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Gov Plain

Public-service plainness: black on white, square corners, focus you cannot miss.

RuledsystemPublic servicesForms and applicationsAccessibility-first products

Construction · Ruled

There are no cards. A rule above a block announces it, spacing separates it, and nothing is ever enclosed.

Every style renders this same screen, so the only thing changing between two of them is the style. The component above is the file below, running.

Prompt

Design this interface in the Gov Plain style. Square corners, black text on white, one link blue, and a yellow focus state that is impossible to overlook. Every decorative decision has been removed on purpose.

Build every surface the Ruled way: There are no cards. A rule above a block announces it, spacing separates it, and nothing is ever enclosed.

Use exactly these values: background #ffffff, surfaces #ffffff, text #0b0c0c, secondary text #505a5f, accent #1d70b8 with #ffffff on it; corner radius 0/0/0px; 2px solid borders; no shadows of any kind; system-ui for body at 16px, line height 1.55; 4px spacing grid, generous breathing room.

Never: rounded corners; decorative color; small body text; shadows or gradients.

Dark mode uses background #0b0c0c, surfaces #141516, text #f3f2f1, accent #7cb6e8 — the same style, not an inverted one.

The numbers in this prompt are printed from the tokens below, so it cannot drift from what the specimen renders.

What carries the look

  • square corners
  • one link blue
  • large readable body text
  • unmissable focus state

What this style refuses

  • rounded corners
  • decorative color
  • small body text
  • shadows or gradients

The refusals are the half that keeps generated interfaces from converging — a prompt that only says what to add gets the default look.

Tokens

Palette

RoleLightDark
Background#ffffff#0b0c0c
Surface#ffffff#141516
Border#0b0c0c#f3f2f1
Text#0b0c0c#f3f2f1
Muted text#505a5f#a8adb0
Accent#1d70b8#7cb6e8
On accent#ffffff#06121f

Shape and type

Radius0 / 0 / 0 px
Border2px solid
Shadownone
Displaysystem-ui
Bodysystem-ui
Monoui-monospace
Type scale12 · 14 · 16 · 19 · 24 · 34 px
Weights400 / 700 / 700
Line height1.55
Tracking0em
Spacing4px grid · roomy
Surfaceflat
Accentfilled
Separatorrule
Labelssentence case
Blurnone

Measured contrast — body 19.59:1 light, 17.52:1 dark; secondary text 7.07:1 and 8.65:1. Every pair clears WCAG AA in both themes, checked on each build.

Specimen · Specimen.tsx

import type { CSSProperties } from "react";

/**
 * Vibary · Gov Plain
 *
 * Public-service plainness: black on white, square corners, focus you cannot miss.
 *
 * One complete product screen, rendered from the token object below —
 * the same screen every other Vibary specimen renders, so the style
 * is the only variable. Self-contained: React only, no CSS file, no
 * assets, no chart library.
 *
 * `theme` defaults to following the system setting; pass "light" or
 * "dark" to pin one.
 */

export const TOKENS = {
  "material": "ruled",
  "color": {
    "light": {
      "bg": "#ffffff",
      "surface": "#ffffff",
      "border": "#0b0c0c",
      "text": "#0b0c0c",
      "muted": "#505a5f",
      "accent": "#1d70b8",
      "accentText": "#ffffff"
    },
    "dark": {
      "bg": "#0b0c0c",
      "surface": "#141516",
      "border": "#f3f2f1",
      "text": "#f3f2f1",
      "muted": "#a8adb0",
      "accent": "#7cb6e8",
      "accentText": "#06121f"
    }
  },
  "radius": {
    "sm": 0,
    "md": 0,
    "lg": 0,
    "pill": 999
  },
  "border": {
    "width": 2,
    "style": "solid"
  },
  "shadow": {
    "level": "none",
    "value": "none"
  },
  "type": {
    "family": {
      "display": "system-ui, -apple-system, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif",
      "body": "system-ui, -apple-system, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif",
      "mono": "ui-monospace, \"SF Mono\", Menlo, Consolas, \"Liberation Mono\", monospace"
    },
    "scale": [
      12,
      14,
      16,
      19,
      24,
      34
    ],
    "weight": {
      "body": 400,
      "strong": 700,
      "display": 700
    },
    "lineHeight": 1.55,
    "tracking": 0
  },
  "space": {
    "unit": 4,
    "density": "roomy"
  },
  "effects": {
    "surface": "flat",
    "accentStyle": "filled",
    "separator": "rule",
    "labelCase": "none",
    "blur": 0
  }
};

