---
name: liquid-glass-design-tokens
classification: feature
success_metric: |
  styles/globals.css gains the canonical Liquid Glass token layer
  (`--glass-surface-*`, `--glass-blur-*`, `--rim-light-*`, `--ember-rim-*`,
  `--elevation-*`) for light + dark themes; docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md
  documents every token with a contrast measurement vs --text-primary
  AND --text-secondary in both themes; ZERO component changes; visual
  diff baselines remain stable; lint + vitest + smoke green.
skip:
  - ux
  - ia
  - qa
  - flag
status: merged
created: 2026-06-03
merged: 2026-06-03
depends_on: []
umbrella: liquid-glass-redesign
conductor_started: 2026-06-03
---

# Convoy: liquid-glass-design-tokens

Foundation sub-convoy #1 of the `liquid-glass-redesign` epic. Adds the
token layer that every subsequent sub-convoy consumes. Touches CSS +
docs only — **no component or page file is edited here**.

## Conductor stamp (2026-06-03)

**Classification:** `feature` (full pipeline with skips below).

**Skips ratified:**

- `ux` — zero user-visible change; UX reviewer has nothing to evaluate.
- `ia` — no information-architecture concern; navigation / URL / labels
  untouched.
- `qa` — no UI to manually click through; lint + vitest + visual-diff +
  smoke fully cover the surface.
- `flag` — repo has no feature-flag wrapper (per
  `.convoys/liquid-glass-redesign.md` § Hard scoping rules).

**Kept in pipeline:** `arch` (architect must ratify the 7 decisions
listed below), `design` (design-system auditor is the LEAD role here),
`a11y` (contrast measurements are a11y concern — auditor reviews the
contrast table, not code), `test` (lint + vitest baseline), `visual`
(visual-diff fires on `styles/**`), `smoke` (preview-smoke runs on
every PR), `review` (single-shot reviewer post-PR), `docs` (this convoy
writes `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md`).

**Next role:** `role-design-system-auditor` (proposes token names +
structure), then `role-architect` (ratifies + writes Brief 1).

## Why

The Liquid Glass redesign cannot proceed without a documented,
measurable token surface. Today `styles/globals.css` defines:

- Color tokens (`--bg-primary` / `--bg-secondary` / etc.)
- Three gradients (`--gradient-primary` / `--gradient-secondary` /
  `.gradient-bg-ember`)
- A handful of glow utility classes (`.fire-glow`, `.ember-glow`,
  `.card-mythic-glow`, etc.)
- RGB-component triples for backdrop-blur effects
  (`--bg-primary-rgb`, etc.)

What it does NOT define is a *surface* token (translucency + blur +
rim-light + elevation) — every component currently composes those
ad-hoc inline. This sub-convoy adds that layer and freezes it as the
single source of truth.

## Scope

### In scope

- `styles/globals.css` — add new tokens to both `:root` (light) and
  `[data-theme="dark"]`:
  - `--glass-surface-low` — primary panel background (modals, cards-in-detail)
  - `--glass-surface-mid` — sidebar / header / navigation rails
  - `--glass-surface-high` — overlays, tooltips, dropdowns
  - `--glass-blur-low` (default `12px`), `--glass-blur-mid` (`20px`), `--glass-blur-high` (`32px`)
  - `--glass-saturate` (default `140%`)
  - `--rim-light-inner` — `rgba(255,255,255,0.55)` light / `rgba(255,255,255,0.08)` dark
  - `--rim-light-outer` — hairline border, theme-tuned
  - `--ember-rim-subtle` — `rgba(216,67,21,0.35)` 1px ring
  - `--ember-rim-pronounced` — `rgba(216,67,21,0.45)` 1px ring + 12px bloom
  - `--elevation-ambient` — soft outer shadow (replaces inline `shadow-lg`)
  - `--elevation-pronounced` — stacked elevation for modals
  - `--modal-scrim` — backdrop fill behind a modal (theme-tuned alpha)
- `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` (new) — reference doc listing every token,
  its purpose, both-theme values, and measured contrast ratios against
  `--text-primary` and `--text-secondary`. Use https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/ values.
- `AGENTS.md` § "Branding" — append one paragraph linking
  `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` and naming the Liquid Glass direction.

### Out of scope

- Any change to a `.js` file under `components/**` or `pages/**`.
- Deletion of any existing token or utility class (cleanup is sub-convoy #8).
- Tailwind config changes — Liquid Glass is implemented in CSS vars,
  not Tailwind theme extensions.
- Storybook adoption — `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` is hand-curated; a real
  Storybook is its own future convoy.

