Design System

A comprehensive guide to the visual language, components, and image styles used across Lincoln Mitchell's portfolio.

Design Token Expertise

With deep expertise in design tokens and systematic design infrastructure, I've helped enterprise teams build scalable, maintainable design systems that bridge the gap between design and development.

Dentsu Dentsu Merkle Merkle PenCS PenCS

All these efforts now get generated by just me and AI. Watch this space as I discover the possibilities of what a design system + AI is capable of by attending:

Into Design Systems

AI Design Systems

conference and community · March 19–20, 2026

Meet me at intodesignsystems.com

Technical Capabilities

Token Studio Token Studio StyleDictionary StyleDictionary Chakra UI Chakra UI Plasmic Plasmic
  • Token Studio for Figma - Creating and managing design tokens directly within Figma for seamless designer-developer handoff
  • StyleDictionary pipelines - Transforming design tokens into platform-specific outputs (CSS, iOS, Android, JSON)
  • Chakra UI token theming - Implementing semantic token layers and component-level theming with Chakra's design system
  • Plasmic token registration - Configuring design tokens for low-code/no-code visual builders and content editors
Before
2025

Before AI Agents

  • Manual token documentation
  • Days to build component libraries
  • Stale documentation
  • Separate design & dev workflows
Now
2026

With AI Agents

  • Auto-generated documentation
  • Hours to full design systems
  • Living, self-updating docs
  • Unified AI-assisted workflow

Colors

Primary Palette

Primary
Primary Blue
#2563eb
--color-primary
Primary Dark
Primary Dark
#1e40af
--color-primary-dark
Primary Light
Primary Light
#3b82f6
--color-primary-light
Secondary
Secondary Purple
#8b5cf6
--color-secondary
Accent
Accent Cyan
#06b6d4
--color-accent

Neon Palette (Hero/Dark Sections)

Neon Magenta
#FF00FF
Neon Cyan
#00FFFF
Pink/Fuchsia
#d946ef
Soft Blue
#60a5fa
Light Pink
#f0abfc

Color Symbolism: Discovery & Delivery

Colors in this design system carry intentional meaning, representing the dual nature of innovation work.

Blue: Discovery

  • Creativity - Exploration of new ideas and possibilities
  • Divergence - Expanding options, brainstorming, ideation
  • Innovation - Pushing boundaries, experimentation
  • Openness - Receptive to change and new perspectives

Used for: Primary branding, CTAs in discovery contexts, ideation phases

Pink/Magenta: Delivery

  • Execution - Turning ideas into tangible outcomes
  • Convergence - Narrowing focus, making decisions
  • Implementation - Building, shipping, completing
  • Results - Measurable impact and delivery

Used for: Delivery milestones, completion states, execution phases

The Innovation Shift

This color duality represents the fundamental shift in how we innovate. The balance between blue (discovery) and pink (delivery) visualizes the complete innovation cycle - from creative exploration to successful execution.

Discovery Delivery

Vortex & Torus Imagery

The visual language incorporates dynamic, flowing forms that reinforce the concept of continuous innovation and transformation.

Vortex/Swirl Motif

The hero background features a deep blue vortex swirl representing the gravitational pull of innovation - ideas spiraling inward toward focus and execution.

  • Movement: Clockwise spiral suggesting forward momentum
  • Depth: Dark center with luminous edges creates dimensional depth
  • Color gradient: Deep navy to electric blue, maintaining brand palette
  • Symbolism: Ideas converging from chaos into clarity

Torus Energy Flow

The torus (donut-shaped) energy pattern represents the cyclical nature of innovation - continuous flow between discovery and delivery.

  • Circulation: Energy flows in through one pole, out through the other
  • Balance: Represents equilibrium between creative input and productive output
  • Sustainability: Self-renewing cycle of ideation and execution
  • Application: Subtle background elements, section transitions, loading states

Design principle: These flowing, organic forms contrast with the angular, structured elements of UI components - creating visual tension between creative expression and systematic execution.