type Palette = typeof TOKENS.color.light;

export type GovPlainSpecimenProps = {
  theme?: "system" | "light" | "dark";
  /** Scopes the custom properties; only matters if you render two. */
  scope?: string;
};

function vars(palette: Palette): string {
  return [
    `--sp-bg: ${palette.bg}`,
    `--sp-surface: ${palette.surface}`,
    `--sp-border: ${palette.border}`,
    `--sp-text: ${palette.text}`,
    `--sp-muted: ${palette.muted}`,
    `--sp-accent: ${palette.accent}`,
    `--sp-accent-text: ${palette.accentText}`,
  ].join("; ");
}

/** Fixed content: identical in every specimen, on purpose. */
const NAV: readonly { label: string; path: string }[] = [
  { label: "Overview", path: "M3 9.5 9 4.5l6 5V15a1 1 0 0 1-1 1h-2.5v-4h-5v4H4a1 1 0 0 1-1-1z" },
  { label: "Orders", path: "M4 5h10l-1 9H5zM7 5V3.5h4V5" },
  { label: "Customers", path: "M9 9a2.6 2.6 0 1 0 0-5.2A2.6 2.6 0 0 0 9 9M3.6 15.4c0-2.4 2.4-3.8 5.4-3.8s5.4 1.4 5.4 3.8" },
  { label: "Reports", path: "M4.5 15V8M9 15V4.5M13.5 15v-4.5" },
  { label: "Settings", path: "M9 11.4A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 9 6.6a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 0 4.8M9 2.6v1.4M9 14v1.4M15.4 9H14M4 9H2.6M13.5 4.5l-1 1M5.5 12.5l-1 1M13.5 13.5l-1-1M5.5 5.5l-1-1" },
];

const STATS: readonly { label: string; value: string; delta: string; up: boolean }[] = [
  { label: "Revenue", value: "$48,290", delta: "+12.4%", up: true },
  { label: "Orders", value: "1,284", delta: "+3.1%", up: true },
  { label: "Refunds", value: "42", delta: "-1.8%", up: false },
];

const BARS: readonly { day: string; value: number }[] = [
  { day: "M", value: 0.42 },
  { day: "T", value: 0.61 },
  { day: "W", value: 0.38 },
  { day: "T", value: 0.74 },
  { day: "F", value: 0.93 },
  { day: "S", value: 0.55 },
  { day: "S", value: 0.29 },
];

const ROWS: readonly { name: string; meta: string; state: string; amount: string }[] = [
  { name: "Kyoto Print Co.", meta: "Invoice 2841", state: "Paid", amount: "420.00" },
  { name: "Aurora Supply", meta: "Invoice 2839", state: "Pending", amount: "186.50" },
  { name: "Northwind Studio", meta: "Invoice 2836", state: "Overdue", amount: "678.00" },
];

const SWITCHES: readonly { label: string; on: boolean }[] = [
  { label: "Auto-pay invoices", on: true },
  { label: "Email receipts", on: false },
];

