| 1 | # Square 1:1 Layout Catalog |
| 2 | |
| 3 | This catalog describes 1200x1200 square-card structures. It is structural only: style controls color, type mood, decoration, shadows, and texture. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | ## Zone Skeletons |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ### `center-anchor` |
| 8 | |
| 9 | - **Use for**: most square cards. |
| 10 | - **Zone sketch**: focal object near center, support arranged around or below it. |
| 11 | - **Balance rule**: the center must be visually dominant and corners must feel intentional. |
| 12 | - **Failure sign**: the card becomes a set of equal modules with no anchor. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | ### `top-center-bottom` |
| 15 | |
| 16 | - **Use for**: title + visual/data + takeaway. |
| 17 | - **Zone sketch**: compact top title, large center object, concise bottom band. |
| 18 | - **Balance rule**: center carries the card; top and bottom frame it. |
| 19 | - **Failure sign**: the top area holds all content while the center is passive. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | ### `quadrant-grid` |
| 22 | |
| 23 | - **Use for**: four categories, framework cells, or paired comparisons. |
| 24 | - **Zone sketch**: 2x2 grid with equal or intentionally weighted quadrants. |
| 25 | - **Balance rule**: cells stay parallel unless one quadrant is deliberately emphasized. |
| 26 | - **Failure sign**: cells become long prose boxes. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | ## Patterns |
| 29 | |
| 30 | ### `center-hero-orbit` |
| 31 | |
| 32 | - **Input shape**: one central concept, metric, or claim with 3-5 facets. |
| 33 | - **Structure recipe**: center block plus surrounding chips/cards in a stable grid. |
| 34 | - **Budget rule**: center is largest; support stays short. |
| 35 | - **Failure signs**: support appears before the center; orbit items collide or wrap heavily. |
| 36 | |
| 37 | ### `top-center-bottom` |
| 38 | |
| 39 | - **Input shape**: title, one main visual/data object, and a conclusion/source. |
| 40 | - **Structure recipe**: top title zone, central visual zone, bottom takeaway band. |
| 41 | - **Budget rule**: central zone is the largest; top and bottom remain compact. |
| 42 | - **Failure signs**: center is only decorative; bottom band repeats the title. |
| 43 | |
| 44 | ### `quadrant-card` |
| 45 | |
| 46 | - **Input shape**: four categories, 2x2 framework, or four comparable takeaways. |
| 47 | - **Structure recipe**: 2x2 grid with one emphasized quadrant when hierarchy matters. |
| 48 | - **Budget rule**: each cell has a short title and 1-2 lines. |
| 49 | - **Failure signs**: cells are not comparable; each cell contains paragraph copy. |
| 50 | |
| 51 | ### `claim-evidence-band` |
| 52 | |
| 53 | - **Input shape**: big claim/quote plus 2-4 proof points. |
| 54 | - **Structure recipe**: large claim in upper or center zone; compact evidence band below or around it. |
| 55 | - **Budget rule**: evidence supports the claim, not competes with it. |
| 56 | - **Failure signs**: all proof points are equal-weight heroes; claim text is too small. |
| 57 | |
| 58 | ### `square-data-card` |
| 59 | |
| 60 | - **Input shape**: one hero metric, compact chart, or ranked list. |
| 61 | - **Structure recipe**: hero number/chart, interpretation sentence, optional 1-2 metric chips. |
| 62 | - **Budget rule**: data object is sized for square reading and has nearby interpretation. |
| 63 | - **Failure signs**: chart labels are too wide; interpretation is far from data. |
| 64 | |
| 65 | ### `stacked-pair` |
| 66 | |
| 67 | - **Input shape**: before/after, problem/solution, option A/B. |
| 68 | - **Structure recipe**: two stacked zones or two side-by-side zones with generous gutters. |
| 69 | - **Budget rule**: use matching fields for fair comparison. |
| 70 | - **Failure signs**: one side has more fields; side-by-side text becomes narrow. |
| 71 |