Text Colors

Primary Text
Primary Text
#0f172a
--color-text-primary
Secondary Text
Secondary Text
#475569
--color-text-secondary
Tertiary Text
Tertiary Text
#64748b
--color-text-tertiary
Inverse Text
Inverse (White)
#ffffff
--color-text-inverse

Background Colors

Primary BG
Primary Background
#ffffff
--color-bg-primary
Secondary BG
Secondary Background
#f8fafc
--color-bg-secondary
Tertiary BG
Tertiary Background
#f1f5f9
--color-bg-tertiary
Dark BG
Dark Background
#0f172a
--color-bg-dark

Typography

Font Families

--font-primary (System Sans)

-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', 'Roboto', 'Oxygen', 'Ubuntu', 'Cantarell', sans-serif

--font-mono (Monospace)

'SF Mono', 'Monaco', 'Inconsolata', 'Fira Code', 'Consolas', monospace

Type Scale

--font-size-6xl (3.75rem)

Hero Headline

--font-size-5xl (3rem)

Section Title

--font-size-4xl (2.25rem)

H2 Heading

--font-size-3xl (1.875rem)

H3 Heading

--font-size-2xl (1.5rem)

Subheading / Large Text

--font-size-xl (1.25rem)

Lead paragraph or emphasized text

--font-size-lg (1.125rem)

Slightly larger body text for introductions

--font-size-base (1rem)

Standard body text used throughout the site for regular content.

--font-size-sm (0.875rem)

Small text for labels, captions, and secondary information

--font-size-xs (0.75rem)

Extra small text for tags, metadata, and fine print

Font Weights

Normal (400) | Medium (500) | Semibold (600) | Bold (700)

Spacing

Spacing Scale

--space-1
0.25rem
--space-2
0.5rem
--space-3
0.75rem
--space-4
1rem
--space-5
1.25rem
--space-6
1.5rem
--space-8
2rem
--space-10
2.5rem
--space-12
3rem
--space-16
4rem
--space-20
5rem
--space-24
6rem

Components

Buttons

Secondary Button
/* Button classes */
.btn { padding: 1rem 2rem; font-weight: 600; border-radius: 0.5rem; }
.btn-primary { background: white; color: var(--color-primary); }
.btn-secondary { background: transparent; border: 2px solid; }
.btn-cta { background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--color-primary), var(--color-secondary)); }

Shadows

--shadow-sm
--shadow-md
--shadow-lg
--shadow-xl

Border Radius

--radius-sm
0.25rem
--radius-md
0.375rem
--radius-lg
0.5rem
--radius-xl
0.75rem
--radius-2xl
1rem
--radius-full
9999px

Image Style Guide

AI-Generated Illustrations

AI-generated images should maintain brand consistency while showcasing creative possibilities.

  • Style: Clean, modern illustration style with soft gradients
  • Color palette: Use brand colors (blues, purples, cyans) or client brand colors
  • Background: Simple, non-distracting backgrounds that complement the subject
  • Subject matter: Technology, nature, abstract concepts - aligned with content theme
  • Resolution: Generate at minimum 1024x1024 for web use
  • Format: PNG for illustrations with transparency, WEBP for photos
Do
  • Use consistent illustration styles
  • Match brand color palette
  • Iterate prompts for quality
  • Optimize file sizes for web
  • Use descriptive alt text
Don't
  • Mix conflicting art styles
  • Use low-resolution images
  • Include text in AI images
  • Ignore compression
  • Use without review

Profile & Headshot Photos

Professional photos that convey approachability and expertise.

  • Shape: Circular crop with border (4px solid primary color)
  • Size: Hero: 120x120px, Nav: 50x50px, About: 150x150px
  • Effect: Box shadow for depth (8px blur, 30% opacity)
  • Style: Professional but approachable, natural lighting
  • Background: Neutral or complementary to brand colors
.profile-img {
  border-radius: 50%;
  border: 4px solid var(--color-primary);
  box-shadow: 0 8px 30px rgba(37, 99, 235, 0.4);
  object-fit: cover;
}

Client & Project Logos

Logos should be displayed consistently while respecting original brand guidelines.

  • Max dimensions: 200px wide, 60px tall (maintain aspect ratio)
  • Format: SVG preferred, PNG with transparency as fallback
  • Alignment: Left-aligned within project cards
  • Hover effect: Subtle opacity transition (0.8 on hover)
  • Container: Minimum height of 60px for consistent alignment
.logo-img {
  max-width: 200px;
  max-height: 60px;
  object-fit: contain;
}

Background Images & SVG Overlays

Layered backgrounds create depth while maintaining text legibility.

