I spent two weeks last winter rebuilding our archive around one rule: every page needed the same measured container before it earned a variation. The first draft looked almost too quiet, until morning light crossed the screen and the edges began to register.
Repetition is not neutrality
Uniform parts make small decisions visible. A line set a few pixels too loose, a caption that leans sentimental, a shadow that tries to perform depth — each one interrupts the field. The better system lets the reader feel the interval before the interface explains it.