## Roles invoked

1. `role-design-system-auditor` — proposes token names + structure.
2. `role-architect` — ratifies token naming + theme-specific values +
   contrast targets; writes Brief 1.
3. `role-implementer` — single brief; adds tokens + docs.
4. `role-doc-writer` — reviews `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` shape.

## Todos

- [x] Design-system auditor: token naming + structure proposal
      → see `.convoys/liquid-glass-design-tokens/design-system-audit.md`
      (29 tokens proposed; both-theme values + contrast tables + composite
      recipes + `@supports` fallback values; all 5 operator defaults
      honoured; 6 pre-existing token violations flagged for #8 cleanup)
- [x] Architect: ratify Decisions 1–7 using the audit's § 7
      recommendations; write Brief 1 → see § Architecture below +
      `.convoys/liquid-glass-design-tokens/brief-1-tokens-and-docs.md`.
      All 7 decisions ratified verbatim from audit; all 3 boot-the-brief
      checks passed.
- [x] **Human gate 1 (plan approval)** — approved by operator
      2026-06-03 in the full-portfolio drive-through prompt.
- [x] A11y auditor: contrast tables in audit § 4 + § 5 verified
      (light text-primary 15.18:1 AAA, text-secondary 6.86:1 AA; dark
      text-primary 17.84:1 AAA, text-secondary 11.42:1 AAA; ember rim
      non-text 3.18–6.18:1 all clear 3:1 SC 1.4.11 floor).
- [x] Brief 1 — tokens + docs (committed 2026-06-03). 110 LOC inserted
      into `styles/globals.css` (purely additive, comment-fenced),
      270 LOC `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md`, 23 LOC `AGENTS.md § Visual
      language`. Lint 0 errors; vitest 84/84 green (baseline preserved).
- [x] Post-PR audit — `role-reviewer` (single-shot): zero `.js` touched,
      zero existing CSS rule modified, `@supports` syntax + 16
      `rgba()` triples + 3 multi-shadow stacks all syntactically
      valid, AGENTS.md insertion at correct topology.

## Decisions to ratify (architect)

1. **Glass tint strength** — Apple-leaning vs Linear-leaning (see
   umbrella § Open question #1). Operator default: Apple-leaning.
2. **Light-theme glass base** — warm white vs cool white (umbrella § #2).
   Operator default: warm white.
3. **Dark-theme glass base** — warm black vs cool black (umbrella § #3).
   Operator default: warm black.
4. **`--glass-blur-low/mid/high` exact px values** — proposal: 12 / 20 / 32.
5. **`--glass-saturate` default** — proposal: 140% (Apple-style vibrancy).
6. **Contrast target** — WCAG AA (4.5:1 for text-primary, 3:1 for
   text-secondary on large text) vs AAA. Recommended: AA hard floor;
   AAA where achievable without losing the glass effect.
7. **`@supports not (backdrop-filter: blur(20px))` fallback alpha** —
   solid-with-alpha values for each `--glass-surface-*` so non-supporting
   browsers degrade to a flat tinted panel, not a hard opaque box.

## Acceptance criteria

1. `styles/globals.css` defines every token listed in § Scope for both
   themes.
2. `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` exists, lists every token, shows the
   contrast measurement table per theme.
3. **No `.js` file is modified.**
4. `npm run lint` + `npm run test:run` + `npm run test:smoke` all green.
5. `Screenshot diff` is invoked (CSS path matches `styles/**`) and
   shows zero or trivially-noisy diff (sub-pixel color reordering only).
   If non-trivial diff appears, the architect must explain why before
   merge (most likely cause: an accidental selector reorder; rollback
   that change).
6. `AGENTS.md` § Branding mentions Liquid Glass + links
   `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md`.

## CI impact

| Workflow / job | Behavior |
| --- | --- |
| `preview-smoke.yml` | Fires (any PR). |
| `visual-diff.yml` | **Fires** (`styles/**` matches paths). Expected diff: none. |
| `lint` | Fires. |
| `test:` (vitest) | Fires. |
| New grep gates | None. |

## Known constraints

- **No hardcoded hex** outside `styles/globals.css`. The token surface
  is the only place hex appears post-sub-convoy.
- **Both themes ship together** — every token gets a value in both
  `:root` and `[data-theme="dark"]`. Reviewer fails the PR if any token
  is one-theme-only.
- **`@supports not (backdrop-filter)` fallback** — every glass surface
  token has a documented fallback per Hard scoping rule of the umbrella.

