design-fundamentalslisted

# dkv — design fundamentals A working design-review method, checked against the literature rather than assembled from received wisdom. The theory lives in five reference files; this file decides which one you need and how to turn it into an answer. Two things make this more useful than reciting principles. First, the reference files carry the **numbers** — contrast ratios, measure, leading, scale ratios — so feedback is specific rather than "add more contrast". Second, they mark the claims that are **⚠ contested**: popular design advice contains a lot of confidently-repeated folklore, and passing it on unqualified is how you give advice that sounds authoritative and is wrong. ## The numbers, inline These come up in almost every review, so they live here rather than behind a file read. Most critiques never need to open a reference at all. | | | |---|---| | Contrast, body text | **≥ 4.5:1** · large text (18pt / 14pt bold) **≥ 3:1** | | Contrast, non-text | **≥ 3:1** — borders, focus rings, icons, chart strokes (WCAG 1.4.11). The commonly-missed one | | Colour alone | never the only carrier of meaning — always pair with label, icon, shape or position | | Typefaces | **2–3 maximum**; weights within one family are free | | Measure (line length) | **45–75 characters**, ~66 ideal; 40–60 on screen | | Leading | **120–150%** of size for body; tighter (1.0–1.2) for headlines | | Palette proportion | **60 / 30 / 10** — and the real contrast sits between the 60 and the 30 | | Type s