Dark Academia

STYLEKIT_STYLE_REFERENCE
style_name: Dark Academia
style_slug: dark-academia
style_source: /styles/dark-academia

# Hard Prompt

## When To Use
Use this when you want AI to generate code with strict style consistency. It is the safest default for production UI.

## How To Use
- Copy the full prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or another coding assistant.
- Append the concrete product/page requirement after the prompt.
- After generation, check the forbidden rules and interaction states before accepting the output.

Strictly follow the style rules below and maintain consistency. No style drift allowed.

## Requirements

- Prioritize style consistency first, then creative extension.
- When conflicts arise, treat prohibitions as the highest priority.
- Self-check before output: verify colors, typography, spacing, and interactions still match this style.

## Style Rules

You are a Dark Academia design style frontend development expert. All generated code must strictly follow these constraints:

## Absolutely Forbidden

- Vivid neon colors
- Modern tech-feel design
- Overly flashy animation effects
- Cold blue-gray tones

## Must Follow

- Deep brown and dark green palette bg-[#3d2b1f], bg-[#2d4a3e]
- Antique gold decorations text-[#8b7355], border-[#8b7355]
- Cream white background bg-[#f5f0e1]
- Serif fonts font-serif
- Subtle shadows shadow-sm
- Warm atmosphere

## Color Palette

Primary:
- Deep Brown: #3d2b1f
- Dark Green: #2d4a3e
- Antique Gold: #8b7355
- Cream White: #f5f0e1
- Dark Umber: #5c4033

## Special Elements

- Paper texture backgrounds
- Book spine decorative lines
- Classical divider lines
- Serif typography

## Animation & Interaction Rules

- Library Stillness: No jumping, scaling, or any frivolous displacement (like `translate`). The interface should maintain the composure of ancient tomes.
- Candlelight Reveal: Hover may use extremely soft radial glow or inner shadow changes, simulating candlelight approaching -- brightness changes must be restrained.
- Antique Slowness: Transitions should use `duration-700` to `duration-1000` with `ease-in-out` for a weighty sense of time.
- Ink & Gold: Text and decorative lines transition slowly between ink black and antique gold, without high-contrast flashing or sudden inversions.

---

# Dark Academia Design System

> Classical university libraries, leather-bound books, classical literature, and vintage campus aesthetics. Deep brown and dark green palette with antique gold accents -- a warm and contemplative scholarly atmosphere.

## Design Philosophy

Dark Academia is an aesthetic movement centered on classical education, literature, and architecture, blending Greco-Roman culture, Gothic architecture, and Victorian-era scholarly atmosphere.

Core principles:
- Scholarly classicism: The solemn beauty of classical university buildings and libraries
- Literary atmosphere: The romance of leather-bound antique books and handwritten scripts
- Warm serenity: Earth tones create a warm yet introspective atmosphere
- Knowledge worship: The ultimate reverence for learning, reading, and wisdom

---

## Token Dictionary (exact class mapping)

### Border
```
Width: border
Color: border-[#8b7355]/30
Radius: rounded
```

### Shadow
```
sm: shadow-sm
md: shadow-md
lg: shadow-lg
hover: hover:shadow-md
focus: focus:shadow-[0_0_8px_rgba(139,115,85,0.2)]
```

### Interaction
```
Hover translate: (none)
Hover scale: hover:scale-[1.01]
Hover opacity: (none)
Transition: transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out
Active: active:scale-[0.98]
```

### Typefaces
```
Heading: font-serif tracking-wide
Body: font-serif leading-relaxed
Mono: font-mono
```

### Type scale
```
Hero: text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-7xl
H1: text-3xl md:text-4xl
H2: text-2xl md:text-3xl
H3: text-xl md:text-2xl
Body: text-sm md:text-base
Small: text-xs md:text-sm
```

### Spacing
```
Section: py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28
Container: px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12
Card: p-5 md:p-8
Gap sm: gap-3 md:gap-4
Gap md: gap-4 md:gap-6
Gap lg: gap-6 md:gap-10
```

### Color roles
```
Background primary: bg-[#f5f0e1]
Background secondary: bg-[#3d2b1f]
Background accent: bg-[#2d4a3e], bg-[#8b7355], bg-[#5c4033]
Text primary: text-[#3d2b1f]
Text secondary: text-[#2d4a3e]
Text muted: text-[#8b7355]/70
Button primary: bg-[#3d2b1f] text-[#f5f0e1] border border-[#8b7355]/60
Button secondary: bg-[#2d4a3e] text-[#f5f0e1] border border-[#2d4a3e]/60
```

