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Split Design System: Bold High-Contrast Developer UI

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Explore Split's design system - bold colors, massive typography, precise grid. Build developer-first interfaces with Split's high-contrast style.

5 min read991 words

Brand Identity

Color Palette

Primary
Secondary

Typography

Primary Font
Oswald
Secondary Font
SourceSans 3

Design Style

Style
bold, neon-accented, high-contrast with extreme scale typography
Visual Density
compact grid-based with pixel-precision spacing
Border Style
pills with 99999px radius for CTAs, subtle rounding for cards

Full Analysis

Split — Brand Design System Deep Dive

1. Brand Overview

Split’s design system is unapologetically product-first with a tech-forward punch. The vibe hits you right away: bold typography, neon-accent colors, and high-contrast layouts that feel like they’re speaking to developers, product managers, and engineering teams. The target audience is technical but visual—people who care about performance and how things look and feel.

There's zero tolerance for "bland SaaS gray." Split opts for a deep navy base (#0a0a32) and slashes of cyan (#00ffff) and magenta (#ff00d2)—colors that wake the eye up in dark environments. This is code-running-in-production territory, not pastel dashboards.

Typography is big, heavy, uppercase. Headings dominate the layout. The largest display size clocks in at 230px—absurd for a marketing site hero—and they're not shy about keeping letters slammed tight in uppercase Oswald. That says: "We're loud. Pay attention."

Layout-wise, the system hangs on an 8px grid, but there are micro-adjustments down to 1px and 2px for borders, outlining a pixel-sniper approach. Buttons? Circular pills with 99999px radius—the kind you can spot instantly on a dark navy page. Component styling leans flat, minimal shadows, occasional 1px solid borders to create separation without fake depth.

This reads like a design team that’s deeply aware of developer ergonomics but also marketing stakes—large type for top-level messages, sharp component controls elsewhere. If you’re building inside this system, prepare for extremes: almost-black, almost-fluorescent, giant display sizes coexisting with super-precise pixel tweaks. And personally, I love that tension.


2. Color System

2.1 Primary Colors

Primary: rgb(255, 0, 210)#ff00d2
A bold magenta. Psychologically, magenta signals creativity, innovation, and a break from convention—perfect for a product dealing with "splitting" or "controlling" feature flag deployments. Compared to SaaS competitors (mostly safe blues and greens), this is loud. It dares you to misunderstand it.

Secondary: rgb(10, 10, 50)#0a0a32
Deep navy. Grounding, stable, tech-oriented. Dark enough to work as a background that makes neon pop, without the full harshness of black.


2.2 Complete Palette

Color NameHexRoleUsage
Primary Magenta#ff00d2Primary brand accentCTA backgrounds, link highlights
Secondary Navy#0a0a32Background, base surfacesHero section, containers
White#ffffffText on dark, backgroundsNav links, CTA text
Black#000000Text/contrast baseFooter icons
Light Blue Transparent#469bffAccent, overlayGradient backgrounds
Dark Gray#555555Secondary text, subdued buttonsCookie link buttons
Primary Blue#0278d5Functional link colorCookie policy links
Cyan#00ffffHighlight, outline, CTA variantNav CTAs, secondary call actions
Medium Gray#222222Text on tabsTestimonials tab labels
Charcoal#333333Logo area text, footer logoBranding sections
Light Gray#d8d8d8Divider, muted borderMiscellaneous UI lines
Slate#27455cBackground variationPossibly card or section backgrounds
Gradient Purple (CSS var)#b0fGradient fillDecorative elements
Violet (CSS var)#8100ffAccent gradient stopStyle blends
Text Secondary (var)#93939fNon-primary textBody/secondary copy
Teal (var)cyanAccentInteractive states
Blue (var)#0075ffAccent link/buttonPossibly default link
Grey-dark (var)#b3b3b3Secondary UIPlaceholder
Grey-light (var)#f1f2f2Light UI surfacesBackground panels
Black (var)#000000Primary dark baseText/icons

2.3 Color Relationships

Key relationship: navy #0a0a32 background + magenta #ff00d2 CTA = extreme contrast. WCAG: easily AAA for large text. White on navy is safe.
Magenta on navy is bright but if small text is used, needs careful consideration—it’s not always optimal for long copy due to chromatic aberration on modern displays.

