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Designing technical docs with gradients (without sacrificing clarity)

· One min read
Maria Gilca
Maria Gilca
Technical Writer · Docusaurus · Docs-as-code

Structure first, gradients second​

Break pages into predictable sections (PageSection, GlassCard, Grid). Once the hierarchy is obvious you can layer gradients behind them. In Docusaurus, I keep gradients inside dedicated components so color tokens remain reusable and easy to update.

Use gradients to guide attention​

Instead of drenching the whole viewport, anchor gradients in the corners. In my hero sections I position blurred ColorBlob components to highlight CTAs or diagrams. Motion makes gradients feel alive, so add subtle transforms on hover or scroll to reward interaction.

Keep glassmorphism readable​

Transparency is tricky for docs because we render code blocks, tables, and diagrams. Add thicker borders (--color-border-subtle) and drop shadows behind glass cards. Pair that with high-contrast text colors and generous padding; your readers will thank you.

Document the design system like any other feature​

Writers should know how to use the gradient language. I document examples, dos/don'ts, and token references in the repo so future contributors stay on-brand without pinging a designer.