Purpose
This document is the single source of truth for generating, adapting, and validating Level‑K branding across any game. It is for humans and AI. The Golden Ratio is optional; it’s one of many valid motifs.
Brand Tenets
- Precision with Play: scientific clarity with imaginative warmth.
- Levels and Emergence: layered systems, recursion, patterns that reveal depth.
- Modularity: small elements combine to form coherent structures.
- Legibility First: typography and UI must remain readable under motion and texture.
- Accessibility: obey color contrast and motion sensitivity guidance.
Motif Catalog and When‑To‑Use
All motifs below are valid Level‑K expressions. Choose based on tone, audience, and readability needs.
Logo and Wordmark
Typography
Preferred: geometric/humanist sans (e.g., Inter, IBM Plex Sans, Source Sans). If unavailable, use system default geometric sans.
- Hierarchy: 1.25–1.33× size steps between levels.
- Emphasis: prefer weight progression over color.
- Math: typeset clear exponent formatting for
K^n.
Heading / H1
Subheading / H2
Body text demonstrates legibility and comfortable line‑length.
Math sample: Kn · a2 + b2 = c2
Color System
Neutrals lean cool gray to deep charcoal; off‑white foregrounds. Maintain WCAG AA contrast for UI text.
Sample Palette (Toddler Manifest)
bg
fg
P
S
A1
A2
From Sample Brand Manifest. Generate three tints (+12, +24 L) and two shades (−12, −18 L) per hue; validate contrast first by adjusting saturation before lightness.
Palette Algorithms (HSL)
- Provide light and dark modes (background L: 92–98 light; 8–18 dark).
- Audience‑tuned saturation/lightness (e.g., Toddler: S 55–80, L 70–90).
- Hue anchors by tone (e.g., Sci‑Fi: 200–220° with optional 300–320° magenta; 40–60° amber highlights).
Toddler Game Variant
- 5–7 hues, ≥ 35° separation; S 55–80; L 70–90.
- Rounded corners ≥ 12px @1080p; generous spacing; soft shadows.
- Gentle motion 200–300ms ease‑in‑out; no abrupt opacity cuts.
- Prioritize: Vertical Stack, Weight Progression, Opacity Fade, Compact Icons.
- Avoid: harsh black, hairline strokes, complex networks behind text.
Layout and Composition
Motion System
- Durations: 120–300ms discrete; 400–800ms loops.
- Easing: ease‑in‑out or cubic‑bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1).
- Physics: avoid overshoot > 1.15×.
- Accessibility: provide Reduced Motion variant; prefer opacity/transform over blur.
Output Deliverables (per game)
- Logos: full wordmark (SVG), monogram (SVG), icon (SVG + 1024/512/256 PNG).
- Banners: 1920×620 (wide), 1600×900 (hero), 620×240 and 460×215 (capsules), @1x/@2x.
- UI Kit: buttons, panels, dividers, badges (SVG + tokens).
- Backgrounds/Patterns: seamless textures; parallax‑ready layers.
- Motion: 3–5s looped MP4/WebM and Lottie JSON (if vector).
File/Folder Structure
branding/<gameSlug>/
manifest.json
logo/
banners/
ui/
motion/
patterns/Schemas & Manifests
Brand Manifest (JSON Schema)
{
"$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
"$id": "https://level-k.games/schemas/brand-manifest.schema.json",
"title": "Level-K Brand Manifest",
"type": "object",
"required": ["studio", "game", "targetAudience", "tone", "motifPriority", "palette", "accessibility"],
"properties": {
"studio": {"const": "Level-K Games"},
"game": {"type": "string", "minLength": 1},
"gameSlug": {"type": "string", "pattern": "^[a-z0-9-]+$"},
"targetAudience": {"type": "string", "enum": ["Toddler", "Family", "Casual", "Core", "Tech", "Horror", "Puzzle", "Fantasy", "SciFi"]},
"tone": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}},
"energyLevel": {"type": "string", "enum": ["low", "medium", "high"], "default": "medium"},
"motifPriority": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}},
"palette": {
"type": "object",
"required": ["background", "foreground", "accents"],
"properties": {
"mode": {"type": "string", "enum": ["dark", "light"], "default": "dark"},
"background": {"type": "string", "pattern": "^#([0-9a-fA-F]{6}|[0-9a-fA-F]{8})$"},
"foreground": {"type": "string", "pattern": "^#([0-9a-fA-F]{6}|[0-9a-fA-F]{8})$"},
"accents": {
"type": "array",
"minItems": 3,
"items": {
"type": "object",
"required": ["hex", "role"],
"properties": {
"hex": {"type": "string", "pattern": "^#([0-9a-fA-F]{6}|[0-9a-fA-F]{8})$"},
"role": {"type": "string"},
"tints": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}},
"shades": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}}
}
}
}
}
},
"typography": {
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"family": {"type": "string"},
"scale": {"type": "number", "minimum": 1.15, "maximum": 1.4},
"weights": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "integer"}}
}
},
"accessibility": {
"type": "object",
"required": ["minContrast", "reducedMotion"],
"properties": {