## Multitask dispatch

```yaml
slice_dependencies:
  - brief: 1
    depends_on: []
    files:
      - styles/globals.css
      - docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md
      - AGENTS.md
```

Single brief; no multitask. Post-PR audit is a single
`role-reviewer` invocation.

## Out of scope follow-ups

- **`tailwind-theme-extension`** (P3 polish): if downstream sub-convoys
  find themselves repeatedly composing the same Tailwind-class shape
  (e.g. `bg-[var(--glass-surface-low)] backdrop-blur-[var(--glass-blur-mid)]`),
  consider extending `tailwind.config.js` `theme.extend.backdropBlur` /
  `backgroundColor` with named aliases. Surface only if at least 3
  downstream sub-convoys hit the same shape.
- **`storybook-adoption`** (P2 DX): would let the design-system-auditor
  inspect tokens + primitives in isolation. Out of scope here;
  hand-curated `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` is the v1 surface.

## Architecture (2026-06-03)

### Decisions ratified

All 7 decisions in § "Decisions to ratify (architect)" ratified
verbatim from the audit's § 7 recommendation table at
`.convoys/liquid-glass-design-tokens/design-system-audit.md`. No
re-tuning required — the audit's proposal honoured all 5 operator
defaults from the umbrella and passed AA contrast on all surfaces in
both themes (AAA on body text).

| Decision | Ratified value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Glass tint strength | `--glass-surface-{low,mid,high}` α = **0.55 / 0.68 / 0.82** | Audit § 2.1 |
| 2. Light-theme glass base | Warm white `rgba(254, 252, 248, α)` (via existing `--bg-primary-rgb`) | Audit § 2.1 |
| 3. Dark-theme glass base | Warm black `rgba(26, 15, 10, α)` (via existing `--bg-primary-rgb` dark variant) | Audit § 2.1 |
| 4. `--glass-blur-{low,mid,high}` px | **12 / 20 / 32** | Audit § 2.2 |
| 5. `--glass-saturate` default | **140%** | Audit § 2.2 |
| 6. Contrast target | **AA hard floor** (AAA achieved on body text in both themes per audit § 4) | Audit § 4 |
| 7. `@supports` fallback alpha | Collapsed ramp **0.92 / 0.95 / 0.98** under `@supports not ((backdrop-filter: blur(20px)) or (-webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(20px)))` | Audit § 3 |

### File plan

| File | Action | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `styles/globals.css` | modified (purely additive) | Insert the 29-variable Liquid Glass token block between the existing dark-theme `]` (line 74) and the `/* Apply theme colors */` comment (line 76); append the `@supports not (...)` fallback block immediately after. **Zero pre-existing rules touched.** |
| `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` | new | Reference doc — surface ramp, blur, rim-light, ember rim, elevation, modal scrim, composite recipes, contrast tables, "When NOT to use glass", performance budget, browser support, deprecations. |
| `AGENTS.md` | modified | Insert a new `## Visual language` section between `## Product vocabulary` (line ~27) and `## 1. Project overview` (line 29). Three rules of thumb + pointer at `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md`. |

### API surface

N/A — CSS + docs only. No new route, no API contract change, no
authentication surface, no rate-limit consideration.

### Schema diff

N/A — no database change.

### Test plan

| Stage | Action |
| --- | --- |
| **vitest** (`npm run test:run`) | No new tests added in this brief (CSS-var surface has no functional unit-test target). Existing 21/21 baseline must stay green. |
| **lint** (`npm run lint`) | Must exit 0. |
| **smoke** (`npm run test:smoke`) | Existing 3 specs (home / sign-in / health) must stay green. None depend on visual tokens. |
| **visual-diff** (`Screenshot diff` workflow) | Fires (`styles/**` matches paths). **Expected output: empty diff** — no consumer of the new tokens is added in this brief. Any non-trivial rendered-pixel diff is a bug and must be explained before merge. |
| **manual** | None required for this brief — no UI to click through (per `skip: qa`). |

No existing tests are affected. No new test files are created. The
"tokens added but unused" property is the test: visual diff is the
implicit assertion.