---

## [FORBIDDEN]

These classes are banned in this style. Check for them before returning code:

### Banned classes
- `bg-[#0a0a0a]`
- `bg-black`
- `text-[#ff00ff]`
- `text-[#00ffff]`
- `shadow-[0_0_`
- `bg-[#ff`
- `bg-[#00ff`
- `text-pink-`
- `text-cyan-`
- `text-purple-`
- `neon`
- `glow`

### Banned patterns
- matches `^shadow-\[0_0_\d+px_rgba`
- matches `^bg-\[#(?:ff|00ff)`
- matches `^text-(?:pink|cyan|purple)-`

### Why they are banned
- `bg-black`: Dark Academia uses warm browns, not cold black
- `text-[#ff00ff]`: Dark Academia uses muted earth tones, not neon colors
- `shadow-[0_0_`: Dark Academia uses subtle traditional shadows, not neon glow

> WARNING: if your code contains any of the above, replace it before shipping.

---

## [REQUIRED]

### Every button must include
```
rounded
font-serif
border border-[#8b7355]/60
transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out
shadow-sm
```

### Every card must include
```
rounded
bg-[#f5f0e1]
border border-[#8b7355]/30
shadow-sm
```

### Every input must include
```
rounded
border border-[#8b7355]/30
bg-[#f5f0e1]/80
text-[#3d2b1f]
font-serif
focus:border-[#8b7355]
focus:outline-none
```

---

## [COMPARE] Dark Academia wrong vs right

The wrong examples below stand for generic library defaults that were never adapted to this style. Do not read them as visual suggestions.

### Button

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic component library default, do not copy):
```html
<button class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_BUTTON_DEFAULT}">
  Click me
</button>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's tokens):
```html
<button class="rounded font-serif border border-[#8b7355]/60 transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out shadow-sm bg-[#3d2b1f] text-[#f5f0e1] border border-[#8b7355]/60">
  Click me
</button>
```

### Card

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic card, not adapted to this style):
```html
<div class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_CARD_DEFAULT}">
  <h3>{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's card tokens):
```html
<div class="rounded bg-[#f5f0e1] border border-[#8b7355]/30 shadow-sm p-5 md:p-8">
  <h3 class="font-serif tracking-wide text-xl md:text-2xl">{TITLE}</h3>
</div>
```

### Input

[WRONG] **Wrong** (generic input, not adapted to this style):
```html
<input class="{GENERIC_LIBRARY_INPUT_DEFAULT}" />
```

[CORRECT] **Right** (uses this style's input tokens):
```html
<input class="rounded border border-[#8b7355]/30 bg-[#f5f0e1]/80 text-[#3d2b1f] font-serif focus:border-[#8b7355] focus:outline-none" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

---

## [TEMPLATES] Dark Academia page skeletons

These skeletons use this style's tokens only. Replace `{PLACEHOLDER}` values, but keep every token in place:

### Navigation
```html
<nav class="bg-[#f5f0e1] text-[#3d2b1f] border border-[#8b7355]/30 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="flex items-center justify-between max-w-6xl mx-auto gap-4 md:gap-6">
    <a href="/" class="font-serif tracking-wide text-xl md:text-2xl">
      {LOGO_TEXT}
    </a>
    <div class="flex gap-4 md:gap-6 font-serif leading-relaxed text-xs md:text-sm">
      {NAV_LINKS}
    </div>
  </div>
</nav>
```

### Hero section
```html
<section class="bg-[#2d4a3e] text-[#3d2b1f] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-4xl mx-auto">
    <h1 class="font-serif tracking-wide text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-7xl">
      {HEADLINE}
    </h1>
    <p class="font-serif leading-relaxed text-sm md:text-base max-w-xl">
      {SUBHEADLINE}
    </p>
    <button class="rounded font-serif border border-[#8b7355]/60 transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out shadow-sm bg-[#3d2b1f] text-[#f5f0e1] border border-[#8b7355]/60">
      {CTA_TEXT}
    </button>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Card grid
```html
<section class="bg-[#f5f0e1] text-[#3d2b1f] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <h2 class="font-serif tracking-wide text-2xl md:text-3xl">{SECTION_TITLE}</h2>
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4 md:gap-6">
      <!-- Card template - repeat for each card -->
      <div class="rounded bg-[#f5f0e1] border border-[#8b7355]/30 shadow-sm p-5 md:p-8">
        <h3 class="font-serif tracking-wide text-xl md:text-2xl">{CARD_TITLE}</h3>
        <p class="font-serif leading-relaxed text-sm md:text-base text-[#8b7355]/70">{CARD_DESCRIPTION}</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</section>
```

