Design System
The Zaikio Design System was built to unify and elevate a diverse suite of over a dozen highly specialized software products for the printing industry. Designed to handle data-dense interfaces with clarity and consistency, it supports complex forms, dynamic tables, and intricate workflows, without ever losing its visual integrity. From dark mode to email templates, every layer is considered, scalable, and built to perform under pressure.
Themeable by design and accessible by default, the system accommodates a global audience, whether that means German, English, or even Japanese.
The Zaikio color system is carefully curated, each tone hand-selected to strike the right balance between function and personality. Opinionated by intention, the palette avoids the generic in favor of clarity, contrast, and character. Every color serves a purpose in the interface, whether it’s guiding focus, communicating state, or enhancing legibility. We rigorously tested each combination for accessibility, ensuring all pairings meet at least WCAG AA standards, with most achieving AAA compliance.
To maintain visual consistency across light and dark modes, we designed a mirrored scale by flipping the 50-900 spectrum between themes while making nuanced adjustments for legibility and contrast. The result is a system that feels equally refined in both modes. The palette is also tightly aligned with Zaikio’s branding, creating a seamless bridge between product and marketing while reinforcing a strong, unified identity.
Every one of the 213 icons was meticulously handcrafted, with some even available in multiple weights. Using a consistent 16px grid system, we ensured each icon feels visually balanced and rhythmically aligned regardless of its shape or complexity.
Our progress and status icons are built with a layered approach. A subtle background layer tints the icon’s base, adding depth and reinforcing meaning without overwhelming the interface. It’s a small detail that quietly enhances clarity.
A key reason for creating a custom icon set was the need for deeply specialized visuals. In our world, a “book” isn’t just a book, it might be a hardcover, softcover, or defined by its material. Each variation benefits from its own icon, designed to speak the same visual language while reflecting real-world nuance.
Stats
With hundreds of components, each crafted with intention and some offering up to 270 variants, the Zaikio Design System is built for precision at scale. Every icon is handmade, every color hand-picked, and every illustration is drawn from scratch, often with dynamic parts that adapt to context.
359
Components
213
Icons
26
Product illustrations
7
Color palettes
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