Brain Decisions
2026-07-17
D020: Art direction v2: bold maximalist, monochrome, motion + "dead→alive" WebGL
Context: After the Phase 7 overhaul (multi-page, imagery, fixes), the refined-minimal look still read as "boring / not memorable / not unique" to Saif. We reset the direction: Saif chose bold maximalist 2D, wants wide bold type (not condensed), no red / monochrome, heavy GSAP scroll motion, and real Three.js/WebGL. Approved via prototype direction-v2-bold.html.
Decision, rebuild the visual language:
- Bold maximalist editorial, monochrome cream + ink (keep light + dark; light is the showcase). NO red / no chromatic accent, boldness comes from massive type scale, stark contrast, and motion.
- Type: a WIDE, heavy display face (NOT condensed), e.g. Archivo Black / Clash Display / Bricolage Grotesque, huge, filling the viewport. Space Grotesk (UI) + Space Mono (labels). Per-locale Noto bold for non-Latin scripts stays.
- Motion system: Lenis + GSAP ScrollTrigger, split-text reveals, pinned scroll sequences, parallax, marquee tickers, magnetic hover, big interactive work-list rows, page transitions. Reduced-motion + RTL safe.
- Hero WebGL "dead → alive": a GLSL particle field (Three.js), a dormant dot-matrix that ignites into motion with cursor + scroll, literalizing "I build solutions, not dead software" (WebGL Hero). Scroll-driven ignition; lazy after LCP; capability-gated static fallback; pause off-screen.
Keep: all engineering + Phase 7 fixes (multi-page + nav, analytics, /brain graph, AI demo, i18n/RTL English-only, SEO, perf 95+, a11y AA, deferred-service states, real screenshots/store badges/device mockups, RTL bidi). Drop the muddy cloud backgrounds.
Supersedes D003 - Visual Restraint and One WebGL Moment (restraint was over-applied); refines D011 - Colour Direction Stone (monochrome kept, but bolder + cleaner) and D019 - Visual Richness Overhaul. "Not perfect but good to go", Saif, 2026-07-17.