Atomic Modern

Atomic Modern is built on 1950s American mid-century design: the optimism of the space age, boomerang and kidney shapes, atomic starbursts, flat airline-poster illustration and the teak and walnut of modernist furniture. A warm paper canvas carries teal, mustard and burnt-orange shapes that float like objects in a ranch-house living room. A soft, characterful serif with italic flourishes sets headlines; a clean geometric sans handles the rest. Starburst ornaments mark pauses. It should feel optimistic, crafted and sunny.

Principles

• Shapes are organic: boomerangs, kidneys and soft rounded rectangles.
• Teal leads, mustard supports, burnt orange is the spark.
• Scatter small starbursts between sections, never on top of text.
• Illustrate, don't photograph: flat mid-century scenes with grain.
• Italicise one word per headline for a hand-lettered feel.

Motion

Starburst ornaments rotate a slow 360° every 40 seconds like a wall clock. Sections float up 20px on scroll and cards lift 4px on hover with a warm shadow.

Do & don't