Design DNA Schema

V3 uses a layered schema. The user sees a simple control panel and profile library; the agent uses a stricter execution schema; adapters derive scenario variants; generation uses quality constraints.

Top-Level Shape

{
  "version": "3.0",
  "persistence_state": "unsaved_candidate | saved_profile | saved_adapter",
  "profile_id": "my-design-profile-01 | null",
  "profile_name": "Cyber Minimal Editorial",
  "current_profile_version": "v001 | null",
  "source": {},
  "discovery": {},
  "user_dna": {},
  "execution_dna": {},
  "design_prompt": {},
  "negative_constraints": [],
  "tokens": {},
  "profile_metadata": {},
  "versioning": {},
  "compact_usage": {},
  "adapters": {},
  "quality_constraints": {}
}

For unsaved active Design DNA candidates, profile_id, current_profile_version, profile_metadata, versioning, compact_usage, and adapters may be absent or null. The candidate is valid for generating the current deck after the Design DNA Panel is accepted.

For saved profiles, profile_metadata and versioning are required. compact_usage is optional and must not be updated by default during one-off deck generation. discovery is required when the profile came from no-image Design Discovery. adapters is required only when scenario variants are created.

Unsaved Active Candidate

The default result of extraction/discovery is an unsaved active candidate, not a saved profile.

Required for deck generation:

version
persistence_state: "unsaved_candidate"
source or discovery
user_dna
execution_dna
tokens
reference subject firewall policy when the candidate came from images
negative_constraints
design_prompt
quality_constraints

Do not write this candidate to design-profiles/ by default. If the user approves saving after reviewing the generated deck, promote the candidate into a saved profile by assigning profile_id, profile_name, current_profile_version, profile_metadata, and versioning.

Minimal Reproducible Profile

A saved Design Profile should keep only what is needed to reproduce the style.

Required in every version snapshot:

version
profile_id
profile_name
source or discovery
user_dna
execution_dna
tokens
reference subject firewall policy when the profile came from images
negative_constraints
design_prompt
quality_constraints

Required in profile.json:

profile_id
display_name
current_version
created_at
updated_at
source_summary
best_for
risky_for
primary_moods
one_line_summary
versions
adapters, if any

Optional by default:

copied reference images
thumbnail galleries
detailed usage logs
exported prompts
exported design tokens
human-readable reports

Store bulky or derived assets only when the user asks for them. The source of truth is the version snapshot JSON, not exported prompts or reports.

Source

Records where the style came from and how references were fused.

Valid input_mode values:

single_image
multi_image
saved_profile
no_image_discovery
named_style_discovery

{
  "source": {
    "input_mode": "multi_image",
    "fusion_strategy": "blend",
    "source_assets": [
      {
        "id": "img_01",
        "type": "game_screenshot",
        "description": "Cyberpunk 2077 neon city scene",
        "weight": 0.45,
        "role": "style_reference",
        "style_traits_allowed": [
          "dark cinematic atmosphere",
          "neon accent contrast",
          "high contrast lighting",
          "immersive depth"
        ],
        "subject_matter_detected": [
          "vehicles",
          "people",
          "buildings"
        ],
        "subject_replication_policy": "forbidden"
      },
      {
        "id": "img_02",
        "type": "website_screenshot",
        "description": "Notion homepage",
        "weight": 0.55,
        "role": "style_reference",
        "style_traits_allowed": [
          "high whitespace",
          "strict grid",
          "calm typography",
          "low visual noise"
        ],
        "subject_matter_detected": [
          "specific UI surface",
          "icons",
          "logo"
        ],
        "subject_replication_policy": "forbidden"
      }
    ],
    "extraction_confidence": 0.82
  }
}

role must distinguish style_reference from content_asset. Style references must not be embedded in the deck by default.

