Why surfaces have weight
Elevation creates hierarchy
Every surface lives at a depth. Shadows aren't decoration — they encode spatial truth about what sits above what.
Color carries meaning, not mood
500 shades per hue, but only one primary per screen. The palette is a system, not a spectrum.
Motion reveals intent
Transitions aren't flourishes. They guide the eye from state to state, confirming what changed and why.
Typography builds rhythm
Roboto at 300 for display, 400 for body. Weight is hierarchy — not emphasis, not decoration.