Content primitives
Typography, rhythm, actions, and generated navigation.
Prose
The default reading experience should already feel intentional.
A base theme should provide a comfortable reading measure, useful line height, sensible hierarchy, and predictable spacing without making a strong brand statement.
This second paragraph exists to make ordinary sibling rhythm visible. It should feel related to the first paragraph without collapsing into it.
Inline markup can add emphasis while the paragraph primitive remains responsible for the overall prose treatment.
Lists
A semantic list should inherit the same reading language while owning the mechanics that make a list recognizable.
- Base owns the useful default.
- Themes configure values through variables.
- Themes extend only when they have a real additional opinion.
- Start with the primitive.
- Add the semantic delta.
- Avoid recreating the standard styling.
Calls to action
A CTA should look complete before a brand theme touches it.
The default CTA is a good test of how far Base can go without becoming something future themes must undo.
Alignment
Left-aligned paragraph.
Centered paragraph.
Right-aligned paragraph.