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ISO Design System: Precise Standards-Driven UI

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Explore ISO's design system - authoritative colors, typography, and grid specs. Build consistent, standards-driven interfaces with ISO's visual language.

6 min read1,107 words

Brand Identity

Color Palette

Primary
Secondary

Typography

Primary Font
Inter var ISO

Design Style

Style
minimalist with precise grid, soft 10px corners, and subtle shadows
Visual Density
compact grid-based with medium padding and clear hierarchy
Border Style
10px rounded corners on most components

Full Analysis

ISO Brand Design System Technical Deep-Dive


1. Brand Overview

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the global authority on standards. Their design language reflects that position: precise, structured, no fluff. The site feels like it’s built for professionals who care about clarity and authority, not marketing gimmicks.

The vibe is institutional, but not cold. The bright, assertive red (#e3000f) in the logo and call-to-action elements signals urgency and authority. It’s paired with deep neutrals (#333333, #000000) and stark white (#ffffff) to keep things minimal. This is a brand that says: “We’re the standard. Trust us.”

Typography is clean and modern. They use Inter var ISO, a custom variable font build of Inter, with a range of weights from 350 (light) to 700 (bold). The tight letter-spacing in headings (-1.493px at the largest size) makes titles feel compact and controlled. No playful curves, no decorative flourishes — just functional, legible type.

Layout is predictable and grid-driven. Bootstrap and Vuetify are under the hood, which means ISO is piggybacking on proven responsive frameworks. Breakpoints are standard: 576px, 768px, 992px, 1200px, 1400px — plus some odd ones like 98px and 420px for very specific UI tweaks.

If you’re building for ISO, you’re building for a brand that values consistency over experimentation. Every pixel has a job. Every color is a signal. This is design as governance.


2. Color System

2.1 Primary Colors

The hero color is ISO Red#e3000f. It’s aggressive and unmistakable. Red here isn’t “danger” — it’s “stop and pay attention.” This is the same psychology used in emergency signage and authoritative seals. It works because ISO needs to stand out in a sea of technical information.

The semantic primary in CSS variables is technically #ffffff (white), but in practice, the brand “primary” is the red. White is the canvas; red is the ink.

Compared to competitors (ANSI, IEC), ISO’s red is slightly more saturated and warm. ANSI’s palette leans toward deeper burgundy, IEC uses blues. ISO’s choice makes them visually distinct, especially in a standards context where blue is the norm.

2.2 Complete Palette

Color NameHexRoleUsage
White#ffffffBase / Primary semanticBackgrounds, text on dark surfaces, empty states
Dark Gray#333333Text / NeutralBody text, dividers, icons
ISO Red#e3000fBrand / AccentLogo, links, CTA buttons
Black#000000Core neutralHigh-contrast text, icons
White (0.918 alpha)#ffffffHover/focus overlayLight hover states
White (0.92 alpha)#ffffffHover/focus overlaySame as above
Deep Red Hover#c4000dHover/focusLink hover, button focus
Darker Red Hover#b6000cHover/focusLink hover active states
Brand Mid#9c2b42Mid-tone brandSecondary accents
Danger Text Emphasis#3e111aFunctionalError messages
Danger Bg Subtle#ebd5d9FunctionalError backgrounds
Info Text Emphasis#002b49FunctionalInfo labels
Info Bg Subtle#cce1f1FunctionalInfo backgrounds
Success Text Emphasis#003929FunctionalSuccess labels
Success Bg Subtle#cce9e1FunctionalSuccess backgrounds
Secondary Bg Subtle#dccdd2NeutralSecondary surfaces
Secondary Bg#e9ecefNeutralPanels, input backgrounds
Secondary Text Emphasis#20020cNeutral textSecondary headings
Dark Bg Subtle#d5d5d5NeutralLight gray surfaces
Dark Text Emphasis#495057Neutral textDimmed text
Warning Bg Subtle#fef1d8FunctionalWarning backgrounds
Warning Text Emphasis#644a19FunctionalWarning labels
Primary Bg Subtle#f9cccfBrand tintLight red backgrounds
Primary Text Emphasis#5b0006Brand textHigh contrast on light red
Highlight Color#212529NeutralText highlight
Border Color#dee2e6NeutralDividers, table borders
Form Valid Color#008f67FunctionalValidation success
Code Color#4f051fFunctionalCode snippets

2.3 Color Relationships

Contrast is generally excellent. White on red passes WCAG AA easily. Black on white is perfect. The only potential accessibility challenge is red text (#e3000f) on white — contrast ratio ~4.7:1, which passes AA but not AAA for body text.

Dark mode isn’t implemented. There’s no alternate palette; everything is built for a light background. ISO probably isn’t chasing dark mode — their audience is office-based, desktop-heavy.

