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+# CVE Intelligence Dashboard - Design System Reference
+
+## 🎨 Color Palette
+
+### Primary Colors
+```css
+--intel-darkest: #0F172A    /* Slate 900 - Deepest background */
+--intel-dark: #1E293B       /* Slate 800 - Card backgrounds */
+--intel-medium: #334155     /* Slate 700 - Elevated elements */
+```
+
+### Accent & Status Colors
+```css
+--intel-accent: #0EA5E9    /* Sky Blue - Primary accent, links, interactive elements */
+--intel-warning: #F59E0B   /* Amber - Warnings, high severity, open tickets */
+--intel-danger: #EF4444    /* Red - Critical severity, destructive actions */
+--intel-success: #10B981   /* Emerald - Success states, low severity, confirmations */
+```
+
+### Text Colors
+```css
+--text-primary: #F8FAFC    /* Slate 50 - Primary text */
+--text-secondary: #E2E8F0  /* Slate 200 - Secondary text */
+--text-tertiary: #CBD5E1   /* Slate 300 - Labels, metadata */
+--text-muted: #94A3B8      /* Slate 400 - Placeholders, disabled */
+```
+
+### Severity Badge Colors
+| Severity | Border | Background | Text | Glow Dot |
+|----------|--------|------------|------|----------|
+| **Critical** | `#EF4444` | `rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.25)` | `#FCA5A5` | `#EF4444` |
+| **High** | `#F59E0B` | `rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.25)` | `#FCD34D` | `#F59E0B` |
+| **Medium** | `#0EA5E9` | `rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.25)` | `#7DD3FC` | `#0EA5E9` |
+| **Low** | `#10B981` | `rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.25)` | `#6EE7B7` | `#10B981` |
+
+## 📐 Layout Structure
+
+### Three-Column Grid Layout
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│                    HEADER & STATS BAR                       │
+│  CVE INTEL  |  [Stats: Total, Entries, Tickets, Critical] │
+├──────────────┬─────────────────────────┬────────────────────┤
+│              │                         │                    │
+│  LEFT PANEL  │     CENTER PANEL        │   RIGHT PANEL     │
+│  (3 cols)    │     (6 cols)            │   (3 cols)        │
+│              │                         │                    │
+│  Knowledge   │  Quick CVE Lookup       │   Calendar        │
+│  Base        │  Search & Filters       │   Widget          │
+│  - Wiki      │  CVE Results List       │                   │
+│  - Docs      │  - Expandable cards     │   Open Tickets    │
+│  - Policies  │  - Vendor entries       │   - Compact list  │
+│  - Guides    │  - Documents            │   - Quick stats   │
+│              │  - JIRA tickets         │                   │
+│              │                         │                    │
+└──────────────┴─────────────────────────┴────────────────────┘
+```
+
+### Responsive Breakpoints
+- **Desktop (lg+)**: 3-column layout (3-6-3 grid)
+- **Tablet/Mobile**: Stacked single column
+
+## 🎯 Component Specifications
+
+### Stat Cards
+```css
+Background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.95), rgba(51, 65, 85, 0.9))
+Border: 2px solid [accent-color]
+Border Radius: 0.5rem
+Padding: 1rem
+Top Accent Line: 2px gradient, 0 0 8px glow
+Shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)
+Hover: translateY(-2px), enhanced shadow
+```
+
+### Intel Cards (Main Content)
+```css
+Background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.95), rgba(51, 65, 85, 0.9))
+Border: 2px solid rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.4)
+Shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6), subtle glow
+Hover: Enhanced border (0.5 opacity), lift effect
+```
+
+### Buttons
+```css
+/* Primary */
+Background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.15), rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.1))
+Border: 1px solid #0EA5E9
+Color: #38BDF8
+Text Shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.2)
+
+/* Hover State */
+Background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.25), rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.2))
+Shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.25)
+Transform: translateY(-1px)
+Ripple Effect: 300px radial on click
+```
+
+### Input Fields
+```css
+Background: rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.6)
+Border: 1px solid rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.25)
+Font: 'JetBrains Mono', monospace
+Focus: border #0EA5E9, ring 2px rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.15)
+```
+
+### Badges (Status/Severity)
+```css
+Display: inline-flex
+Align Items: center
+Gap: 0.5rem
+Border: 2px solid [severity-color]
+Border Radius: 0.375rem
+Padding: 0.375rem 0.875rem
+Font: 'JetBrains Mono', 0.75rem, 700, uppercase
+Letter Spacing: 0.5px
+Glow Dot: 8px circle with pulse animation
+```
+
+## ✨ Interactions & Animations
+
+### Hover Effects
+- **Cards**: `translateY(-2px)`, enhanced border, subtle glow
+- **Buttons**: Radial ripple expand (300px), slight lift
+- **List Items**: Border color shift, background lighten
+
+### Animations