  • Hero background: Dark, atmospheric imagery (swirl/vortex theme)
  • Overlay SVGs: Robot/AI icons with neon glow effects
  • Opacity: Background overlays at 0.4-0.6 for text contrast
  • Neon colors: #FF00FF (magenta), #00FFFF (cyan) for glow effects
  • Mobile: Reduce overlay opacity further (0.15-0.25) for readability
/* Hero layering structure */
.hero { background: url('hero-swirl-bg.jpg') center/cover; }
.hero::before { background: url('ai-icons-bg.svg'); z-index: 1; }
.hero::after { background: radial-gradient(...); z-index: 2; }
.hero-content { z-index: 5; }

SVG Icons & Graphics

Scalable vector graphics for crisp display at any resolution.

  • Stroke width: 1.5-2.5px for consistent visual weight
  • Colors: Use currentColor for theme flexibility
  • Glow effects: feGaussianBlur with stdDeviation 4-5
  • Opacity: Decorative icons at 0.4-0.6, interactive at full opacity
  • ViewBox: Always include for proper scaling
/* SVG glow filter */
<filter id="glow">
  <feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="5" result="coloredBlur"/>
  <feMerge>
    <feMergeNode in="coloredBlur"/>
    <feMergeNode in="SourceGraphic"/>
  </feMerge>
</filter>

Image Optimization

Performance best practices for fast-loading images.

  • Format priority: SVG > WEBP > PNG > JPG
  • Compression: Use 80-85% quality for JPG/WEBP
  • Lazy loading: Add loading="lazy" for below-fold images
  • Responsive: Provide multiple sizes via srcset when needed
  • Alt text: Always include descriptive, meaningful alt attributes
  • Max file size: Target under 100KB for decorative, 200KB for hero images

Image Asset Library

All images, logos, and visual assets used throughout this portfolio website.

Profile Photos

Lincoln Mitchell - Professional Headshot
linc.jpg
Professional Headshot
Hero, About Section
Lincoln Mitchell - Casual with Coffee
Linc-coffee.png
Casual/Approachable
Secondary Profile
Lincoln Mitchell - Alternative Photo
IMG_2734.png
Alternative Photo
Backup Asset

Logo Assets

LNC Logo
lnc-logo.svg
Personal Brand Logo
SVG 72x72
Linc Logo Favicon
linc-logo-48.svg
Favicon Size
SVG 48x48

Client & Company Logos

PenCS Logo
pencs-logo.svg
PenCS - Healthcare Tech
SVG
Telstra Health Logo
telstra-health-logo.svg
Telstra Health
SVG
Funlab Logo
funlab-logo.png
Funlab Entertainment
PNG

Design Token Tool Logos

Token Studio Logo
tokens-studio-logo.svg
Token Studio for Figma
SVG Tool
StyleDictionary Logo
style-dictionary-logo.svg
Amazon StyleDictionary
SVG Tool
Chakra UI Logo
chakra-ui-logo.svg
Chakra UI Component Library
SVG Tool
Plasmic Logo
plasmic-logo.svg
Plasmic Visual Builder
SVG Tool

Hero & Background Images

hero-swirl-bg.jpg
Main hero vortex background
JPG Hero
hero-swirl-vivid.jpg
Vivid vortex variant
JPG Alt
hero-ai-creativity.jpg
AI creativity theme
JPG Alt
swirlBG.jpg
Original swirl background
JPG

SVG Overlay Backgrounds

ai-icons-bg.svg
Robot icons overlay for hero
SVG Neon
ai-coding-bg.svg
AI coding section background
SVG Neon
linkedin-background.svg
LinkedIn banner background
SVG Social

AI-Generated Illustrations

ai-image-1-robot.png
AI Robot Illustration
PNG AI Gen
ai-image-2-frog.png
Frog Character
PNG AI Gen
ai-image-3-lillypad.png
Lillypad Scene
PNG AI Gen
ai-image-client-style.webp
Client Style Example
WEBP AI Gen
conductor-illustration.png
AI Conductor Concept
PNG AI Gen

Diagrams & Graphics

process-diagram.svg
Workflow process diagram
SVG Diagram

Icons & Decorative Elements

A library of SVG icons and decorative elements used throughout the portfolio, featuring neon glow effects in magenta and cyan.