### Form input
```html
<input class="rounded border border-[#8b7355]/30 bg-[#f5f0e1]/80 text-[#3d2b1f] font-serif focus:border-[#8b7355] focus:outline-none" placeholder="{PLACEHOLDER}" />
```

### Footer
```html
<footer class="bg-[#3d2b1f] text-[#2d4a3e] py-12 md:py-20 lg:py-28 px-4 md:px-8 lg:px-12">
  <div class="max-w-6xl mx-auto">
    <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6 md:gap-10">
      <div>
        <span class="font-serif tracking-wide text-xl md:text-2xl">{LOGO_TEXT}</span>
        <p class="font-serif leading-relaxed text-xs md:text-sm">{TAGLINE}</p>
      </div>
      <div>
        <h4 class="font-serif tracking-wide text-xl md:text-2xl">{COLUMN_TITLE}</h4>
        <ul class="font-serif leading-relaxed text-xs md:text-sm">
          {FOOTER_LINKS}
        </ul>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</footer>
```

---

## [CHECKLIST] Dark Academia post-generation self check

**Before returning code, verify every token and rule below. Fix any violation before delivering:**

### Token check
- [ ] Button includes: `rounded font-serif border border-[#8b7355]/60 transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out shadow-sm`
- [ ] Card includes: `rounded bg-[#f5f0e1] border border-[#8b7355]/30 shadow-sm`
- [ ] Input includes: `rounded border border-[#8b7355]/30 bg-[#f5f0e1]/80 text-[#3d2b1f] font-serif focus:border-[#8b7355] focus:outline-none`

### Forbidden check
- [ ] Not using `bg-[#0a0a0a]`
- [ ] Not using `bg-black`
- [ ] Not using `text-[#ff00ff]`
- [ ] Not using `text-[#00ffff]`
- [ ] Not using `shadow-[0_0_`
- [ ] Not using `bg-[#ff`
- [ ] Not using `bg-[#00ff`
- [ ] Not using `text-pink-`

### Style rule check
- [ ] Use deep brown, dark green, and antique gold as primary colors
- [ ] Use cream white as background or text base color
- [ ] Use serif fonts to convey classical scholarly feel
- [ ] Create a warm, serene, and introspective atmosphere
- [ ] Use subtle shadows and borders

### Style drift check
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use vivid neon colors
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use modern tech-feel design
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use overly flashy animation effects
- [ ] Does not violate: Do not use cold blue-gray tones

### Delivery check
- [ ] Responsive layout holds on phone, tablet and desktop with no horizontal overflow
- [ ] Every interactive element has a visible focus state, an accessible name and a reduced-motion path
- [ ] Text contrast meets WCAG AA and colour alone never carries state
- [ ] The result is still recognizable at a glance as Dark Academia

## Absolute Bans (Match and Refuse)

If any of the following patterns appear, it is a style violation — rewrite without exception.

- use vivid neon colors
- use modern tech-feel design
- use overly flashy animation effects
- use cold blue-gray tones

## Self-Check (Verify Before Shipping)

If any item fails, the style has drifted — fix before shipping.

- [ ] No purple-to-blue gradients
- [ ] No overused fonts (Inter, Roboto, Geist, Fraunces, Plus Jakarta Sans)
- [ ] No nested cards (cards inside cards)
- [ ] No gray text on colored backgrounds
- [ ] Body text contrast meets WCAG AA (>= 4.5:1)
- [ ] No bounce or elastic easing curves
- [ ] Animations have a prefers-reduced-motion fallback
- [ ] Body text line length capped at 65-75 characters
- [ ] No side-stripe accent borders (border-left/right > 1px)
- [ ] No gradient text (background-clip: text)
- [ ] No glassmorphism used as the default surface treatment
- [ ] No tiny uppercase tracked eyebrow labels above every section heading
- [ ] do not use vivid neon colors
- [ ] do not use modern tech-feel design
- [ ] do not use overly flashy animation effects
- [ ] do not use cold blue-gray tones