Labtorio
Design Standards
The shared standards that define what good looks like at Labtorio. Every piece of work we produce — for any client, in any medium — is evaluated against these principles.
This is a working document. Read the full document when you join the team or take on a new deliverable type. Use specific sections as a reference when you have a craft question. Use the checklist in each section before any work goes to a client.
Eight sections, one standard
These sections build on each other. The philosophy section is the foundation — read it first. Specific craft sections are reference material for active work.
Why we design the way we do. The three words we use to evaluate every piece of work — intentional, cohesive, and tight — and how to apply them.
The market we design for, what to avoid, and the sensibility that guides every creative decision. Understanding the aesthetic is part of working here.
Typeface selection, type system construction, hierarchy, and medium-specific application. Typography is the primary tool we use to communicate.
Grids, margins, alignment, white space, and visual hierarchy. Structure is what creates the feeling of clarity — and its absence is always felt.
Palette selection, application rules, contrast standards, color inversions, and file preparation for print and digital. Restraint and consistency.
How to select, evaluate, and treat photography, stock images, AI-generated imagery, AI-edited images, and icons across all client deliverables.
Naming conventions, folder structure, file formats, and production handoff requirements. In progress — check back soon.
Social media, digital advertising, print, signage, presentations, and motion. How the same principles apply differently depending on how the work is experienced.
Read the full document before you start producing work. Section 01 (Philosophy) and Section 02 (Aesthetic) are the most important — they define how we think, not just what we do.
When the standards don't cover a situation, return to the three words: Is this choice intentional? Is it cohesive in context? Is the work tight?
Use specific sections as a reference when you have a craft question. Typography, Layout, Color, and Imagery each have a pre-flight checklist at the bottom — use it every time before work goes to a client.
If you find a gap — a situation the standards don't address, or a rule that produces the wrong result — raise it. This document belongs to everyone who works here.