jobtrackingapp/docs/_archive/pre-docs-cleanup-2026-09-11/docs/03-design-principles.md

Design Principles

Goal

Create a premium, modern career management experience.

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Visual Direction

The application should feel:

• Professional.
• Modern.
• Calm.
• Intelligent.
• Trustworthy.

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Inspirations

Notion

For:

• Organisation.
• Clean interfaces.
• Flexible content.

Linear

For:

• Professional software feel.
• Speed.
• Keyboard-friendly workflows.

FlowCV

For:

• CV creation experience.
• Template selection.
• Visual editing.

Jobscan

For:

• Career optimisation.

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Navigation

Users should always understand:

Where am I?

What can I do?

What happens next?

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Forms

Forms should:

• Be grouped logically.
• Explain fields.
• Validate clearly.
• Avoid unnecessary questions.

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Empty States

Every empty state should explain:

• Why it matters.
• What action to take.
• How to get started.

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Errors

Errors should:

• Explain what happened.
• Suggest next steps.
• Avoid technical language.

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Dark Mode

Dark mode should be supported.

It should feel designed, not inverted.

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Accessibility

All features should consider:

• Keyboard navigation.
• Screen readers.
• Contrast.
• Clear focus states.