2.4 Usage Guide

Works well:

  • White backgrounds with red CTAs — classic ISO look.
  • Red text on white for emphasis — but use sparingly.
  • Gray text (#333333) for body copy — keeps hierarchy clear.

Avoid:

  • Mixing #e3000f and #b6000c in the same component — too close in hue, looks like a mistake.
  • Using subtle alphas on backgrounds without strong borders — edges get lost.
  • Putting red text on gray backgrounds — contrast drops.

3. Typography

3.1 Font Families

Primary: "Inter var ISO", Arial, Helvetica, system-ui
Fallbacks are standard sans-serif system fonts. There’s no Google Fonts or Adobe Fonts dependency — this is a custom build.

Inter var ISO is a variable font. They use weights from 350 (light) to 700 (bold). This gives them fine control over emphasis — lighter weights for body text, heavier for buttons.

3.2 Type Scale

ElementFontSizeWeightLine Height
Heading-1Inter var ISO50px (3.13rem)5001.25
Heading-1Inter var ISO42px (2.63rem)5001.25
Heading-1Inter var ISO36px (2.25rem)5001.25
Heading-1Inter var ISO30px (1.88rem)5001.40
Heading-1Inter var ISO26.666px (1.67rem)3501.19
LinkInter var ISO25px (1.56rem)5001.25
Heading-1Inter var ISO25px (1.56rem)5001.25
ButtonInter var ISO20px (1.25rem)6001.40
LinkInter var ISO20px (1.25rem)3501.40
Heading-1Inter var ISO20px (1.25rem)3501.40
LinkInter var ISO20px (1.25rem)3501.40
Heading-1Inter var ISO20px (1.25rem)6001.40
ButtonInter var ISO20px (1.25rem)3501.40
Heading-1bootstrap-icons20px (1.25rem)4001.00
LinkInter var ISO20px (1.25rem)6001.40
ButtonInter var ISO20px (1.25rem)4001.40
Heading-1Inter var ISO17.5px (1.09rem)3501.40
LinkInter var ISO17.5px (1.09rem)3501.40
Heading-1bootstrap-icons17.5px (1.09rem)4001.00
LinkInter var ISO17.5px (1.09rem)3501.40
ButtonInter var ISO17.5px (1.09rem)3501.40
ButtonInter var ISO17.5px (1.09rem)6001.40
LinkInter var ISO17px (1.06rem)3501.40
Heading-1Inter var ISO15px (0.94rem)3501.40
LinkInter var ISO15px (0.94rem)7001.40
LinkInter var ISO15px (0.94rem)3501.40
CaptionInter var ISO3px (0.19rem)3501.20
CaptionInter var ISO3px (0.19rem)5001.20

3.3 Hierarchy

Headings are tight and heavy — they demand attention. Body text is lighter (350 weight) for readability. Buttons jump to 600 weight for authority. The type scale is dense — many small variations in size/weight, which means careful mapping to components is essential.


4. Spacing & Layout

4.1 Spacing Scale

Base unit: 4px grid. Common values:

PxRemCount
2px0.13rem10
3px0.19rem8
3.75px0.23rem45
5px0.31rem28
7.5px0.47rem8
10px0.63rem126
15px0.94rem7
20px1.25rem64
30px1.88rem23
75px4.69rem10

10px and 20px dominate — ISO likes medium padding. 75px is used for big section gaps.

4.2 Layout

Framework: Bootstrap + Vuetify.
Breakpoints: 98px, 420px, 576px, 600px, 767px, 768px, 992px, 1024px, 1200px, 1400px, 1680px.
The presence of 98px suggests micro-breakpoints for icon/nav adjustments — unusual, but it works.


5. Visual Elements

Border Radius

ValueCountElements
0px 10px 10px 0px1button
0.5px 2px 2px 0.5px6div
7px1button
9px4span
10px24button, menu, input, card
10px 0px 0px 10px1input
10px 10px 0px 0px6card
12.2px 12.2px 0px 0px1modal
13.2px1modal

ISO loves 10px radius — this is the default for most components.

Shadows

They’re subtle:

  • rgba(0,0,0,0.075) 0px 5px 10px — common
  • rgba(0,0,0,0.075) 0px 2.5px 5px — smaller
  • Rare big shadow: rgba(0,0,0,0.15) 0px 20px 20px

6. Components

6.1 Buttons

Skip Navigation Button

  • Default: bg #006bb7, text white, radius 10px, no border.
  • Hover: bg transparent, outline white 2px, scale(1.1).
  • Active: bg white, text #333333.
  • Focus: text #e3000f, bg #006bb7, scale(1.1).

Primary Button

  • Default: bg white, text #e3000f, padding 7.5px 20px, radius 0px 10px 10px 0px.
  • Hover: text white, bg rgba(255,255,255,0.3).
  • Active: bg white, text #333333.
  • Focus: bg white, text #333333.

