ADR 0010: Italian Sole Palette + Gambarino + Switzer Fonts

Status: Accepted
Date: 2026-04-19
Deciders: Ideony team

Context

Initial Phase 6 used Inter (a common default) and a deep-blue/amber palette. The UX overhaul sprint locked a brand direction: warm, artisanal, and distinctly Italian — “Sole” (sun). The goal is to communicate trust and human craftsmanship, differentiate from ProntoPro’s cold corporate feel, and align with the cultural identity of Italian skilled trades.

Decision

Adopt the Italian Sole palette: Terracotta #B35F3B (primary), Olive #6E7F3C (trust/verified), Cream #FAF6EE (background), Sun Amber #E89059 (warm accent), Dark Ink #2B1E10 (text). SOS Red #E5484D is reserved exclusively for active SOS dispatch. Typography: Gambarino (display/serif) for headings + Switzer (body/sans-serif) from Fontshare. Switzer replaces Plus Jakarta Sans (ADR 0009 used Plus Jakarta Sans; Switzer is the final locked choice from 2026-04-19).

Consequences

Terracotta primary is brand-new in the trades marketplace space; highly differentiating.
Olive secondary communicates verification and trust without corporate coldness.
Gambarino serif headline face signals craftsmanship and permanence.
Switzer is warmer than Plus Jakarta Sans and pairs naturally with Gambarino.
Cream background is warmer than pure white; reduces eye strain on mobile.

Two Fontshare fonts require self-hosting via assets/fonts/; @expo-google-fonts pattern unavailable.
SOS Red must be rigorously guarded — accidental use outside dispatch would dilute urgency signal.
Olive secondary required adding a full secondary token ramp (50–950) to the design-tokens package.

Alternatives considered

Deep Blue #1B4965 + Warm Amber #F5A623 (Sprint D original) — rejected: too generic; blue-primary is the default for every fintech/service app.
Plus Jakarta Sans — rejected 2026-04-19: flagged as “impeccable reflex-default”; warmer Italian character found in Switzer.
Inter — rejected 2026-04-17: too neutral; communicates efficiency but not human warmth.