PaperTech Design Language Specification

1. Introduction

The essence of PaperTech lies in its blend of minimalism and tactile sophistication, combining a modern, digital aesthetic with the tangible feel of premium paper materials. It draws inspiration from the tactile satisfaction of high-end chocolate packaging and the sleek functionality of minimalist interfaces like LCARS. Key aspects include:

1. Materiality & Texture: PaperTech is grounded in textures reminiscent of matte, high-quality construction paper or thick cardstock. These surfaces are intentionally designed to be touchable, creating an experience that feels both high-end and approachable, avoiding glossy or metallic finishes.
2. Color Palette: Dominated by deep, muted grays (such as #111111, #222222, and #333333), the palette conveys a sense of quiet sophistication. Soft accent colors, like desaturated neon blue (#0095e3) and orange (#ff9b00), provide a subtle, digital warmth. These colors are not overly vibrant but serve to highlight edges and guide interactions without overwhelming the design.
3. Design Elements – Parcels & Morsels: These interactable units evoke calm, ASMR-like responses, relying on structured, origami-inspired folds and creases. Each shape in PaperTech is crisp and angular, favoring clean geometry over curves or complex details.
4. Ambient, Sci-Fi Atmosphere: With minimal lighting effects and a futuristic yet understated aesthetic, PaperTech feels advanced but grounded. Its quiet ambiance and geometric purity present a vision of the future that feels both comforting and accessible.

In essence, PaperTech is a sophisticated yet calming design language, bridging futuristic digital interactivity with the tactile pleasure of premium paper materials.

2. Core Principles

Minimalism

PaperTech prioritizes simplicity and functionality, avoiding unnecessary embellishments. All elements adhere to a strict, geometric structure to maintain visual harmony.

Tactility

The design evokes a paper-like feel, with matte finishes and subtle textures to create a soothing, ASMR-inspired experience.

Futuristic Elegance

Inspired by minimalist sci-fi aesthetics, PaperTech incorporates subtle, neon-like edge accents in muted colors, giving it a modern, forward-thinking edge.

3. Color Palette

The PaperTech color palette emphasizes muted grays as base colors, with soft, neon accents for highlighting edges and interactive elements.

4. Shapes and Geometry

PaperTech relies on strict, angular shapes with sharp edges. All elements are constructed from basic geometric forms, like rectangles and polygons, with no rounded corners.

5. Texture and Material

The primary material is a thick, construction-paper-like texture with a matte finish. Surfaces are dry, soft, and non-reflective, resembling high-end chocolate packaging. Subtle folds and creases may be used to enhance the tactile experience.

6. Lighting and Shadow

Ambient lighting in PaperTech is minimal and calm, creating a quiet, ASMR-like experience. Subtle neon-like accents should only appear along sharp edges and should not overwhelm the matte texture.

7. Interaction Elements

Indicators in PaperTech are limited to subtle neon accents along edges, signaling interactivity without overt visual noise. Feedback animations, if present, should be minimal and maintain the ASMR-inspired calmness.

8. Component Library

Parcels

Primary containers in the PaperTech design. Parcels are flat, angular structures with matte gray surfaces and subtle neon edges.

Morsels

Interactive elements that act as collectibles. Morsels are small, geometric shards that emit a faint glow in muted orange or blue along their edges.

9. Example Use Cases

Scenes should incorporate Parcels and Morsels to create a calming, tactile environment with muted lighting and quiet interactions.

10. Do's and Don’ts

• Do use muted grays as primary colors and soft neon accents.
• Do use sharp, angular edges and strict geometric shapes.
• Do not use rounded shapes or reflective materials.
• Do not overuse neon accents or bright lighting.