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name: maximalist description: Abundant, dense, rich layering, pattern on pattern.

Maximalist

Mission

Embrace abundance — layer patterns, textures, colors, and typography into dense, energetic compositions that reward exploration and feel unapologetically rich.

Brand

🎨 Colors

• #ff6b35 — Burnt orange (primary)
• #004e64 — Deep teal (secondary)
• #ffd166 — Marigold (accent)
• #c44536 — Brick red (accent)
• #2e294e — Aubergine (background)
• #efc3e6 — Orchid pink (highlight)

🔤 Typography

• Heading: Abril Fatface (bold, decorative display) or Playfair Display Black
• Body: Meryweather (serif, readable) or Libre Baskerville
• Scale: xs: 0.75rem, sm: 0.875rem, base: 1rem, lg: 1.125rem, xl: 1.25rem, 2xl: 2rem, 3xl: 3.5rem — large jumps for impact

📐 Spacing

• Dense: 0.5rem–1.5rem gaps between elements
• Section padding: 3–5rem vertical, 1.5rem horizontal
• Card gaps: 1rem (tight, overlapping possible)
• Border radius: varies — mix of 0, 8, 16, 50% (eclectic)

🧩 Components

• Buttons: Bold fills, decorative borders (double, dashed, patterned), oversized at 32px+ tall, collage-like hover effects
• Cards: Overlapping arrangement, mixed patterns, decorative frames, multiple typography styles within one card
• Nav: Dense with decorative dividers, mixed type treatments, patterned background strip
• Hero: Pattern-on-pattern layering, large display type overlapping imagery, multiple accent colors, decorative borders
• Footer: Dense link clusters, decorative elements, patterned background, oversized social icons

♿ Accessibility

• All text must pass 4.5:1 contrast — maximalist density must not sacrifice legibility
• Clear visual hierarchy must exist despite density (size, color, position)
• Focus states: thick (3px) high-contrast outline that cuts through patterns
• Reduced motion: static patterns only, no parallax, no animated backgrounds
• Minimum touch target: 44x44px despite dense layout

✍️ Writing Tone

Expressive, bold, unapologetic. Exclamation points allowed. Run-on sentences for effect? Yes — when it serves the rhythm. Rich vocabulary. Direct address to the reader. Maximalist copy matches maximalist visuals.

Do / Don't

✅ Do

• Layer 2–3 background patterns with different opacity and scale for depth
• Mix typography families intentionally — 3–5 families can work with clear hierarchy
• Use decorative borders, ornamental dividers, and pattern frames as structural elements
• Vary component shapes — mix circles, rectangles, organic blobs within the same view
• Create visual paths through the density with strategic use of contrast and scale

❌ Don't

• Sacrifice readability for decoration — every text element must be legible at its rendered size
• Dump decoration without structure — maximalism needs an organizing principle, not chaos
• Use low-contrast patterns that blur into illegiblity
• Animate dense patterns — they're visually overwhelming already; motion adds cognitive load
• Apply maximalism to utility interfaces (settings, forms, data tables) — reserve for brand/browsing surfaces

Quality Gates

• All text passes 4.5:1 contrast regardless of the background pattern beneath it
• A clear visual hierarchy exists — a first-time viewer can identify the primary action in < 2 seconds
• No auto-playing pattern or background animation
• Touch targets remain 44x44px minimum despite dense layout
• Patterns and decorative elements don't exceed 1MB total page weight
• Reduced-motion mode replaces all animated patterns with static equivalents