Cyan (#00ffff) functions as an alternate CTA, sitting in high contrast against navy, white, or magenta.

Dark mode is essentially the default—background is already deep navy. Light mode equivalents would need inverted tones, but there’s no evidence they designed for it.


2.4 Usage Guide

Use magenta for primary action backgrounds, cyan for secondary nav actions or highlight text.
Avoid magenta as long-form text—it kills readability.
Dark navy is the canvas. White is the paint.
Cyan works well for hover/focus states on dark surfaces, but can look dated on white unless paired with navy border.

Never blend magenta + cyan in text—they fight. Use them adjacent as buttons or gradient stops, not layered in typography.


3. Typography

3.1 Font Families

  • Oswald — Google Fonts. Primary for large headings, uppercase styles.
  • SourceSans 3 — Body copy and smaller headings. Fallbacks Verdana.
  • Sourcesans 3 Variablefont Wght — Variable implementation. Fallbacks Arial.
  • Geist Variable — Smaller heading variant.

3.2 Type Scale

ElementFontSizeWeightLine Height
H1 DisplayOswald230px (14.38rem)7001.09
H1 DisplayOswald120px (7.50rem)7001.29
H1 LargeOswald80px (5.00rem)6001.25
H1 LargeOswald67px (4.19rem)6001.00
H1SourceSans 3, Verdana60px (3.75rem)7001.17
H1Geist Variable, Verdana40px (2.50rem)5001.25
H1Oswald39px (2.44rem)7000.56
H1Oswald30px (1.88rem)7001.33
H1SourceSans 3, Verdana24px (1.50rem)7001.26
H1SourceSans 3, Verdana24px4001.33
LinkOswald20px (1.25rem)7001.00
BodySourceSans 3, Verdana18px4001.50
LinkSourcesans 3 Variablefont Wght18px7001.11
ButtonSourcesans 3 Variablefont Wght16px400null
ButtonSourcesans 3 Variablefont Wght14.4px7001.00

3.3 Hierarchy

Hierarchy is brutal. The jump from 230px hero to 40px section title creates clear separation with no subtlety—this system is designed to yell at the user, then calm them down. Uppercase Oswald reinforces this.

Body copy in 18px ensures legibility. Buttons use 16px bold—readable even in pill shapes.

This mixture of display type sizes and comfortable body sizing creates contrast through scale more than font variety.


4. Spacing & Layout

4.1 Spacing Scale

Base: 8px grid. High precision values like 1px for borders.
Common values:

ValueUsageCount
1pxBorders/shadows5
2pxBorders small4
4pxIcon gaps6
5pxButton tweaks12
8pxGeneral unit15
10pxSmall padding22
12pxButton padding32
20pxSection gap14
26pxTab padding6
28pxText spacing5
40pxContainer spacing4
66pxHero padding6
108pxSection blocks6

4.2 Layout

Breakpoints: 400px, 425px, 426px, 500px, 530px, 550px, 600px, 768px, 896px. This is fine-grained—suggests highly tuned layouts at small devices.
Max container likely around 1280px (inferred from container--1280).


5. Visual Elements

Border Radius

ValueUsage
0px...10pxTabs
1pxSpan
2pxButtons, cookie elements
2.5pxRegional elements
16pxCards
50%Avatars/images
99999pxCTA pill buttons

They commit hard to pills—radius 99999px.


Shadows

Few shadows. Mostly flat. One example: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 18px for some UI overlays.

Borders are more common—1px solid in functional contexts.


6. Components

6.1 Buttons

Primary CTA (Magenta)
Default: #ff00d2 bg, #0a0a32 text, padding 12px 35px, radius 99999px, border 3px solid #ff00d2.
Hover: White bg, text #2285f7, opacity 0.6.

Primary Cyan Nav CTA
Default: #00ffff bg, white text, radius pill, border 3px solid #00ffff.

Secondary CTA (Navy)
Default: navy bg, white text, pill radius, border 3px solid #0a0a32.

