Required
State inventory
Default, hover, focus, active, disabled, loading, error, empty, long-copy, and locked states.
05 / Application
Web &
Product.
A product surface should preserve the editorial hierarchy while exposing every state, constraint, and action with precision.
05.1 / Operating model
Design the state system before the happy path.
A component is not canonical until its complete behavior is visible and testable.
Layout
Recompose, do not shrink
Desktop fields become intentional mobile sequences; controls retain their target size.
Media
Contain by default
Preserve the entire source. Crop only when a named art direction explicitly permits it.
05.2 / Applied specimen
One operating surface. Every consequential state.
This synthetic review queue demonstrates navigation, data density, selection, action, and recovery without borrowing a product brand.
- Owner
- Editorial systems
- Changed
- 16 Aug 2026
- Risk
- Low
The source, generated artifact, and public release resolve to one versioned contract. The review preserves the complete evidence path.
05.3 / State inventory
Failure is designed in the open.
The copy explains what is happening, what remains safe, and what the person can do next.
Loading
Checking source integrity…
The existing release remains available.
Empty
No records need review.
The queue is current. New records appear here.
Error
The source could not be reached.
Your draft is safe. Retry when the connection returns.
Locked
Approval requires an owner.
Assign the decision before releasing this record.
05.4 / Product field
Reading and operation can share one grammar.
Paper supports explanation; carbon contains systems, data, and consequential actions.
Navigation
Persistent orientation
Make location and status legible without turning the interface into decoration.
Feedback
Green is semantic
Use the signal only for active, verified, current, live, unlocked, or terminal state.
Failure
Explain recovery
Errors state what happened, what remains safe, and the next available action.