For every style_reference, record style_traits_allowed, subject_matter_detected, and subject_replication_policy. The default policy is forbidden: identifiable subjects in reference images are not reusable visual content and cannot be redrawn, traced, stylized, approximated, abstracted into mascots, or rebuilt as CSS/SVG/HTML/AI visuals. A cat reference may produce yellow palette, hand-drawn line quality, soft color blocks, or playful hierarchy; it must not produce a cat, cat outline, cat ears, cat face, or cat-shaped decoration.

Allowed style traits include palette, type mood, composition rhythm, border/shadow treatment, material, texture, line quality, information density, crop behavior, contrast behavior, and motion feeling. Forbidden subject matter includes people, animals, characters, mascots, specific products, buildings, vehicles, toys, recognizable objects, and subject parts such as faces, eyes, ears, tails, fins, horns, wings, paws, posture, clothing, fur, scales, and silhouettes.

Discovery

When Design DNA comes from no-image discovery, record questions, answers, named style parsing, and chosen direction.

{
  "discovery": {
    "mode": "no_image",
    "named_style_input": "OpenAI style but for university defense",
    "answers": {
      "first_impression": "authoritative and credible",
      "density": "balanced for live explanation",
      "closest_world": "academic/research"
    },
    "directions": [
      {
        "name": "OpenAI Minimal Academic",
        "summary": "Calm, credible, medium-density research presentation."
      },
      {
        "name": "Editorial Research",
        "summary": "Magazine-like narrative research deck."
      }
    ],
    "selected_direction": "OpenAI Minimal Academic"
  }
}

Profile Metadata

Saved profiles need enough metadata to become manageable assets.

{
  "profile_metadata": {
    "profile_id": "cyber-minimal-editorial",
    "display_name": "Cyber Minimal Editorial",
    "created_at": "2026-06-05T21:40:00+08:00",
    "updated_at": "2026-06-05T22:10:00+08:00",
    "last_used_at": "2026-06-05T22:30:00+08:00",
    "last_output_path": "outputs/math-modeling-defense/index.html",
    "best_for": ["product launch", "tech portfolio", "creative pitch"],
    "risky_for": ["formula-heavy defense", "dense financial report"],
    "primary_moods": ["minimal", "tech", "editorial"],
    "one_line_summary": "Dark tech mood softened by Notion-like grid clarity."
  }
}

Versioning

Versions are immutable Design DNA snapshots. Tuning creates a new version.

{
  "versioning": {
    "current_version": "v002",
    "versions": [
      {
        "version_id": "v001",
        "created_at": "2026-06-05T21:40:00+08:00",
        "change_reason": "original extraction",
        "snapshot_path": "versions/v001.json"
      },
      {
        "version_id": "v002",
        "created_at": "2026-06-05T22:10:00+08:00",
        "parent_version_id": "v001",
        "change_reason": "reduced cyber intensity and increased whitespace",
        "snapshot_path": "versions/v002.json",
        "diff_path": "diffs/v001-to-v002.md"
      }
    ]
  }
}

User DNA

This is the visible control panel. It should be easy to understand and tune.

Fixed Hard Parameters

These exist for every profile:

whitespace
information_density
image_weight
title_weight
chart_weight
text_density
formula_friendliness
grid_strictness
hierarchy_strength
motion_intensity

The minimum panel shown to users must include:

Whitespace
Information density
Image/visual weight
Title weight
Chart weight
Text density
Motion intensity

Dynamic Semantic Tags

These are inferred from references or discovery answers and may vary:

cyber
minimal
editorial
academic
tech
premium
futuristic
business
playful
serious
youthful
luxurious
cinematic
trustworthy
experimental
toy_3d
candy_color
soft_future

Example:

{
  "user_dna": {
    "fixed_parameters": {
      "whitespace": 70,
      "information_density": 35,
      "image_weight": 65,
      "title_weight": 85,
      "chart_weight": 35,
      "text_density": 30,
      "formula_friendliness": 20,
      "grid_strictness": 78,
      "hierarchy_strength": 85,
      "motion_intensity": 35
    },
    "semantic_tags": {
      "minimal": 90,
      "cyber": 30,
      "tech": 82,
      "editorial": 55,
      "academic": 20,
      "business": 45,
      "playful": 12,
      "serious": 68,
      "premium": 74,
      "emotional": 28
    },
    "plain_language_summary": "A restrained cyber-minimal design combining dark tech atmosphere with Notion-like grid clarity."
  }
}

Five Required DNA Layers

1. Mood

Mood is visual psychology. It must not be reduced to colors.

