A List Apart

Document MinimalVisit sitealistapart.com

A large cropped wordmark gives a text-first publication character, while dates, titles and summaries make recent articles easy to scan.

A List Apart — captured interface — Viewport capture · opening screen

Source capture · 2026-09-08Open full image ↗

Why this pattern works

A large cropped wordmark gives a text-first publication character, while dates, titles and summaries make recent articles easy to scan.

Design notes

Mood: Text-first and editorial
Colors: White canvas and black type with small red date accents.
Type: Bold sans-serif titles contrast with serif article descriptions.
Layout: Oversized masthead above a narrow centered article feed with an understated sidebar.
Motion: One still opening viewport is documented. Visit the original source to study animation and scrolling.
Texture: Product photography and material detail provide the texture, with restrained interface decoration.
Don't: Adapt the visual hierarchy using your own branding, copy and imagery.

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Your project

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Tech stack

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What should the tool respect?

Preview & edit prompt

Prompt text

# My project
[Describe the product, audience, and screen you want to improve]

Stack: Use the existing project stack
Task: Implement the interface and verify the result in the existing project.

## Tool guidance (Any AI tool)
Use available project tools to inspect, implement, and test. State any unavailable capabilities.

# Design reference: A List Apart
Source: https://alistapart.com/
Swipefile reference: https://swipefile.design/ref/expand-a-list-apart/
Captured: 2026-09-08. This is a dated reference, not a claim about the current live product.
Capture scope: one viewport. Do not infer unseen page sections or a complete user flow.

## Objective
Adapt the visual principles below to my project. Use my own content and identity. Do not reproduce logos, proprietary copy, or brand assets.

## Reference notes
- mood: Text-first and editorial
- colors: White canvas and black type with small red date accents.
- typography: Bold sans-serif titles contrast with serif article descriptions.
- layout: Oversized masthead above a narrow centered article feed with an understated sidebar.
- motion: One still opening viewport is documented. Visit the original source to study animation and scrolling.
- texture: Product photography and material detail provide the texture, with restrained interface decoration.
- dont: Adapt the visual hierarchy using your own branding, copy and imagery.

Useful for: A large cropped wordmark gives a text-first publication character, while dates, titles and summaries make recent articles easy to scan.

## Acceptance criteria
- Existing project conventions, design tokens, working functionality, and unrelated changes are preserved.
- Two or three reference principles clearly support the user's task; conflicts are resolved in favor of usability and the existing product.
- Reusable components and semantic HTML express the interface. Available licensed assets are used; important UI text is never rendered as a bitmap.
- Every visible control has a defined behavior. Loading, empty, error, success, disabled, and long-content states are specified where relevant. Demo data is clearly labeled.
- Navigation and content adapt at 375px, 768px, and 1440px without horizontal page overflow. Keyboard use, visible focus, labeled inputs, at least 44px touch targets, readable contrast, and reduced motion are supported.
- Verification distinguishes rendered behavior from proposals and identifies anything still requiring a backend or external service.

## Quality bar
Clear hierarchy, consistent spacing, restrained surfaces, and purposeful motion. Avoid decorative gradients, excessive cards, placeholder buttons, and invented metrics unless the project calls for them. Do not claim a feature is connected or tested without evidence.

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## Objective
Adapt the visual principles below to my project. Use my own content and identity. Do not reproduce logos, proprietary copy, or brand assets.

Useful for: A large cropped wordmark gives a text-first publication character, while dates, titles and summaries make recent articles easy to scan.

A List Apart

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