DuckDB Design Manual
This manual documents DuckDB’s visual and communication standards to maintain consistency across the website, technical documentation, and community materials. For logo packages, visit the Design & Brand Assets page.
Logo Usage
Use for web headers, presentations, and horizontal layouts.
Light mode
Dark mode
Use in square or portrait spaces — mobile screens, posters, narrow sidebars.
Light mode
Dark mode
Use for favicons, app tiles, and profile images below 40px height.
Light mode
Dark mode
Maintain clearspace equal to the height of “D” on all sides.
Minimum width: 120px digital, 25mm print.
Light & Dark Mode
Use lightmode logos (dark elements on yellow/transparent) on white and light backgrounds. Use darkmode logos (yellow elements on dark circle) on black, charcoal, and dark backgrounds to maintain contrast.
Colors
DuckDB’s color system creates visual context: yellow for core brand identity, with secondary colors that differentiate product areas.
Use primary color for web headers, presentations, and horizontal layouts. Secondary colors establish visual hierarchy, categorize content, and guide navigation while maintaining brand cohesion. Use for feature differentiation, status indicators, data visualization, and interface elements.
- HEX:
- #fff100
- RGB:
- 255, 241, 0
- CMYK:
- 6, 0, 87, 0
- Pantone:
- 102 C
- HEX:
- #ff6900
- RGB:
- 255, 105, 0
- CMYK:
- 0, 69, 94, 0
- Pantone:
- 021 C
- HEX:
- #7d66ff
- RGB:
- 125, 102, 255
- CMYK:
- 70, 66, 0, 0
- Pantone:
- 2665 C
- HEX:
- #2eafff
- RGB:
- 46, 175, 255
- CMYK:
- 82, 10, 0, 0
- Pantone:
- 299 C
Syntax Highlighting for CLI & Docs
| Element | HEX light | X11 color light | HEX dark | X11 color dark | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | #0d0d0d | Black | #0d0d0d | Black | ||
| Secondary | #626262 | Grey39 | #888888 | Grey66 | ||
| Keyword | #5fafff | SteelBlue1 | #5fafff | SteelBlue1 | ||
| String | #875f00 | Orange4 | #ffd700 | Gold1 | ||
| Error | #d70000 | Red3 | #ff6a6a | IndianRed1 | ||
| Function | #008700 | Green4 | #00af00 | Green3 | ||
| Number | #d700af | Magenta3 | #ff00ff | Magenta1 |
We provide the X11 color names used in our command line client.
Accessibility
All text must meet WCAG AA standards: 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text (≥18pt or ≥14pt bold).
Approved Combinations:
White text on all secondary color backgrounds meets AA standards. Do not use colored text on white backgrounds for body copy.
Visual Style
DuckDB’s visual identity balances technical precision with clear design. Drawing from railroad diagram aesthetics used in SQL documentation, the system uses structured graphics — curved connectors, rounded containers, junction points — to reflect systematic data operations.
Graphic Language
DuckDB’s visual system draws from railroad diagrams — structured syntax diagrams used in technical documentation. Use curved connectors, branching paths, and junction points as graphic elements to reinforce systematic database operations.
Iconography
Use simple, geometric icons with railroad diagram influences — rounded rectangles, directional arrows, junction points. Maintain consistent stroke weights (2–3px) and rounded terminals. Icons represent database concepts, file types, and workflow states.
Text & Code Display
Present code in dark terminal-style blocks (#1e1e1e or #000000) with syntax highlighting: yellow for keywords, blue for functions, orange for strings, purple for variables. Maintain generous padding and ensure 4.5:1 contrast for all text.
Logo Don’ts
Do not stretch, rotate, recolor outside brand palette, apply effects, or place on low-contrast backgrounds.
No recoloring
No rotating
No stretching