13 enforceable rules pulled verbatim from the spec
Do
Use Near-Black (`#161616`) for text — not pure black, it's warmer and more readable
Use IBM Plex Sans as the primary typeface — it defines the brand personality
Keep font weights between 300-400 — the system uses a narrow weight range for subtle hierarchy
Use the extracted shadow patterns for elevation — they are tuned to match the brand palette
Use Light Grey (`#c6c6c6`) as the primary accent — it's the brand's signature interactive color
Each card includes a top image — imagery is part of the card identity, not optional
Use a 4-column grid on desktop — density matters for this content type
Don't
Don't use pure black (`#000000`) for text — the near-black adds warmth
Don't substitute with generic sans-serif or serif — the custom font carries the brand
Don't use weight 700 (bold) or above — 400 is the maximum weight in this system
Don't invent new shadow values — use only the extracted shadow levels
Don't introduce additional saturated accent colors — the palette is intentionally controlled
Don't over-build the footer — this design keeps it minimal (2 cols, 0 links)
10
Agent guide & export
Paste-ready prompt + the real files behind this page
Build a UI in the ibm.com design system.
Canvas #ffffff · ink #161616 · accent #c6c6c6.
Type: IBM Plex Sans — respect the size/weight ladder in §3.
Radius, spacing, shadow: use only the extracted scales (no magic numbers).
Full spec follows — paste the DESIGN.md below into your agent.