation formats.
# AI App Starter DESIGN.md
## Product feel
Build a dark-first product surface for an AI application: chat, agents, generation, and
streaming output. The interface should feel focused and modern, with a deep space canvas,
an indigo-to-violet brand gradient reserved for AI moments, and calm neutrals everywhere else.
Motion and color signal that the system is thinking, streaming, or done — never decoration.
## Color system
### Brand
- Indigo: #6366f1 — primary actions, active state, brand gradient start
- Violet: #8b5cf6 — brand gradient end, AI/generative emphasis
- Blue: #3b82f6 — links, secondary interactive accents
### Surfaces (dark-first)
- Canvas: #0f0f23 — deep app background
- Surface: #1a1a2e — panels, message cards, sidebar
- Surface Raised: #16213e — elevated menus, active conversation
- Border: #2a2a45 — separators and card outlines
### Text
- Text Primary: #f5f5fa — headings, message body
- Text Secondary: #a5a5c0 — labels, metadata, timestamps
- Text Muted: #6b6b8a — placeholders, disabled
### Semantic
- Success: #10b981 — completed generations, healthy status
- Warning: #f59e0b — rate limits, pending review
- Danger: #ef4444 — errors, stopped runs
- Info: #3b82f6 — informational links and hints
## Light mode
- Canvas: #f6f6fb, Surface: #ffffff, Border: #e5e5ef
- Keep the indigo→violet brand gradient identical across themes.
- Test contrast for streaming text and code blocks in both themes.
## Typography
- Display Font: Inter
Use with AI Coding Agents
Copy one of these prompts into your AI coding agent to apply the AI App Starter DESIGN.md 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 AI App Starter DESIGN.md 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
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the AI App Starter 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 AI App Starter visual system to any UI it generates.
Is this an official AI App Starter file?
No — this is an independent reference created for AI coding agent compatibility. It is not officially endorsed by AI App Starter. The visual system was analyzed and documented to help AI agents produce UI that matches the AI App Starter aesthetic. Always verify against official AI App Starter 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 AI App Starter 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 AI App Starter visual style, ensure your use is consistent with AI App Starter'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.