/**
 * The material: how this style paints an element, as opposed to what
 * color it paints it. This is the part that makes Ruled
 * a different design language rather than a different theme —
 * There are no cards. A rule above a block announces it, spacing separates it, and nothing is ever enclosed.
 */
const MATERIAL = {
  "surface": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "boxShadow": "inset 0 2px 0 0 var(--sp-text)",
    "border": "none"
  },
  "button": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "color": "var(--sp-accent)",
    "boxShadow": "inset 0 -2px 0 0 var(--sp-accent)",
    "border": "none"
  },
  "switchOn": {
    "background": "var(--sp-accent)",
    "boxShadow": "none",
    "border": "none"
  },
  "switchOff": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "boxShadow": "inset 0 0 0 1px var(--sp-border)",
    "border": "none"
  },
  "knob": {
    "background": "var(--sp-surface)",
    "boxShadow": "none"
  },
  "navActive": {
    "background": "transparent",
    "boxShadow": "inset 2px 0 0 0 var(--sp-accent)"
  },
  "bar": {
    "background": "var(--sp-accent)",
    "boxShadow": "none",
    "border": "none"
  }
};

const SURFACE_BORDER = `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`;
const ROW_SEPARATOR = "2px solid var(--sp-text)";
const RING = 0.68;

export function GovPlainSpecimen({ theme = "system", scope = "sp-gov-plain" }: GovPlainSpecimenProps) {
  const css =
    theme === "light"
      ? `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.light)}}`
      : theme === "dark"
        ? `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.dark)}}`
        : `.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.light)}}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){.${scope}{${vars(TOKENS.color.dark)}}}`;

  const label: CSSProperties = {
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
    letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
    textTransform: "none",
    color: "var(--sp-muted)",
  };

  const meta: CSSProperties = {
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
    color: "var(--sp-muted)",
  };

  const card: CSSProperties = {
    ...MATERIAL.surface,
    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.md,
    padding: 19,
  };

  const heading: CSSProperties = {
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
    textTransform: "none",
    letterSpacing: "0",
  };

  const primary: CSSProperties = { ...MATERIAL.button, borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm };

  const pill = (active: boolean): CSSProperties => ({
    padding: "2px 8px",
    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
    background: active
      ? "var(--sp-accent)"
      : "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 10%, transparent)",
    color: active ? "var(--sp-accent-text)" : "var(--sp-muted)",
    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
    textTransform: "none",
    letterSpacing: "0",
  });

  return (
    <div
      className={scope}
      style={{
        width: 760,
        display: "flex",
        background: "var(--sp-bg)",
        color: "var(--sp-text)",
        font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px/${TOKENS.type.lineHeight} ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
        letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
        overflow: "hidden",
        position: "relative",
      }}
    >
      <style>{css}</style>

      {/* Sidebar */}
      <div
        style={{
          width: 176,
          flex: "none",
          display: "flex",
          flexDirection: "column",
          gap: 4,
          padding: 24,
          borderRight: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
          background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-surface) 70%, transparent)",
        }}
      >
        <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8, marginBottom: 18 }}>
          <span
            style={{
              width: 22,
              height: 22,
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
              background: "var(--sp-accent)",
              display: "grid",
              placeItems: "center",
              color: "var(--sp-accent-text)",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
            }}
          >
            N
          </span>
          <span
            style={{
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
              textTransform: "none",
              letterSpacing: "0",
            }}
          >
            Northwind
          </span>
        </div>

        {NAV.map((item, index) => (
          <span
            key={item.label}
            style={{
              display: "flex",
              alignItems: "center",
              gap: 9,
              height: 40,
              padding: "0 9px",
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
              ...(index === 0 ? MATERIAL.navActive : null),
              color: index === 0 ? "var(--sp-accent)" : "var(--sp-muted)",
              font: `${index === 0 ? TOKENS.type.weight.strong : TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
              textTransform: "none",
              letterSpacing: "0",
            }}
          >
            <svg width="17" height="17" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
              <path
                d={item.path}
                stroke="currentColor"
                strokeWidth={index === 0 ? 1.7 : 1.3}
                strokeLinecap="round"
                strokeLinejoin="round"
              />
            </svg>
            {item.label}
          </span>
        ))}