"minContrast": {"type": "number", "minimum": 3.0, "maximum": 21.0},
"reducedMotion": {"type": "boolean"}
}
}
}
}Sample Brand Manifest (JSON · Toddler)
{
"studio": "Level-K Games",
"game": "Tiny Tinkerers",
"gameSlug": "tiny-tinkerers",
"targetAudience": "Toddler",
"tone": ["friendly", "curious", "safe"],
"energyLevel": "medium",
"motifPriority": [
"Vertical Stack",
"Weight Progression",
"Opacity Fade",
"Compact Icons"
],
"palette": {
"mode": "light",
"background": "#FBFBFD",
"foreground": "#1E1E24",
"accents": [
{"hex": "#FFB84D", "role": "primary", "tints": ["#FFD59A", "#FFE7C7"], "shades": ["#E69F34", "#BF7720"]},
{"hex": "#7FD1B9", "role": "secondary", "tints": ["#A9E3D4", "#D4F4EC"], "shades": ["#5BB89D", "#3F8E77"]},
{"hex": "#8EC5FF", "role": "accent-1", "tints": ["#B9DBFF", "#DBECFF"], "shades": ["#5FA7E6", "#3D7FBF"]},
{"hex": "#FF88AA", "role": "accent-2", "tints": ["#FFB6CB", "#FFD9E6"], "shades": ["#E6678E", "#BF4970"]}
]
},
"typography": {
"family": "Inter",
"scale": 1.25,
"weights": [400, 600, 800]
},
"accessibility": {
"minContrast": 4.5,
"reducedMotion": true
}
}Sample Brand Manifest (YAML · Toddler)
studio: "Level-K Games"
game: "Tiny Tinkerers"
gameSlug: "tiny-tinkerers"
targetAudience: "Toddler"
tone:
- "friendly"
- "curious"
- "safe"
energyLevel: "medium"
motifPriority:
- "Vertical Stack"
- "Weight Progression"
- "Opacity Fade"
- "Compact Icons"
palette:
mode: "light"
background: "#FBFBFD"
foreground: "#1E1E24"
accents:
- hex: "#FFB84D"
role: "primary"
tints: ["#FFD59A", "#FFE7C7"]
shades: ["#E69F34", "#BF7720"]
- hex: "#7FD1B9"
role: "secondary"
tints: ["#A9E3D4", "#D4F4EC"]
shades: ["#5BB89D", "#3F8E77"]
- hex: "#8EC5FF"
role: "accent-1"
tints: ["#B9DBFF", "#DBECFF"]
shades: ["#5FA7E6", "#3D7FBF"]
- hex: "#FF88AA"
role: "accent-2"
tints: ["#FFB6CB", "#FFD9E6"]
shades: ["#E6678E", "#BF4970"]
typography:
family: "Inter"
scale: 1.25
weights: [400, 600, 800]
accessibility:
minContrast: 4.5
reducedMotion: trueAI Asset Request Contract (JSON)
{
"$id": "https://level-k.games/schemas/asset-request.schema.json",
"type": "object",
"required": ["brandManifest", "assetType"],
"properties": {
"brandManifest": {"$ref": "brand-manifest.schema.json"},
"assetType": {"type": "string", "enum": ["logo-full", "logo-monogram", "icon-square", "banner-wide", "banner-hero", "capsule-small", "ui-kit", "pattern", "motion-loop"]},
"copy": {"type": "object", "properties": {"title": {"type": "string"}, "subtitle": {"type": "string"}, "tagline": {"type": "string"}}},
"constraints": {"type": "object", "properties": {"minTextSizePt": {"type": "number"}, "maxFileSizeKB": {"type": "number"}, "exportScales": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "number"}}}},
"previewOnBackgrounds": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}}
}
}AI Asset Request Contract (YAML)
brandManifest:
$ref: "brand-manifest.schema.json"
assetType: "icon-square" # or: logo-full, logo-monogram, banner-wide, banner-hero, capsule-small, ui-kit, pattern, motion-loop
copy:
title: "Tiny Tinkerers"
subtitle: "Playful Circuits"
tagline: "Build, Learn, Giggle."
constraints:
minTextSizePt: 10
maxFileSizeKB: 512
exportScales: [1, 2]
previewOnBackgrounds: ["#FBFBFD", "#1E1E24"]Prompt Primer
System instruction: You are a Level‑K brand generator. Follow the Brand Tenets, Motif Catalog, Palette Algorithms, and Accessibility constraints. The Golden Ratio is optional and must not dominate unless explicitly requested.
Goals: Maximize legibility, maintain modular geometry, use emergent patterns thoughtfully, and respect the target audience.
Avoid: Busy network patterns behind text; insufficient contrast; over‑saturated gradients; excessive motion; off‑brand typography.
Validation Checklist
- Contrast: body text ≥ 4.5:1; UI icons discernible @32×32.
- Motion: Reduced‑motion variant provided; no essential info conveyed solely by motion.
- Export: SVG for logos/UI; raster @1x/@2x.
- Filenames: snake‑case with role and scale, e.g.,
logo_monogram_primary_1024.png.
Integration Blueprint
- Keep this file in the repo root alongside
LEVEL-K_Branding_Guide_for_AI.md. - Add a brand manifest at
branding/<gameSlug>/manifest.jsonmatching the schema. - CI steps:
- Validate manifest against schema.
- Generate assets via the Asset Request Contract.
- Run the Validation Checklist; fail build on violations.
Reference Index
- Additional color notes:
color-implementation-notes.png - Emergent network variant:
emergent-network.png - Mathematical subscript styling:
mathematical-subscript.png - Typographic hierarchy examples:
typographic-hierarchy.png
Governance
- Owner: Level‑K Games (Dot Riot Games)
- Edits: propose via PR; update Version and summarize changes.
- Compatibility: semver. Minor versions may add motifs/sizes; major versions may change schema.