The field guide
Every primitive, state, and variant in the Dataplate design system, on one page. If a new pattern needs to exist, it is added here first and used second. If a PR wants to introduce markup that doesn’t appear on this page, it needs a conversation first.
Paper & ink
The palette is warm paper under deep logbook ink, with aviation rust as the primary accent, forest ink green for signed entries, amber for caution, and crimson for overdue or grounding. The slate informational tone is used sparingly for pure neutrality.
Typography
Fraunces (display serif) for headings and marks, Hanken Grotesk (body sans) for running text, JetBrains Mono for data, hashes, hours, and tail numbers. Eyebrows and small caps lead sections in mono at 11–14 px with wide letter-spacing.
The catalog is the moat.
talk to your graph
Annual paperwork, generated from signed events
Every evaluation result cites both a catalog source (the AD node and edge predicate) and instance sources (the specific events and components evaluated). Missing data produces a response in the same shape as an applicability_unknown status: what was checked, what is missing, what would change the answer, what the mechanic can do now.
Pills & stamps
Pills carry status and category; stamps carry regulatory seals. Both speak in uppercase mono with wide letter-spacing so they read as annotation, not as first-class content.
Cards & panels
Cards carry content blocks; panels are cards with corner ticks, evoking a filed form. Ink cards invert the palette for emphasis blocks.
Inverted palette
For emphasis blocks, hero stats, or chat-style conversation surfaces where the content needs to step forward.
Stats & gauges
Dashboard numbers live in stat blocks with a 3 px colored leading rule. Gauges visualize compliance progress without occupying much vertical space.
Tables & key-value rows
Tables use a deep-rule head and hairline rows with a subtle rust hover. Key-value rows are for form-style data blocks where labels live left in mono small-caps.
| Status | Tail | Type | Next action | Open ADs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N0847M | Beech F33A | Next annual 2027-04 | 0 | |
| N1974P | Cessna 182P | AD 2026-04-11 cam inspection | 2 | |
| N4421E | Piper PA-28-181 | Annual overdue by 18 days | 3 | |
| N2097K | Mooney M20J | 8130 tag pending — owner contact | 0 |
Forms & buttons
Fields carry a darker rule than the card face so forms read as structured. Buttons are uppercase mono with sharp corners; rust is primary, forest is for signing, ghost is for secondary.
Signatures & hashes
Every signed session produces a block that carries the signer, the timestamp, and the hash-chain position. The script mark evokes a handwritten signature; the hash is mono, truncated, and anchors to the full chain.
Component tree
A recursive tree of the airframe and everything installed on it. Each row is the entry point to that component’s records; the selected row is outlined in rust.
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AIRFRAMEBeech F33A Bonanza · N0847M · CE-842 4,218.3 TTSN CURRENT
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ENGINEContinental IO-520-BA · s/n 271894 1,184.7 SMOH DUE
- MAGNETOSlick 6310 · L412.1 SNEWTRACKED
- MAGNETOSlick 6310 · R412.1 SNEWTRACKED
- TURBO—n/aNORMALLY ASPIRATED
-
PROPMcCauley D3A32C · s/n 842195 684.9 SMOH CURRENT
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AVIONICSGarmin GTN 750Xi n/a INFORMATIONAL
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Timeline
Build journals, session ledgers, and amendment chains all render against the timeline pattern. Signed entries carry a solid forest node; drafts are hollow.
Annual inspection signed
One cryptographic act committed 34 events: compression 62–74·80, AD 2023-15-07 complied, oil filter cut without particulates, pitot-static due 2028.
Magneto overhaul — left
Slick 6310 s/n 271894L returned to service after 500-hr inspection.
Discrepancy — oil leak at sump
Weeping at rear crankcase split line; not yet signed. Photo attached.
Status dots & rules
Status dots are a quieter alternative to pills for table rows and inline indicators. Rules separate sections; the double rule marks major breaks; the dashed rule marks page-header edges.