        <span style={{ flex: 1 }} />

        <span
          style={{
            display: "flex",
            alignItems: "center",
            gap: 8,
            paddingTop: 18,
            borderTop: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
          }}
        >
          <span
            style={{
              width: 26,
              height: 26,
              flex: "none",
              display: "grid",
              placeItems: "center",
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
              background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 12%, transparent)",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
            }}
          >
            MK
          </span>
          <span style={{ minWidth: 0 }}>
            <span style={{ display: "block", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
              Mika Ito
            </span>
            <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>Finance</span>
          </span>
        </span>
      </div>

      {/* Main */}
      <div
        style={{
          flex: 1,
          minWidth: 0,
          display: "flex",
          flexDirection: "column",
          gap: 18,
          padding: 24,
        }}
      >
        {/* Header */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 10 }}>
          <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
            <span style={{ ...label, display: "block" }}>March 2026</span>
            <span
              style={{
                display: "block",
                font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[4]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
                textTransform: "none",
                letterSpacing: `${TOKENS.type.tracking}em`,
              }}
            >
              Overview
            </span>
          </span>
          <span
            style={{
              display: "flex",
              alignItems: "center",
              gap: 7,
              padding: "7px 11px",
              background: "var(--sp-surface)",
              border: `${TOKENS.border.width}px solid var(--sp-border)`,
              borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
              color: "var(--sp-muted)",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
            }}
          >
            <svg width="13" height="13" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
              <circle cx="8" cy="8" r="5.4" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" />
              <path d="M12.4 12.4 16 16" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" strokeLinecap="round" />
            </svg>
            Search
          </span>
          <span
            style={{
              ...primary,
              padding: "8px 13px",
              font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}`,
              textTransform: "none",
              letterSpacing: "0",
            }}
          >
            New report
          </span>
        </div>

        {/* Stats */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 18 }}>
          {STATS.map((stat) => (
            <div key={stat.label} style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
              <span style={{ ...label, display: "block" }}>{stat.label}</span>
              <span
                style={{
                  display: "block",
                  marginTop: 3,
                  fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
                  font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.display} ${TOKENS.type.scale[4]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.display}`,
                }}
              >
                {stat.value}
              </span>
              <span style={{ display: "inline-flex", marginTop: 6, ...pill(stat.up) }}>
                {stat.delta}
              </span>
            </div>
          ))}
        </div>

        {/* Chart + ring */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 18 }}>
          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1.6, minWidth: 0 }}>
            <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "baseline", justifyContent: "space-between" }}>
              <span style={heading}>Revenue by day</span>
              <span style={meta}>7 days</span>
            </div>
            <div
              style={{
                display: "flex",
                alignItems: "flex-end",
                gap: 7,
                height: 104,
                marginTop: 10,
              }}
            >
              {BARS.map((bar, index) => (
                <span key={index} style={{ flex: 1, display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", alignItems: "center", gap: 5 }}>
                  <span
                    style={{
                      width: "100%",
                      height: bar.value * 86,
                      borderRadius: `${TOKENS.radius.sm}px ${TOKENS.radius.sm}px 0 0`,
                      ...(index === 4
                        ? MATERIAL.bar
                        : {
                            background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-accent) 32%, var(--sp-surface))",
                            border: SURFACE_BORDER,
                          }),
                    }}
                  />
                  <span style={meta}>{bar.day}</span>
                </span>
              ))}
            </div>
          </div>

