Design principles

Elements is the living design documentation of EPFL digital ecosystem


Our 3 design principles

Our goal is to grow a single design system that supports a unified experience across all of EPFL platforms. To achieve this, we articulate our design desicions based on 3 master principles:

A diamond that dispatch its sparkles

Clarity

Our message is clear & understood. Clarity comes through intentional choices that support our values. Accessibility requires clarity.

A pendulum indicating the equilibrium of things

Balance

We serve our own diversity. Balance comes from rational decisions on what we know and what we communicate. We seek harmony.

A square made of building blocks

Modularity

Building blocks form or design system. We achieve consistency using those blocks. This versatility is the echo of our capacity to innovate.

3, III, Trois, Three

A square made of building blocks

It is our goto number: it evoques our 3 missions: Education, Research & Innovation. Pronounced the French way, it sounds like “free“.

Atomic approach

A square made of building blocks

Elements component hierarchy is based on the Atomic Design approach. User interface elements are construction bricks of various size and complexity.