Robot Icon Library

Five distinct robot/AI icon styles representing different aspects of AI-powered development.

Round Face Bot
Friendly AI assistant
Box Bot
Structured automation
Android Bot
Mobile intelligence
Chip Icon
Processing power
Gear Icon
Mechanical precision
Neural Brain
AI intelligence

UI & Functional Icons

Feather-style stroke icons used for navigation, actions, and interactive elements throughout the site.

Calendar
Cal.com scheduling
LinkedIn
Social profile link
External Link
Project card links
Designer
About stat card
Code
Developer stat card
User Check
Product Owner card
Lightbulb
Ideate phase icon
Document
Design system CTA
Image
Image guide preview

Icon Guidelines

  • Style: Feather Icons style (stroke-based, rounded caps)
  • Stroke width: 2px standard, 1.5px for smaller sizes
  • Size: 24px standard, 32px for stat cards, 16px inline
  • Color: Use currentColor for theme flexibility
  • Exceptions: LinkedIn uses fill instead of stroke (brand requirement)
/* Standard icon attributes */
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"
  stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"
  stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">

Code Text Elements

Monospace code snippets that appear as decorative floating elements.

</>
{ }
<AI/>
{ AI }
AI.code()
execute()
discover()
=>
[]
( )

Floating Particles & Stars

Small glowing dots that add depth and ambient movement to dark sections.

  • Size: 2-5px radius circles
  • Colors: #FF00FF and #00FFFF
  • Glow: feGaussianBlur stdDeviation 2-3
  • Opacity: 0.25-0.4 for subtlety
  • Distribution: Random, avoid clustering

Connection Lines

Dashed lines that visually connect robot icons, suggesting network connectivity.

/* Connection line styles */
stroke-dasharray: "5,5" | "4,4" | "6,6"
stroke-width: 1-2px
opacity: 0.15-0.3

Icon Scale Reference

Icons are rendered at multiple scales for visual depth perception.

XL: scale(1.0)
opacity: 0.55
L: scale(0.85)
opacity: 0.52
M: scale(0.55)
opacity: 0.48
S: scale(0.4)
opacity: 0.45
XS: scale(0.3)
opacity: 0.40

Animations & Interactions

Interactive effects and micro-animations that enhance the user experience.

Star Cursor Trail Effect

A magical cursor trail that spawns glowing particles and occasional robot icons on mouse movement in the hero section.

Effect Composition

Star Particles
  • Spawn rate: Every mouse move event
  • Size: 4-8px (randomized)
  • Colors: Alternating #FF00FF / #00FFFF
  • Lifespan: 600ms fade-out
  • Animation: Scale 1→0, opacity 1→0
  • Position offset: ±15px random
Robot Icons
  • Spawn rate: Every 4th particle (25%)
  • Size: 20-30px (randomized)
  • Colors: Random magenta/cyan
  • Lifespan: 1200ms fade-out
  • Animation: Scale 0.5→1→0, float up
  • Position offset: ±30px random
// Particle animation keyframes
@keyframes particleFade {
  0% { transform: scale(1); opacity: 1; }
  100% { transform: scale(0); opacity: 0; }
}

// Robot animation keyframes
@keyframes robotFloat {
  0% { transform: scale(0.5) translateY(0); opacity: 0.8; }
  50% { transform: scale(1) translateY(-10px); opacity: 1; }
  100% { transform: scale(0) translateY(-20px); opacity: 0; }
}

Hover Transitions

Consistent transition timings for interactive elements.

Buttons

Hover Me

transition: all 0.2s ease

Cards

Elevate on hover

transition: transform 0.3s ease

Links

Hover link

transition: color 0.2s ease

Timing Guidelines

Standard animation durations for different interaction types.

Interaction Type Duration Easing Use Case
Micro-interactions 0.15s ease-out Button press, focus states
Hover effects 0.2s ease Color changes, opacity
Card elevations 0.3s ease Transform, box-shadow
Particle effects 0.6s ease-out Star trail fade-out
Robot icons 1.2s ease-out Float up and fade