          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0, display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 12 }}>
            <span
              style={{
                width: 74,
                height: 74,
                flex: "none",
                borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                display: "grid",
                placeItems: "center",
                background: `conic-gradient(var(--sp-accent) 0turn ${RING}turn, color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 12%, transparent) ${RING}turn 1turn)`,
              }}
            >
              <span
                style={{
                  width: 52,
                  height: 52,
                  borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                  background: "var(--sp-surface)",
                  display: "grid",
                  placeItems: "center",
                  fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
                  font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[2]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
                }}
              >
                68%
              </span>
            </span>
            <span style={{ minWidth: 0 }}>
              <span style={{ ...heading, display: "block" }}>Budget</span>
              <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block", marginTop: 4 }}>Spent $34,120</span>
              <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>Left $16,170</span>
            </span>
          </div>
        </div>

        {/* Table + controls */}
        <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 18 }}>
          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1.6, minWidth: 0, padding: 0, overflow: "hidden" }}>
            <div
              style={{
                display: "flex",
                alignItems: "center",
                justifyContent: "space-between",
                padding: `${19}px ${19}px 8px`,
              }}
            >
              <span style={heading}>Recent orders</span>
              <span style={{ color: "var(--sp-accent)", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
                View all
              </span>
            </div>
            {ROWS.map((row, index) => (
              <div
                key={row.name}
                style={{
                  display: "flex",
                  alignItems: "center",
                  gap: 10,
                  height: 52,
                  padding: `0 ${19}px`,
                  borderTop: ROW_SEPARATOR,
                }}
              >
                <span
                  style={{
                    width: 24,
                    height: 24,
                    flex: "none",
                    display: "grid",
                    placeItems: "center",
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.sm,
                    background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 9%, transparent)",
                    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
                  }}
                >
                  {row.name.slice(0, 1)}
                </span>
                <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
                  <span style={{ display: "block", font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
                    {row.name}
                  </span>
                  <span style={{ ...meta, display: "block" }}>{row.meta}</span>
                </span>
                <span style={pill(index === 0)}>{row.state}</span>
                <span
                  style={{
                    width: 66,
                    textAlign: "right",
                    fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums",
                    font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.strong} ${TOKENS.type.scale[1]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.mono}`,
                  }}
                >
                  {row.amount}
                </span>
              </div>
            ))}
          </div>

          <div style={{ ...card, flex: 1, minWidth: 0, display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 10 }}>
            <span style={heading}>Preferences</span>
            {SWITCHES.map((item) => (
              <span key={item.label} style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 10 }}>
                <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0, font: `${TOKENS.type.weight.body} ${TOKENS.type.scale[0]}px ${TOKENS.type.family.body}` }}>
                  {item.label}
                </span>
                <span
                  style={{
                    width: 34,
                    height: 20,
                    flex: "none",
                    position: "relative",
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                    ...(item.on ? MATERIAL.switchOn : MATERIAL.switchOff),
                  }}
                >
                  <span
                    style={{
                      position: "absolute",
                      top: 3,
                      left: item.on ? 17 : 3,
                      width: 14,
                      height: 14,
                      borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                      ...MATERIAL.knob,
                    }}
                  />
                </span>
              </span>
            ))}
            <span style={{ marginTop: 2 }}>
              <span style={{ display: "flex", justifyContent: "space-between" }}>
                <span style={meta}>Alert threshold</span>
                <span style={{ ...meta, fontVariantNumeric: "tabular-nums" }}>62%</span>
              </span>
              <span
                style={{
                  display: "block",
                  position: "relative",
                  height: 5,
                  marginTop: 7,
                  borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                  background: "color-mix(in srgb, var(--sp-text) 14%, transparent)",
                }}
              >
                <span
                  style={{
                    position: "absolute",
                    inset: "0 38% 0 0",
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                    background: "var(--sp-accent)",
                  }}
                />
                <span
                  style={{
                    position: "absolute",
                    top: -5,
                    left: "62%",
                    width: 15,
                    height: 15,
                    marginLeft: -7,
                    borderRadius: TOKENS.radius.pill,
                    background: "var(--sp-surface)",
                    border: `2px solid var(--sp-accent)`,
                  }}
                />
              </span>
            </span>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

export default GovPlainSpecimen;

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