There’s also link-styled nav CTAs (cyan text, transparent bg).


6.2 Links

Multiple palettes: white, cyan, magenta, black, gray—all no underlines except functional cookie links (#0278d5 underline). Hover universal: #3860be.


6.3 Forms

Minimal data on inputs—likely border 1px solid #d8d8d8 and radius 2px. Focus states prioritize outline with brand blues.


6.4 Cards

Radius: 16px, possible 1px solid #dddede, minimal shadow.


7. Design Tokens

:root {
  /* Colors */
  --color-primary-magenta: #ff00d2;
  --color-secondary-navy: #0a0a32;
  --color-white: #ffffff;
  --color-black: #000000;
  --color-light-blue-transparent: #469bff;
  --color-dark-gray: #555555;
  --color-primary-blue: #0278d5;
  --color-cyan: #00ffff;
  --color-medium-gray: #222222;
  --color-charcoal: #333333;
  --color-light-gray: #d8d8d8;
  --color-slate: #27455c;
  --gradient-purple: #b0f;
  --color-violet: #8100ff;
  --text-secondary: #93939f;
  --color-teal: cyan;
  --color-blue: #0075ff;
  --color-grey-dark: #b3b3b3;
  --color-grey-light: #f1f2f2;
  --color-black-var: #000000;

  /* Typography */
  --font-oswald: 'Oswald', sans-serif;
  --font-source-sans-3: 'SourceSans 3', Verdana, sans-serif;
  --font-source-sans-3-var: 'Sourcesans 3 Variablefont Wght', Arial, sans-serif;
  --font-geist-variable: 'Geist Variable', Verdana, sans-serif;

  /* Spacing (8px grid with extras) */
  --space-1: 1px;
  --space-2: 2px;
  --space-4: 4px;
  --space-5: 5px;
  --space-8: 8px;
  --space-10: 10px;
  --space-12: 12px;
  --space-20: 20px;
  --space-26: 26px;
  --space-28: 28px;
  --space-40: 40px;
  --space-66: 66px;
  --space-108: 108px;

  /* Border Radius */
  --radius-none: 0;
  --radius-1: 1px;
  --radius-2: 2px;
  --radius-2-5: 2.5px;
  --radius-16: 16px;
  --radius-50percent: 50%;
  --radius-pill: 99999px;

  /* Shadows */
  --shadow-overlay: rgba(0,0,0,0.2) 0px 0px 18px 0px;
  --shadow-light-gray: rgb(153,153,153) 0px 2px 10px -3px;
}

8. AI Coding Assistant Prompt

# Split Design System Specification

You are a Split design expert. Build UIs matching their visual language exactly.

## Brand Context
Split's design system is bold, developer-facing, and high-contrast. It uses deep navy backgrounds with neon magenta and cyan accents. Typography is loud, uppercase, and scaled from extremely large hero titles down to sharp, readable body copy. Components follow an 8px grid but use pixel-level precision for borders and outlines.

## Color Palette
- Primary Magenta: #ff00d2 — Primary CTAs
- Secondary Navy: #0a0a32 — Backgrounds, containers
- White: #ffffff — Text on dark
- Black: #000000 — Footer icons, high-contrast text
- Light Blue Transparent: #469bff — Gradient overlays
- Dark Gray: #555555 — Secondary text
- Primary Blue: #0278d5 — Cookie policy links
- Cyan: #00ffff — Nav CTAs, secondary actions
- Medium Gray: #222222 — Tab labels
- Charcoal: #333333 — Footer logo text
- Light Gray: #d8d8d8 — Dividers
- Slate: #27455c — Section backgrounds
- Gradient Purple: #b0f — Gradients
- Violet: #8100ff — Gradient accent
- Text Secondary: #93939f — Body copy secondary
- Teal: cyan — Accent states
- Blue: #0075ff — Accent link
- Grey-dark: #b3b3b3 — Placeholder
- Grey-light: #f1f2f2 — Light panels

## Typography
Font families:
- Headings: 'Oswald', sans-serif
- Body: 'SourceSans 3', Verdana, sans-serif
- Variable: 'Sourcesans 3 Variablefont Wght', Arial, sans-serif
- Occasional: 'Geist Variable', Verdana, sans-serif

Type scale:
| Level | Font | Size | Weight | Line Height | Use |
| Hero | Oswald | 230px | 700 | 1.09 | Homepage hero |
| H1 | Oswald | 120px | 700 | 1.29 | Large headings |
| H2 | Oswald | 80px | 600 | 1.25 | Section headings |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Body copy: 18px, weight 400, line-height 1.50.