Outline Light Small

  • Default: transparent bg, text #faf9f9, padding 5px 16px, radius 7px, border 2px solid #faf9f9.
  • Hover: outline white 2px, scale(1.1).
  • Active: bg white, text #333333.
  • Focus: text #e3000f, bg #006bb7.

Multiple variants:

  • White links: underline default, no underline hover.
  • Red links: no underline, color stays red.
  • Gray links: hover turns red.
  • Dim black links: hover turns white.

6.3 Forms

Search input:

  • Default: bg white, border 1px solid #c9c4c2, radius 10px 0px 0px 10px, padding 7.5px 15px.
  • Focus: border-color var(--bs-form-invalid-border-color), box-shadow red tint.

6.4 Cards

Radius: 10px 10px 0px 0px.
Shadows: subtle (rgba(0,0,0,0.075) variants).
Padding: multiples of 10px and 20px.


7. Design Tokens

:root {
  /* Colors */
  --color-white: #ffffff;
  --color-dark-gray: #333333;
  --color-iso-red: #e3000f;
  --color-black: #000000;
  --color-deep-red-hover: #c4000d;
  --color-darker-red-hover: #b6000c;
  --color-brand-mid: #9c2b42;
  --color-danger-text-emphasis: #3e111a;
  --color-danger-bg-subtle: #ebd5d9;
  --color-info-text-emphasis: #002b49;
  --color-info-bg-subtle: #cce1f1;
  --color-success-text-emphasis: #003929;
  --color-success-bg-subtle: #cce9e1;
  --color-secondary-bg-subtle: #dccdd2;
  --color-secondary-bg: #e9ecef;
  --color-secondary-text-emphasis: #20020c;
  --color-dark-bg-subtle: #d5d5d5;
  --color-dark-text-emphasis: #495057;
  --color-warning-bg-subtle: #fef1d8;
  --color-warning-text-emphasis: #644a19;
  --color-primary-bg-subtle: #f9cccf;
  --color-primary-text-emphasis: #5b0006;
  --color-highlight: #212529;
  --color-border: #dee2e6;
  --color-form-valid: #008f67;
  --color-code: #4f051f;

  /* Typography */
  --font-family-primary: "Inter var ISO", Arial, Helvetica, system-ui;
  --font-weight-light: 350;
  --font-weight-medium: 500;
  --font-weight-semibold: 600;
  --font-weight-bold: 700;

  /* Spacing */
  --space-2: 2px;
  --space-3: 3px;
  --space-3_75: 3.75px;
  --space-5: 5px;
  --space-7_5: 7.5px;
  --space-10: 10px;
  --space-15: 15px;
  --space-20: 20px;
  --space-30: 30px;
  --space-75: 75px;

  /* Radius */
  --radius-none: 0px;
  --radius-sm: 7px;
  --radius-md: 9px;
  --radius-lg: 10px;
  --radius-modal: 13.2px;

  /* Shadows */
  --shadow-sm: rgba(0,0,0,0.075) 0px 2.5px 5px;
  --shadow-md: rgba(0,0,0,0.075) 0px 5px 10px;
  --shadow-lg: rgba(0,0,0,0.15) 0px 20px 20px;
}

8. AI Coding Assistant Prompt

# ISO Design System Specification

You are an ISO design expert. Build UIs matching their visual language exactly.

## Brand Context
ISO’s design is precise, institutional, and authoritative. It uses a red/white/gray palette, a custom Inter variable font, and a consistent 4px-based spacing grid. Corners are generally 10px radius. Shadows are subtle.

## Color Palette
- White: #ffffff — Backgrounds, text on dark surfaces
- Dark Gray: #333333 — Body text, neutral elements
- ISO Red: #e3000f — Logo, CTAs, primary actions
- Black: #000000 — High-contrast text, icons
- Deep Red Hover: #c4000d — Hover states
- Darker Red Hover: #b6000c — Alternate hover/focus
- Brand Mid: #9c2b42 — Secondary accents
- Danger Text Emphasis: #3e111a — Error text
- Danger Bg Subtle: #ebd5d9 — Error backgrounds
- Info Text Emphasis: #002b49 — Info labels
- Info Bg Subtle: #cce1f1 — Info backgrounds
- Success Text Emphasis: #003929 — Success labels
- Success Bg Subtle: #cce9e1 — Success backgrounds
- Secondary Bg Subtle: #dccdd2 — Secondary surfaces
- Secondary Bg: #e9ecef — Panels
- Secondary Text Emphasis: #20020c — Secondary headings
- Dark Bg Subtle: #d5d5d5 — Light gray surfaces
- Dark Text Emphasis: #495057 — Dimmed text
- Warning Bg Subtle: #fef1d8 — Warning backgrounds
- Warning Text Emphasis: #644a19 — Warning labels
- Primary Bg Subtle: #f9cccf — Light red backgrounds
- Primary Text Emphasis: #5b0006 — Brand text
- Highlight: #212529 — Highlights
- Border Color: #dee2e6 — Dividers
- Form Valid Color: #008f67 — Validation success
- Code Color: #4f051f — Code snippets

