A Design System for the Ages
Chapter I
Drawn from aged manuscripts, faded inks, and candlelit scriptoriums.
Chapter II
The art of the written word, from formal inscriptions to flowing script.
Chapter III
A scale inspired by the golden ratio, as employed by the masters of old.
Chapter IV
Actions rendered in the manner of formal proclamations and sealed decrees.
Chapter V
Fields for the recording of information, as in a ledger or register.
Chapter VI
Containers for content, styled as illuminated manuscript pages.
The wisdom of ages past, preserved in careful script and guarded in hallowed halls.
A compendium of essential knowledge, distilled for daily contemplation and use.
Bound wisdom in structured form, the predecessor to all modern volumes.
Before the codex came the scroll, unfurling its secrets to those who sought knowledge. This variant card echoes that ancient form, with subtle shadows suggesting rolled edges.
Events of great import were recorded by chroniclers, their accounts becoming the history we study today. Each entry builds upon the last, creating a tapestry of time.
Chapter VII
Records and registers, organised in the manner of a medieval ledger.
| Manuscript | Origin | Status | Folios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Kells | Ireland, c. 800 | Sacred | 340 |
| Lindisfarne Gospels | Northumbria, c. 700 | Sacred | 259 |
| Codex Gigas | Bohemia, c. 1230 | Rare | 310 |
| Gutenberg Bible | Mainz, c. 1455 | Historic | 1,286 |
| Book of Hours | Various, 13th-16th c. | Common | Varies |
Chapter VIII
Marks of distinction, from humble labels to noble wax seals.
Chapter IX
The guiding tenets of this ancient aesthetic.
Honour the materials and methods of the past. Let texture, warmth, and human touch speak through every element.
As the scribe laboured over each letter, so should we craft with care. Quality endures where haste fails.
Treat content as sacred. Each word, each image, each element deserves thoughtful placement and presentation.
The illuminated initial draws the eye, the rubric guides understanding, and the body text conveys meaning. Establish clear order in all compositions.
Above all adornment, the text must be read. Beauty serves purpose; never sacrifice clarity for decoration.