## Spacing & Grid
Base unit: 8px grid.  
Values: 1px, 2px, 4px, 5px, 8px, 10px, 12px, 20px, 26px, 28px, 40px, 66px, 108px.

## Border Radius
- none: 0 — tabs  
- sm: 1-3px — inputs, region elements  
- md: 16px — cards  
- full: 50% — avatars/images  
- pill: 99999px — buttons

## Shadows & Depth
Minimal shadows:
- rgba(0,0,0,0.2) 0px 0px 18px
- rgb(153,153,153) 0px 2px 10px -3px

## Component Specifications

### Primary Button (Magenta)
Default: bg #ff00d2; color #0a0a32; padding 12px 35px; radius 99999px; border 3px solid #ff00d2; font-weight 700; font-size 20px.  
Hover: bg #ffffff; color #2285f7; opacity 0.6.  
Active: bg #2c6415; color #ffffff; border 1px solid rgba(162,192,169,0.5).  
Focus: outline 1px solid #0092e4; bg #1eaedb; border 1px solid #000000.

### Secondary Button (Navy)
Default: bg #0a0a32; color #ffffff; same padding/radius; border 3px solid #0a0a32; font-weight 700.

### Navigation Link Button (Cyan)
Default: bg transparent; color #00ffff; border 3px solid transparent; radius pill.

### Input Field
Default: border 1px solid #d8d8d8; radius 2px; padding 12px 10px; font-size 13.12px.  
Focus: border-color #0092e4; outline none.

### Card
Radius 16px; border 1px solid #dddede; minimal shadow if any.

## Layout & Responsive Rules
Container width: ~1280px.  
Breakpoints: 400px, 425px, 426px, 500px, 530px, 550px, 600px, 768px, 896px.  
Page padding: multiples of 8px, increasing at desktop.

## Interaction Rules
Transitions: 150ms ease for state changes.  
Focus outlines: brand blue (#0092e4) 1px solid.  
Opacity changes for disabled states: 0.5.

## DO List
- Use ONLY colors from palette.
- Maintain 8px grid for spacing.
- Use Oswald for headings.
- Keep CTAs pill-shaped.
- Use uppercase for link buttons.

## DON'T List
- Don't invent new colors.
- Don't mix sharp and pill radii in same component.
- Don't use shadows heavily—stick to borders.
- Don't reduce hero heading sizes—they're part of the brand impact.

## Code Examples

Primary Button:
```css
.btn-primary {
  background: #ff00d2;
  color: #0a0a32;
  padding: 12px 35px;
  border-radius: 99999px;
  border: 3px solid #ff00d2;
  font-weight: 700;
  font-size: 20px;
  transition: all 150ms ease;
}
.btn-primary:hover {
  background: #ffffff;
  color: #2285f7;
  opacity: 0.6;
}
```

Card:
```css
.card {
  background: #ffffff;
  border-radius: 16px;
  border: 1px solid #dddede;
  padding: 20px;
}
```

Input:
```css
.input {
  border: 1px solid #d8d8d8;
  border-radius: 2px;
  padding: 12px 10px;
  font-size: 13.12px;
}
.input:focus {
  border-color: #0092e4;
  outline: none;
}
```

9. Summary

TL;DR: Split’s design language is bold, developer-centric, and unapologetically bright against deep navy. Uppercase Oswald headings scream for attention, pill-shaped CTAs bless interaction clarity, and the strict color palette keeps everything feeling tight and controlled.

Brand Keywords:

  • neon-technical
  • developer-first
  • uppercase-heavy
  • dark-contrast
  • precise-grid