## Typography
Font: "Inter var ISO", Arial, Helvetica, system-ui

| Level | Size | Weight | Line Height | Use For |
|-------|------|--------|-------------|---------|
| H1 | 50px | 500 | 1.25 | Page titles |
| H1 | 42px | 500 | 1.25 | Section titles |
| H1 | 36px | 500 | 1.25 | Subsections |
| H1 | 30px | 500 | 1.40 | Smaller headings |
| H1 | 26.666px | 350 | 1.19 | Intro headings |
| Link | 25px | 500 | 1.25 | Nav links |
| Button | 20px | 600 | 1.40 | Main buttons |
| Body | 17.5px | 350 | 1.40 | Content text |
| Caption | 3px | 500 | 1.20 | Micro labels |

## Spacing & Grid
Base: 4px  
Scale: 2px, 3px, 3.75px, 5px, 7.5px, 10px, 15px, 20px, 30px, 75px  
Use 10px/20px for most padding. 75px for section gaps.

## Border Radius
- none: 0px — data tables
- sm: 7px — small buttons
- md: 9px — spans
- lg: 10px — buttons, cards, inputs
- modal: 13.2px — modals
- special: asymmetric radii for search inputs and split buttons

## Shadows & Depth
- sm: rgba(0,0,0,0.075) 0px 2.5px 5px
- md: rgba(0,0,0,0.075) 0px 5px 10px
- lg: rgba(0,0,0,0.15) 0px 20px 20px

## Component Specifications

### Primary Button
Default: bg #ffffff, color #e3000f, padding 7.5px 20px, radius 0px 10px 10px 0px, no border  
Hover: bg rgba(255,255,255,0.3), color #ffffff  
Active: bg #ffffff, color #333333  
Focus: bg #ffffff, color #333333

### Outline Light Button
Default: transparent bg, color #faf9f9, padding 5px 16px, radius 7px, border 2px solid #faf9f9  
Hover: outline white 2px, scale(1.1)  
Active: bg white, color #333333  
Focus: bg #006bb7, color #e3000f

### Input Field
Default: bg white, border 1px solid #c9c4c2, radius 10px 0px 0px 10px, padding 7.5px 15px  
Focus: border-color var(--bs-form-invalid-border-color), box-shadow 0 0 0 .25rem rgba(var(--bs-danger-rgb),.25)

## Layout & Responsive Rules
Max content width: follows Bootstrap container defaults  
Page padding: multiples of 10px/20px  
Breakpoints: 98px, 420px, 576px, 600px, 767px, 768px, 992px, 1024px, 1200px, 1400px, 1680px

## Interaction Rules
- Transition: 150ms ease on hover/focus
- Focus indicators: color change + scale(1.1)
- No complex animations

## DO List
- Use only colors from palette
- Maintain 4px-based spacing
- Keep headings tight and bold
- Use 10px radius for most components
- Respect breakpoints exactly
- Ensure WCAG AA contrast
- Use Inter var ISO for all text

## DON'T List
- Invent new colors
- Mix rounded and sharp corners
- Add heavy shadows
- Use underlines on red links
- Use non-standard font weights

## Code Examples

Primary Button:
```css
.btn-primary {
  background: #ffffff;
  color: #e3000f;
  padding: 7.5px 20px;
  border-radius: 0px 10px 10px 0px;
  font-weight: 350;
  font-size: 20px;
  border: none;
  transition: all 150ms ease;
}
.btn-primary:hover {
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);
  color: #ffffff;
}

Outline Light Button:

.btn-outline-light {
  background: transparent;
  color: #faf9f9;
  padding: 5px 16px;
  border-radius: 7px;
  border: 2px solid #faf9f9;
  font-weight: 600;
  font-size: 17.5px;
}
.btn-outline-light:hover {
  outline: 2px solid #ffffff;
  transform: scale(1.1);
}

Search Input:

.input-search {
  background: #ffffff;
  border: 1px solid #c9c4c2;
  border-radius: 10px 0px 0px 10px;
  padding: 7.5px 15px;
}
.input-search:focus {
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 .25rem rgba(227,0,15,0.25);
}

---

## 9. Summary

**TL;DR** — ISO’s design system is clean, authoritative, and built on a red/white/gray palette with precise typography and a 4px grid. Corners are soft at 10px, shadows are subtle, and Bootstrap/Vuetify handle responsiveness.

**Brand Keywords**:
- authority-minimalist
- swiss-precise
- standards-driven
- no-nonsense