Status: Active
Date: 2026-06-14
Author: Cytognosis Foundation
Audience: designers, engineers, brand reviewers
Tags: quick-reference, cytognosis-branding
cytognosis-branding — Quick Reference
One line: Deep-content home for the Cytognosis v10 brand system (12 reference files); load cytognosis-design-system-master for routine tasks and only load this skill for full shade scales, every icon spec, complete accessibility audit, or the full template library.
Full doc: cytognosis-branding.md
Key Concepts
| Term |
Definition |
| v10 |
Current major version of the Cytognosis brand system. All 12 reference files are v10. |
| Identity triad |
The three primary brand colors: Violet, Azure, Indigo. Derived from fluorophore emission wavelengths. |
| Fluorophore palette |
Brand colors named after and spectrally derived from biological fluorophores (DAPI, Alexa Fluor 488, etc.). |
| Revelation Arc |
Narrative structure for all Cytognosis content: Mystery → Insight → Resolution. |
| CVD safety |
Color-vision-deficiency safety; documented in 04_color_system.md for every palette color. |
| Profile |
Four use-case modes (Foundation, Clinical, Research, Lab) that adjust palette, typography, and voice. |
The 12 Reference Files
| File |
Load When |
references/01_brand_foundation.md |
Full mission, identity, narrative architecture |
references/02_voice_and_tone.md |
Full voice rules, audience messaging, do/don't |
references/03_logo.md |
Full logo placement matrix, every lockup |
references/04_color_system.md |
Full shade scales, CVD safety, named gradients |
references/05_typography.md |
Full type families, scale, all weights |
references/06_iconography.md |
Full 48-icon spec, color semantics, gap-filling rules |
references/07_imagery.md |
Photography tone, treatment, sourcing checklist, shot list |
references/08_motion.md |
All durations, easings, motion patterns, reduced-motion |
references/09_layout.md |
Full 12-column grid, full spacing scale, glassmorphism rules |
references/10_templates.md |
Deck (12 layouts), one-pager, email signature, social, print |
references/11_accessibility.md |
Full WCAG 2.2 audit, contrast matrices, neurodiversity |
references/12_dataviz.md |
Full chart palettes, pattern fills for colorblind contexts |
When to Load This vs. design-system-master
| Request |
Load |
| "What color is the Azure token?" |
cytognosis-design-system-master |
| "Give me every shade in the Azure scale with hex + CVD alternatives" |
cytognosis-branding → 04_color_system.md |
| "Apply the signature gradient to this hero" |
cytognosis-design-system-master |
| "Every named gradient with WCAG AA status" |
cytognosis-branding → 04_color_system.md + 11_accessibility.md |
| "Write copy in the Foundation voice" |
cytognosis-design-system-master |
| "Full voice rules including every do/don't pair" |
cytognosis-branding → 02_voice_and_tone.md |
| "Place the logo on a dark background" |
cytognosis-design-system-master |
| "Complete logo placement matrix for every background type and size" |
cytognosis-branding → 03_logo.md |
Key Tokens (Quick Version)
| Token |
Hex |
Meaning |
--cg-violet-600 |
#8B3FC7 |
Main brand (DAPI, DNA stain, 461nm) |
--cg-azure-600 |
#3B7DD6 |
The Patient, data input (Alexa Fluor 488) |
--cg-indigo-500 |
#5145A8 |
The Pioneer, AI outputs (UV excitation, 358nm) |
--cg-teal-600 |
#14A3A3 |
Success, biological harmony (GFP, 509nm) |
--cg-coral-600 |
#F26355 |
Human warmth, hope (MitoTracker, 576nm) |
--cg-magenta-600 |
#E0309E |
ATTENTION ACCENT ONLY (Rhodamine, 565nm) |
--bg-rich-night |
#1E1E32 |
Default dark background |
--bg-pale-day |
#F0F0F7 |
Default light background |
NEVER (Hard Rules)
| Forbidden |
Reason |
#000000 or #FFFFFF |
Use #0A0A14 (darkest) or #F0F0F7 (lightest) |
#6366f1 (Tailwind Indigo) |
Wrong brand; use #8B3FC7 |
| Em dashes |
Use commas, semicolons, or restructure |
| "Revolutionary", "cure", "breakthrough" |
Hype words; find a sharper word |
| Gradient backgrounds at viewport scale |
Gradients are accent only |
| Drop shadows on logo |
No bevels, no glows, no outlines on the mark |
Operational Kits
| Path |
Contents |
templates/deck/ |
12-layout reference deck (light + dark); copy this for new decks |
templates/email-signature.html |
Full + compact variants; email-client safe |
Error Quick-Fix
| Error / Symptom |
Fix |
| Loaded this skill for a routine color token lookup |
Switch to cytognosis-design-system-master (cheatsheet is faster) |
| Loaded two reference files in the same response |
Split into separate responses; load one file at a time |
| Gradient applied at full viewport |
Restrict gradient to hero washes, primary CTA fills, or accent elements only |
See Also