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08 / Mapu brand system

Graphic language

One geometric family, drawn from the map. Contours describe terrain, paths describe a route, milestones mark handovers, and nested zones describe what a family currently holds together. If a graphic element does none of these jobs, it does not belong.

Contours

The base texture. Always behind content, never over text.

Contours are set at 0.85–1.4 px with opacity between 22% and 52%, always in Classic Blue. They occupy the lower third of a surface and rise to the right. They never cross a column of text, and they never appear on more than one element in a viewport.

Devices

Four constructions, each with a fixed meaning.

Path and milestones

A sequence of decisions, with the final point filled — the item leaving the system.

Nested zones

What is held jointly, what is being practised, what is already independent.

Progressive disclosure

One row open at a time. Mapu never shows a family everything at once.

Directional rule

A single hairline that rises to the right, used to open a section.

Motion

Motion explains movement through the system. It never rewards or entertains.

900 ms, calm ease, once on entry

Contour draw

A contour draws in from left to right when a section first appears.

320 ms

Handover

When an item moves stage, it slides one column right — the same direction as the path.

140 ms

Reveal

Disclosure rows open with a height and opacity change only. No bounce, no spring.

Every animation in this system is disabled under prefers-reduced-motion: reduce, and each one is written so the finished state is the readable state. Nothing depends on having seen the transition.

Rules of use

Do

  • Use contours to close a section, not to fill empty space
  • Keep milestones on a single path — one route per view
  • Let the geometry carry the meaning it was defined for
  • Draw everything in Mid Blue, or in Deep Blue on light grounds

Don’t

  • Rotate, mirror or repeat the contour field as a pattern fill
  • Combine two devices in the same graphic
  • Add blobs, gradients, glows or glassmorphic panels
  • Animate anything that a family would see more than once a week