Recommended fields:

minimal
tech
academic
business
futuristic
premium
editorial
youthful
playful
serious
authoritative
trustworthy
emotional
experimental
luxurious

Impact examples:

high minimal -> fewer blocks, more whitespace, fewer colors
high academic -> more chart weight, formula friendliness, clearer citations
high cyber -> darker surfaces, neon accents, stronger contrast
high premium -> restrained palette, larger whitespace, refined type hierarchy

2. Composition

Composition controls how slides are organized.

Recommended fields:

whitespace
information_density
alignment
grid_system
grid_strictness
hierarchy_strength
visual_focus
asymmetry
layout_rhythm
section_rhythm
preferred_layout_archetypes
forbidden_layout_patterns

3. Visual

Visual controls design tokens and treatments.

Recommended fields:

primary_background
secondary_background
primary_text
secondary_text
accent_primary
accent_secondary
neutral_scale
heading_style
body_style
font_candidates
type_scale
line_height
radius
border_style
shadow_style
gradient_usage
material
texture
image_treatment
crop_strategy

4. Content Strategy

Content Strategy defines what the style can safely carry.

Recommended fields:

density_mode
max_words_per_slide
max_bullets_per_slide
max_bullet_length
image_text_ratio
image_weight
chart_weight
formula_friendliness
data_table_friendliness
text_heavy_tolerance
preferred_content_forms
split_rules

5. Presentation

Presentation controls rhythm, motion, and storytelling.

Recommended fields:

pacing
narrative_style
speaker_led_vs_reading_first
animation_intensity
transition_style
section_break_frequency
emotional_curve
reveal_strategy
motion_recipes

Execution DNA

Execution DNA is the stricter internal schema used to generate slides.

It should include:

fixed 16:9 canvas
safe margins
design tokens
grid rules
layout behavior
typography scale
density gates
image treatment rules
reference subject firewall
mechanical layout preflight requirements
motion rules
negative constraints

Example:

{
  "execution_dna": {
    "canvas": {
      "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
      "target_size": { "width": 1920, "height": 1080 },
      "safe_margin": { "top": 90, "right": 110, "bottom": 90, "left": 110 }
    },
    "composition_rules": {
      "max_primary_blocks": 3,
      "max_nested_cards": 0,
      "snap_to_grid": true,
      "avoid_centered_everything": true,
      "prefer_single_primary_focus": true
    },
    "density_rules": {
      "max_words_per_slide": 55,
      "minimum_font_size": 24,
      "split_when_overflow": true
    },
    "reference_subject_firewall": {
      "enabled": true,
      "forbidden_subjects": [
        "people",
        "animals",
        "characters",
        "mascots",
        "specific objects from references"
      ],
      "allowed_surrogates": [
        "typographic visual",
        "abstract material object",
        "geometric diagram",
        "texture",
        "pattern",
        "intentional whitespace"
      ],
      "forbid_subject_silhouette": true,
      "forbid_subject_parts": true,
      "forbid_svg_redraw": true,
      "forbid_ai_redraw": true
    },
    "mechanical_layout_preflight": {
      "required_before_html": true,
      "estimate_text_fit": true,
      "reserve_visual_effect_padding": true,
      "reserve_nav_safe_zone": true,
      "check_collision_pairs": true,
      "if_fail": "recompose_reduce_copy_reduce_title_or_split_slide"
    },
    "layout_box_budget": {
      "required_before_html": true,
      "required_height_formula": "estimated_lines * font_size * line_height + glyph_pad_top + glyph_pad_bottom + visual_effect_pad",
      "chain_readable_zones": true,
      "forbid_independent_absolute_top_for_content": true,
      "forbid_dom_order_overlap_fix": true,
      "forbid_z_index_collision_fix": true,
      "display_serif_line_height_min": 1.02,
      "display_serif_multiline_line_height_min": 1.06,
      "display_title_single_line_decorative_floor": 0.95,
      "body_and_card_multiline_line_height_min": 1.28,
      "descender_pad_em": "0.18-0.28",
      "if_fail": "lower_title_size_or_move_next_zone_or_split_slide"
    },
    "motion_rules": {
      "max_motion_intensity": 45,
      "prefers_reduced_motion": true,
      "avoid_generic_repeated_animation": true
    }
  }
}