### Risk list

1. **Visual-diff noise from CSS file reorganization.** Mitigation: the
   block is inserted at a single contiguous location with comment
   fences; no existing rule is renumbered or moved. `git diff
   styles/globals.css` should show only inserted hunks. (Risk: low.)
2. **`@supports not ((...) or (...))` syntax error.** The negation of
   an OR group requires the outer parentheses around the whole group.
   Brief 1 provides the verbatim shape, copy-pasted; implementer must
   not reformat. (Risk: low; mitigated by verbatim copy.)
3. **`@supports` block placement order.** The fallback MUST come AFTER
   the base `:root` + `[data-theme="dark"]` blocks so the override
   fires when supported. Brief specifies the insertion location.
   (Risk: low; mitigated by exact-insertion-point instruction.)
4. **`docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md` path referenced from `AGENTS.md` before
   the file exists.** Brief is atomic — all three files commit
   together. (Risk: nil with atomic commit.)
5. **Scope creep — implementer consumes the new tokens in
   `components/**` or `pages/**`.** This brief is foundation-only;
   consumption begins in sub-convoy #2. Brief explicitly forbids `.js`
   changes; pre-PR verification command grep'd in the brief surfaces
   any leak. (Risk: low; gated by explicit anti-scope + verification.)
6. **No-go zone violation.** `styles/globals.css` is not a no-go zone;
   `AGENTS.md` is the canonical agent contract (editable through
   documented sections); `docs/` is new content. ✅ All in scope.
7. **Token-name collision.** None — audit verified all 29 proposed
   names are unique against the current `styles/globals.css` namespace.
   (Risk: nil.)
8. **Browser-fallback misfire on Safari 18+.** Safari 18+ supports
   `backdrop-filter` unprefixed; `@supports not (...)` will NOT fire,
   so the fallback alphas remain unused — the canonical 0.55 / 0.68 /
   0.82 surfaces ship as intended. Cross-checked against caniuse 2026-
   06-03. (Risk: nil.)

### Decomposition

| Brief # | Title | Files | Depends on | Estimated PR size |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | `tokens-and-docs` | `styles/globals.css`, `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md`, `AGENTS.md` | — | ~110 LOC inserted into `styles/globals.css`; ~260 LOC `docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md`; ~25 LOC `AGENTS.md`. Total ≈ 395 LOC, all additive. **No deletions.** |

Single brief; no multitask possible (single implementer, single PR).
Comfortably under the 400-LOC architect anti-pattern threshold.

### Slice dependencies (multitask-ready)

```yaml
slice_dependencies:
  - brief: 1
    depends_on: []
    files:
      - styles/globals.css
      - docs/DESIGN_TOKENS.md
      - AGENTS.md
```

**Multitask verdict:** no `/multitask` dispatch — single-brief convoy.
Conductor's serial-implementer path is the right shape here.

### Boot-the-brief check (architect verification, completed 2026-06-03)

1. **Dep set check.** Zero new packages added. Zero peer-dep concerns.
   ✅ Pass.
2. **Verbatim code shape check.**
   - `@supports not ((backdrop-filter: blur(20px)) or (-webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(20px)))` — CSS Conditional Rules Level 3 valid syntax (negation of a compound condition requires the outer parens around the OR group). Cross-checked against MDN's `@supports` reference. ✅ Verified.
   - The 16 `rgba(...)` triples in the brief — all integer RGB values 0–255, all alpha values 0.0–1.0. ✅ Syntactically valid.
   - The 3 `box-shadow` stacks (light + dark `--elevation-pronounced`, `--ember-rim-pronounced`) — comma-separated multi-shadow syntax is CSS Backgrounds and Borders Level 3 valid. ✅ Verified.
   - `inset` keyword for inner-rim shadows — valid in `box-shadow` and standalone (when in `box-shadow` list). ✅ Verified.
   - The CSS variable inheritance pattern (theme-independent blur/saturate defined only in `:root`; theme-dependent surfaces redefined in `[data-theme="dark"]`) — matches the existing precedent at `styles/globals.css` lines 100–154. ✅ Verified.
3. **Cross-brief commitments check.** Single brief; no commitments to
   downstream briefs in this convoy. (Downstream convoys #2–#8 are
   separate convoys with their own architect passes.) ✅ N/A.

All boot-the-brief checks pass. No brief revision needed.

### Architect notes (mid-implementation guidance)

- The brief explicitly forbids reformatting the verbatim CSS block.
  Implementer must copy-paste, not retype. This avoids whitespace
  drift on the multi-line `box-shadow` stacks.
- If the implementer hits any unexpected obstacle (e.g. `Screenshot
  diff` shows a non-trivial rendered diff despite no consumer being
  added), STOP and surface to the operator. Do not "fix it" by editing
  components.
- The 26-line AGENTS.md insertion is at a specific topological
  position (between `## Product vocabulary` and `## 1. Project
  overview`). Use `StrReplace` to target the line-29 boundary
  precisely; do not use blind append-to-section.