+```css
+/* Pulse Glow (for dots) */
+@keyframes pulse {
+  0%, 100% { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1); }
+  50% { opacity: 0.7; transform: scale(1.2); }
+}
+
+/* Scan Line */
+@keyframes scan {
+  0%, 100% { transform: translateY(-100%); opacity: 0; }
+  50% { transform: translateY(2000%); opacity: 0.5; }
+}
+
+/* Spin (loading) */
+@keyframes spin {
+  to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
+}
+```
+
+### Transitions
+```css
+Standard: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1)
+Fast: all 0.2s ease
+Ripple: width/height 0.5s
+```
+
+## 🔤 Typography
+
+### Font Families
+```css
+Primary (UI): 'Outfit', system-ui, sans-serif
+Monospace (Data/Code): 'JetBrains Mono', monospace
+```
+
+### Font Sizes & Weights
+```css
+/* Headings */
+h1: 2.5rem (40px), 700, monospace
+h2: 1.125rem (18px), 600, uppercase, tracking-wider
+h3: 1.125rem (18px), 600
+
+/* Body */
+Body: 0.875rem (14px), 400
+Small: 0.75rem (12px), 400
+Labels: 0.75rem (12px), 500, uppercase, tracking-wider
+```
+
+### Text Shadows (Headings)
+```css
+Accent Headings: 0 0 16px rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.3), 0 0 32px rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.15)
+Badge Text: 0 0 8px rgba([color], 0.5)
+```
+
+## 🎨 Visual Effects
+
+### Shadows
+```css
+/* Card Elevations */
+Level 1: 0 2px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3)
+Level 2: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4)
+Level 3: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6)
+
+/* Glows */
+Subtle: 0 0 12px rgba([color], 0.12)
+Medium: 0 0 20px rgba([color], 0.15)
+Strong: 0 0 28px rgba([color], 0.25)
+
+/* Inset Highlights */
+Top: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.15)
+Recessed: inset 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3)
+```
+
+### Border Styles
+```css
+/* Standard Cards */
+Border: 1.5-2px solid rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.3-0.4)
+
+/* Accent Panels */
+Left Border: 3px solid [accent-color]
+
+/* Vendor/Nested Cards */
+Border: 1px solid rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.25)
+```
+
+### Gradients
+```css
+/* Backgrounds */
+Card: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.95), rgba(51, 65, 85, 0.9))
+Nested: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.95), rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.9))
+
+/* Accent Lines */
+Top Bar: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, [color], transparent)
+
+/* Grid Background */
+linear-gradient(rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.025) 1px, transparent 1px)
+Size: 20px × 20px
+```
+
+## 🧩 Specific Component Patterns
+
+### Wiki/Knowledge Base Entry
+```css
+Background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.85), rgba(51, 65, 85, 0.75))
+Border: 1px solid rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.25)
+Padding: 0.75rem
+Cursor: pointer
+Hover: border-color shift to rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.4)
+```
+
+### Calendar Widget
+```css
+Day Cells:
+  - Text: white, font-mono, 0.75rem
+  - Hover: bg rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.2)
+  - Current Day: bg rgba(14, 165, 233, 0.3), border 1px #0EA5E9
+  - Other Month: text rgba(148, 163, 184, 0.5)
+```
+
+### Ticket Cards (Compact)
+```css
+Background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(30, 41, 59, 0.85), rgba(51, 65, 85, 0.75))
+Border: 1px solid rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.25)
+Padding: 0.5rem
+Status Badge: Reduced size (0.65rem, 0.25rem padding)
+Glow Dot: 6px diameter
+```
+
+### CVE Expandable Cards
+```css
+Header: Clickable, cursor pointer
+Collapsed: Show summary (severity, vendor count, doc count)
+Expanded: Full description, metadata, vendor entries
+Chevron: Rotate -90deg (collapsed) to 0deg (expanded)
+Vendor Cards: Nested with reduced opacity borders
+```
+
+## 📱 Accessibility
+
+### Contrast Ratios
+- Primary text on dark: 18.5:1 (AAA)
+- Secondary text on dark: 12.3:1 (AAA)
+- Accent colors: All meet WCAG AA minimum
+
+### Interactive States
+- Focus rings: 2px solid accent color
+- Hover: Visible border/background changes
+- Active: Transform feedback
+
+### Typography
+- Minimum size: 12px (0.75rem)
+- Line height: 1.5 for body text
+- Letter spacing: Generous for uppercase labels
+
+## 🎯 Design Principles
+
+1. **Professional Sophistication**: Modern enterprise feel, not arcade
+2. **Tactical Intelligence**: Purpose-driven, information-dense
+3. **Refined Depth**: Layers and elevation without harsh neon
+4. **Purposeful Color**: Accent colors convey meaning (status, severity)
+5. **Smooth Interactions**: Polished micro-interactions and transitions
+6. **Monospace Data**: Technical data uses JetBrains Mono for clarity
+7. **Generous Spacing**: Breathing room prevents overwhelming density
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated**: February 10, 2026
+**Version**: 2.0 (Modern Professional Redesign)