Adapters

Adapters are derived scenario variants of a profile.

{
  "adapters": {
    "academic": {
      "adapter_id": "cyber-minimal-academic",
      "adapter_name": "Cyber Minimal Academic",
      "base_profile_id": "cyber-minimal-editorial",
      "base_version_id": "v002",
      "current_adapter_version": "a001",
      "scenario": "math_modeling",
      "selected_strategy": "cell_division",
      "preserve": ["minimal grid", "dark tech mood", "single accent"],
      "adapt": {
        "semantic_tags.cyber": { "from": 30, "to": 15 },
        "semantic_tags.academic": { "from": 20, "to": 65 },
        "fixed_parameters.information_density": { "from": 35, "to": 65 },
        "fixed_parameters.chart_weight": { "from": 35, "to": 80 },
        "fixed_parameters.whitespace": { "from": 70, "to": 50 }
      },
      "conflicts": [
        "Base profile has low information density for math modeling.",
        "Base profile has low formula friendliness."
      ],
      "visual_director_advice": "Preserve cyber-minimal identity but give evidence slides more room.",
      "diff_path": "adapters/academic/diffs/base-to-a001.md"
    }
  }
}

Adapter changes must include visual consequences, not only numeric deltas.

Negative Constraints

Every profile must include "do not" rules. These are often more effective than style adjectives.

Examples:

Do not shrink text below the minimum readable size.
Do not use more than one accent color on one slide unless DNA supports it.
Do not create dense card walls unless the scenario explicitly requires dashboard density.
Do not preserve high whitespace when it makes charts unreadable.
Do not use decorative effects that compete with the core message.
Do not mix unrelated visual systems inside one deck.
Do not place reference images into the deck unless explicitly marked as content.

Design Prompt

The design prompt is compiled from the schema. It is not the source of truth. Exporting a prompt must not mutate the profile. To change style, update Design DNA, create a new version or adapter version, then regenerate the derived prompt.

{
  "design_prompt": {
    "short": "Cyber Minimal Editorial: controlled dark tech mood, Notion-like grid clarity, high whitespace, single-focus slides.",
    "long": "Use a restrained cyber-minimal visual system. Preserve dark technology atmosphere but reduce neon intensity and visual noise. Combine it with Notion-like spacing, grid clarity, calm editorial structure, large titles, single focal visuals, short claims, and precise diagrams.",
    "style_do": [
      "Use high whitespace and clear typographic hierarchy",
      "Use one accent color per slide",
      "Use large single-focus visuals",
      "Use grid-aligned layouts"
    ],
    "style_dont": [
      "Do not use multiple neon colors together",
      "Do not create dense card walls",
      "Do not shrink text to fit content",
      "Do not mix gaming UI language with academic diagrams without adaptation"
    ]
  }
}

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Design DNA Schema

Top-Level Shape

Unsaved Active Candidate

Minimal Reproducible Profile

Source

Discovery

Profile Metadata

Versioning

User DNA

Fixed Hard Parameters

Dynamic Semantic Tags

Five Required DNA Layers

1. Mood

2. Composition

3. Visual

4. Content Strategy

5. Presentation

Execution DNA

Adapters

Negative Constraints

Design Prompt